Parks Canada Centennial Commemortive Circulation Coins Announced

The Royal Canadian Mint (www.mint.ca) is pleased to cap off the celebration of Parks Canada’s centennial year by unveiling five new commemorative circulation coins which immortalize Canadians’ pride in their legendary natural heritage and capture their trademark passion for the great outdoors.

The commemorative circulation coins unveiled by Canadian government officials and representatives of Parks Canada (www.pc.gc.ca) and the Mint, at a public ceremony hosted at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec include:

• the 2011 Parks Canada Centennial $1 circulation coin;
• the 2011 Boreal Forest $2 circulation coin; and
• three new 25-cent circulation coins (half of which will be coloured) featuring the Orca, Peregrine Falcon and Wood Bison.

The 2011 Parks Canada Centennial one-dollar coin will begin circulating in the coming weeks, followed by the remaining 2011 commemorative circulation coins later this year, and in early 2012. 

"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to help Canadians celebrate their country’s legendary natural heritage with five new commemorative circulation coins honouring our great outdoors and a century of nature conservation by Parks Canada," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "I am very pleased that Canadians of all ages will be able to collect these coins as keepsakes of their fondest memories of our national parks, our forests, and our precious wildlife."

Between October 7-8, 2011, the Mint will invite the public to trade their loose change to obtain the one-dollar Parks Canada centennial circulation coin at its boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Parks Canada will also offer it in a face value coin exchange at many national park and historic site locations across Canada during the Thanksgiving long weekend, from October 8-10, 2011. For more details, visit www.pc.gc.ca.

"This new series of commemorative circulation coins from the Royal Canadian Mint captures the essence of Canada’s natural, historical and cultural treasures," said the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. "By creating the world’s first national parks service, Canada has made nature conservation a prized Canadian value and inspired countries around the world to protect their unique wilderness regions."

Starting with the one-dollar circulation coin commemorating the centennial of Parks Canada on October 7, Canadians will soon be able to find these coins in their change and collect all five in a special collector card to be available, free of charge, on www.mint.ca/legendary this November. While supplies last, Canadians can also visit the Mint’s web site to exchange five dollars for special "circulation packs" of five new Parks Canada Centennial circulation coins.

Collector Coins Coming Soon

The Mint will also be introducing a series of finely crafted gold and silver collector coins in early November 2011 to complement this compelling series of commemorative circulation coins. Themes will include the boreal forest, the orca, the wood bison and the peregrine falcon.

In January 2011, the Mint also dedicated its annual silver dollar collector coin to the centennial of Parks Canada. It can still be purchased in proof and brilliant uncirculated finishes, and with selective gold-plating available exclusively in the 2011 Proof Set, from www.mint.ca; the Mint’s boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver; and through our network of 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.