OTTAWA, Jan. 28, 2016 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Mint is celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Library of Parliament with its first ever concave coin, whose ultra-high relief shows off the amazing detail of the Library's architecture, as seen from the inside of its domed ceiling. This coin was unveiled today before Senators, MPs and special guests assembled at an event held in the Library of Parliament.
"For 140 years, the Library of Parliament has been a vital source of support and inspiration to the legislators who built Canada into one of the world's leading democracies," said the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance. "The historical and cultural value of this institution has been masterfully captured by the Mint on a coin which is sure to evoke Canadian pride for generations to come."
"The Library of Parliament stands as both an architectural treasure of the early days of Confederation and an enduring guardian of Canada's parliamentary traditions," said Sandra L. Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "The Mint's renowned innovation and craftsmanship bring to life the Library's famous architecture with our very first concave coin."
"Since the Library of Parliament opened its doors in 1876, it has contributed to Canada's parliamentary democracy by supporting parliamentarians with customized information and authoritative research" said Sonia L'Heureux, Parliamentary Librarian. "Today's launch of a unique commemorative coin by the Royal Canadian Mint celebrates this rich history and the impressive architecture of our iconic main Library building. We are delighted to mark this historical milestone in such an innovative way."
Crafted of 99.99% pure silver and double-dated 1876-2016, the reverse side of this coin combines several innovations to capture a visually stunning panorama of the Library of Parliament's neo-gothic interior. Its concave design evokes the airiness of its high-domed ceiling, while ultra-high relief engraving and an antique finish bring out the depth and detail of its many architectural features. This $25 face value coin is also a first for showing a convex effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side. Limited to a mintage 6,000, this coin retails for $159.95 CAD.
This coin can be pre-ordered as of January 29, 2016 by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca. As of February 2, the coin will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2008 certified company, the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca.
Images of this coin are available at https://www.dropbox.com/work/Public/Library%20of%20Parliament.
SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint
Image with caption: "From left: Royal Canadian Mint CEO Sandra Hanington, Minister of Finance Bill Morneau, Senate Speaker George Furey and House of Commons Speaker Geoff Regan unveil a new silver collector coin in the Library of Parliament to celebrate its 140th anniversary. (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Mint)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160128_C6782_PHOTO_EN_608711.jpg
media are asked to contact: Christine Aquino, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Royal Canadian Mint, Telephone: 613-993-9999, [email protected]
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