Royal Canadian Mint's newest 2010 collector coins celebrate icons of monetary
history and other striking Canadian themes

Sterling silver coins celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Bank of Canada's first banknotes and Canada's first silver dollar headline exciting selection of collectible treasures

OTTAWA, July 21 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada's monetary, historic and natural heritage is on full display as the Royal Canadian Mint offers coin collectors and gift buyers an exciting new array of finely crafted collector coins in its third major release of 2010 collector products. This impressive new coin offering is led by the 75th anniversary celebration of two milestones of Canadian monetary history: the first $10 and $20 banknotes to be issued in the Bank of Canada's inaugural year, as well as the iconic "Voyageur" silver dollar, minted as Canada's first commemorative coin in 1935.

New coins from popular series are also on the bill, including the 25-cent Birds of Canada; the 50-cent Lenticular Dinosaur Exhibit and $4 Fine Silver Dinosaur Fossil; the $20 Fine Silver Crystal Raindrop and Great Canadian Locomotives; and the 99999 pure gold $150 and $8 silver Asian Blessings series. This product launch is a premiere for exciting new Mint coins including the first half-gram pure gold coin; the first issue from the square-shaped gold plated Wildlife Conservation series; and a stunning quartet of painted 14 Karat gold maple leaf "four season" coins.

"The Royal Canadian Mint is passionate about crafting coins which attract collectors from Canada and around of the world because of their exclusive beauty, quality and originality," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to have once more skilfully preserved Canada's rich monetary, historical and natural heritage through collector coins which continue to amaze, educate and commemorate."

Below are descriptions of the featured products being launched today.

2010 $10 AND $20 FINE SILVER COINS - 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST BANK NOTES ISSUED BY THE BANK OF CANADA

In 1935, the newly formed Bank of Canada was formed at the height of the Great Depression to restore stability to Canada's financial system through the exclusive authority to regulate Canada's money supply and issue circulation bank notes. 75 years later, the stunning allegorical designs of these banknotes have been transformed into bold engravings adorning the reverse of four new gold and silver coins from the Royal Canadian Mint. Both crafted of 9999 pure silver, the $10 coin features a female figure surrounded by new crops in celebration of the harvest and the $20 coin graced by a woman receiving a kneeling farmer's harvest honours Canada's agricultural tradition. Each coin is limited to a mintage of 7,500 pieces. The $10 coin retails for $54.95 CAD and the $20 coin at $79.95 CAD.

On June 2, 2010, the Mint was proud to issue a pair of stunning 5 oz. pure gold and silver coins in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Bank of Canada. Offered at $9,495.95 CAD, the $500 9999 pure 5 oz. gold coin symbolizing fertility was released at a very low mintage of 200 coins and the $50 9999 pure 5 oz. silver coin representing modern invention is limited to a mintage of 2,000 coins and retails for $389.95 CAD.

2010 LIMITED EDITION PROOF SILVER DOLLAR - 75TH ANN. OF CANADA'S VOYAGEUR SILVER DOLLAR

In 1935, the Royal Canadian Mint struck its first silver circulation one-dollar coin in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of King George V's reign and Canada's iconic "Voyageur" silver dollar was born. The Voyageur design is restored to the modern numismatic landscape on the double-dated reverse of this proof reproduction of the original. Its obverse features the effigy of George V, as he appeared on Canada's coinage of 75 years ago. This exquisite tribute to a Canadian numismatic classic is limited to a worldwide mintage of 7,500 and retails for $69.95 CAD.

$3 GOLD-PLATED STERLING SILVER 2010 WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SERIES

No. 1 - BARN OWL

Celebrating Canada's rich natural heritage is a proud tradition at the Royal Canadian Mint, boldly reflected in the new square-shaped Wildlife Conservation Series, inaugurated by the Barn Owl. The elegant simplicity of the Barn Owl design, created by accomplished coin designer Jason Bouwman, is a captivating expression of modern numismatic art. This miniature tableau, fashioned of gold-plated sterling silver, is the first of a gallery of unforgettable keepsakes paying tribute to Canada's most precious wildlife. An equally stunning Polar Bear will be available to collectors later in 2010.

This first $3 gold-plated sterling silver Wildlife Conservation Series coin is limited to only 15,000 examples worldwide and retails for $59.95 CAD.

$150 PURE GOLD COIN - BLESSINGS OF STRENGTH (2010)

Since the Mint became the first to produce a 99.999% pure gold coin in 1998, collector interest in the purest gold collector coins in the world has been undiminished. The latest Mint offering to satisfy demand for the best and purest gold coins available is the 2010 $150 Blessings of Strength collector coin.

Toronto artist Harvey Chan has created a vividly illustrated blessing "Be as strong and energetic as Dragon and Tiger" with the image of a dragon and tiger competing for a precious pearl on which is written the popular blessing proverb. The blessing of "strength" (li) in Chinese culture is traditionally associated with one's physical and inner power to endure and overcome adversities in order to succeed in life.

Limited to a worldwide mintage of 5,000, this coin retails for $939.95 CAD.

