Royal Canadian Mint Delivers Striking Tribute to His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge

Silver commemorative coins celebrate royal birth

OTTAWA, Aug. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Today at Rideau Hall, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada unveiled two beautifully designed collector coins and a collector coin set celebrating the birth of His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.  His Excellency was joined at the event by the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and Mr. Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.

"Canadians are delighted with the recent arrival of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child, who will someday be Sovereign of Canada," said Glover. "These exceptional collector coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint highlight, through artistic elements, the enduring relationship Canada shares with the Royal Family."

"Each one of these special commemorative coins is struck with the pride and craftsmanship befitting a future King," said Bennett. "The Royal Canadian Mint cherishes our unique connection to the Royal Family and we are extremely proud to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Cambridge in such a unique way."

Please see the attached backgrounder for full descriptions of the coins, which were designed by Guelph, Ontario-based artist Laurie McGaw.

These new collector coins and collector set can be pre-ordered today at www.mint.ca/RoyalBirth or by directly contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US. The Mint's global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets, will soon be selling these products.

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 these exciting new coins are available by visiting
ftp://communications:[email protected].

Backgrounder

ROYAL CANADIAN MINT SILVER COMMEMORATIVE COINS AND COIN SET
CELEBRATE ROYAL BIRTH

2013 $5 FINE SILVER COIN WITH SELECTIVE GOLD PLATING
The Mint is pleased to issue a stunning $5 collector coin produced with 99.99% fine silver with selective gold-plating to celebrate the arrival of His Royal Highness the Prince of Cambridge. The reverse image features a gold-plated monogrammed "W" and "C" with crowns, representing the cyphers of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, flanked by maple leaves. The coin's outer edge depicts an ornate ring with all the accoutrements of life with a newborn: baby rattles, plush toys, bibs, soothers, sippy cups and tiny shoes and socks intermixed with moons and stars. The year "2013" appears below the initials and the word "CANADA" above to highlight the close relationship Canada shares with the Royal Family. This coin has a mintage of 15,000 and is available for $74.95 CAD.

The Royal Canadian Mint has produced one of these coins in full gold-plating, to be forwarded to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as a special keepsake.

2013 25-CENT CUPRO-NICKEL COIN
This new 25-cent cupro-nickel coin features a baby carriage with the year "2013" engraved above. The carriage, adorned by maple leaves, is positioned within the smallest of three rings nestled within each other to divide the coin into three sections. The middle circle includes tiny beads along its outer edge and is divided vertically, featuring the names "William" on the left and "Catherine" on the right. Monogrammed first letter initials of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with crowns (representing the Royal Couple's cyphers) flank either side of the outermost ring with "CANADA" above and "25 CENTS" below. Available while quantities last, this coin retails for $24.95 CAD.

2013 FINE SILVER THREE-COIN SET
This cheerful set of three $20 coins delivers a trilogy of heartwarming scenes to express the joy and wonder of the first months with a precious newborn and is expertly crafted in fine silver. The coin designs are as follows: a baby tucked away in a cradle with all the love and lace typical of a Royal nursery; three hands (Mummy's, Daddy's and baby's) touching to form a family bond within the shape of a heart; and a sleeping baby in a crib with two plush toys, a beaver and RCMP moose, to represent Canada's close ties with the Royal Family. Each of the three coin designs features maple leaves and "2013" to mark the year of this historic occasion. Available for purchase at $249.95 CAD, this set has a mintage of 7,500.

These new collector coins and collector set can be pre-ordered today at www.mint.ca/RoyalBirth or by directly contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US. The Mint's global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets, will soon be selling these products.

Image with caption: "From left to right: Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO Ian E. Bennett, the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and His Excellency ýThe Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada unveil commemorative coins celebrating the birth of HRH Prince George of Cambridge. The coins were unveiled at Rideau Hall (Ottawa) on August 8, 2013. (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Mint)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130808_C4790_PHOTO_EN_29740.jpg

SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mint