$8 STERLING SILVER COIN- MAPLE OF STRENGTH (2010)

The Mint has featured several popular Asian blessings on $8 sterling silver maple leaf coins and in 2010, a Maple of Strength is being offered to those who appreciate the mix of artistry and technology with majestic horses, symbolizing strength in Chinese culture, surrounding the hologram of a maple leaf. Retailing for $88.88 CAD, this intricately designed coin is restricted to 8,888 examples worldwide.

2010 14-KARAT GOLD MAPLE LEAF COIN - WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, FALL

Following in the steps of the popular painted silver maple leaf coin series, the Mint is proud to complement this appealing coin category with four 14-Karat gold coins, each featuring a different season. Available individually or as a set, in a solid maple wood box, the reverses of these coins are the work of renowned Canadian botanical artist Celia Godkin. The changing colours of Canada's iconic maple leaves are vibrantly painted in this four-coin series which is limited to a very low mintage of 1,000 coins per season. These exclusive coins are each available for $589.95 CAD.

2010 $20 FINE SILVER COIN - MAPLE LEAF CRYSTAL RAINDROP

Enduring in its popularity and innovation, the crystal raindrop coin is back with a "seeds of beauty" design illustrating the leaf of a germinating maple leaf on a branch sprouting a cluster of new seeds. The inset CRYSTALLIZED(TM) - Swarovski Element contrasts beautifully against the lush green foliage of a maple tree painted on a 99.99% pure silver coin designed by artist Celia Godkin. Only 10,000 of these coins, with a retail price of $104.95 CAD, are available worldwide.

2010 $20 FINE SILVER COIN - GREAT CANADIAN LOCOMOTIVES SERIES: SELKIRK

A new tribute to the great locomotives of Canada's golden age of rail has arrived with a $20 fine silver coin featuring the Selkirk, a series of large 2-10-4 engines built for Canadian Pacific Railway to handle the heavy grades of the Selkirk Mountains between Calgary AB and Revelstoke BC. This 99.99% pure silver coin with a proof finish once again features edge-lettering showing the locomotive's name against a plain edge. Retailing at $79.95 CAD, this coin is limited to a worldwide mintage of 10,000.

50-CENT DINOSAUR EXHIBIT SERIES - ALBERTOSAURUS (ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM)

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Drumheller, Alberta, home to Canada's most famous palaeontology museum and dinosaur fossil deposits, the Mint is paying tribute to Albertosaurus on the second coin of its 50-cent Dinosaur Exhibit series. This coin features Albertosaurus, which was discovered by museum founder Joseph B. Tyrrell. This close relative of T-Rex is illustrated in stunning motion through the layering of multiple action images in a lenticular application. A tilt of the coin will reveal this fearsome prehistoric predator roaming the grounds of the Alberta Badlands' celebrated dinosaur museum. The coin is packed with a series of 5 collector cards starring dinosaurs from the museum's fossil collection, as well as a card featuring the Royal Tyrrell Museum. This exciting coin is available, while quantities last, for the retail price of $24.95 CAD.

2010 DINOSAUR COLLECTION - EUOPLOCEPHALUS $4 FINE SILVER COIN

Another ancient Alberta resident heralds the return of the popular 9999 pure silver dinosaur fossil series. The fifth coin in the $4 fine silver dinosaur collection features Euoplocephalus, an armadillo-like creature covered in bony armour plates embedded in its skin. Unlike the modern armadillo, this dinosaur weighed up to 2.5 tons when it roamed our prairies 75 million years ago. The realistic stone effect created by selective oxidation of the reverse features the engraving of a complete Euoplocephalus skeleton over a proof finish. This new coin retails for $49.95 CAD and is limited to a 13,000 coin mintage.

2010 25-CENT COLOURED COIN - BLUE JAY

The signature blue plumage of a male Blue jay radiates from this newest coloured 25-cent coin from the Mint's Birds of Canada series. Illustrated by Ontario wildlife artist Arnold Nogy and reproduced in a vibrant paint application over a large nickel-plated steel coin, this beautiful bird is frequently observed throughout Eastern Canada. This coin, which should attract numismatists, birders and even fans of Toronto's Major League Baseball team, is limited to a mintage of 14,000 coins worldwide and retails for $24.95 CAD.

0.5G FINE GOLD COIN - CARIBOU (2010)

The Mint's first ever half-gram gold coin means the world's collectors can add a Canadian coin to the growing selection of pure gold coins struck in this popular miniature format. A fascinating reduction of the iconic Caribou designed by artist Emmanuel Hahn in 1937 graces the reverse of the first of a new series of 0.5g coins that will be as prized as much for their fine detail as for their pure gold content. Limited to a worldwide mintage of 15,000, this exquisite coin will be available as of August 25, 2010 and retail for $74.95 CAD.

All of the Mint's products are available directly from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or on the Internet at www.mint.ca. The coins are also available at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg as well as through our global network of dealers and distributors.

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 and product details of the Mint's newest collection are available by visiting ftp://communications:[email protected].

For further information: Alex Reeves, Manager, Communications, Telephone: [phone], Fax: [phone], Mobile: [phone], [email protected]