Kern-Carter 1880 Coiled Hair Stella leads July 31-Aug.2 event with $546,250

DALLAS, TX — An 1880 $4 Coiled Hair stella, Judd-1660, Pollock-1860, Low R.7, PR62 NGC – a gorgeous example of the timeless design of George Morgan – realized $546,250 at Heritage Auction Galleries’ July 31-Aug.2 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, leading the almost $25 million event. All prices include 15% Buyer’s Premium.

“We’re certainly pleased with the outcome of this auction,” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. “Our three day event was a blockbuster. It brought in more than the top grossing movie of the weekend, which earned a little more than $22 million total. If you factor in that we did it with almost 4,000 bidders, and sold more than 90% of all lots, the figure is even more impressive.”

In past auctions Heritage has only been able to account for eight different examples of the 1880 $4 Coiled Hair stella, but the firm has recently established that the Dallas Bank Collection example makes a ninth distinct survivor. It was believed for many years that just 10 pieces were struck, but it is more likely that 20 pieces were originally coined, which all goes to show that, like the 1879 Coiled Hair and 1880 Flowing Hair coins, the 1880 Coiled Hair is a major rarity from an extremely small mintage.

“The more than half million dollar price tag attests not only to the rarity of this great coin,” said Rohan. “It also speaks to the undiminished popularity and lasting beauty of Morgan’s artistry.”

The number two and three lots in the auction – a spectacular MS65 1933 $10, the Morse-O’Neal example of the ‘Last Collectible Classic U.S. Gold Issue,’ and an 1856-O $20 AU58 NGC, one of the finest known examples – both brought $460,000 from the enthusiastic Los Angeles buyers.

The 1933 $10 is among the most notable rarities of the 20th Century U.S. Mint Gold Series, having survived President Franklin Roosevelt’s early 1933 order halting the release of gold coins from the Mint, and recalling gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates, which was made in an effort to halt the downward economic spiral created by The Great Depression. The near-Mint 1856-O $20 is one of the few remaining examples of a mintage that was small to begin with, only 2,250 pieces; it is easily the rarest double eagle from the New Orleans Mint, and ranks alongside the 1854-O and 1870-CC issues as the rarest business strike Liberty $20s.

A true first year of issue super gold rarity, a 1795 $5 Small Eagle S over D MS65 Prooflike NGC, was the subject of much admiration and fierce floor bidding in Los Angeles as it soared to a $345,000 price tag.

“This stunning beauty ranks among the finest Heritage has ever handled,” said Rohan. “In fact, it’s the only Gem example of this early issue that has appeared in any of our auctions since 1993, being a reappearance of lot 3135 in our January 2008 FUN Sale. It’s also the finest Prooflike example that has ever been certified.”

A very rare 1920-S $10 MS66 PCGS, Ex: O’Neal, from the year that marked the first U.S. regular-issue gold coinage since 1916, proved quite popular with collectors at the Los Angeles auction, bringing a healthy $345,000 price realized. In 1920, when 126,500 eagles were struck at the San Francisco Mint, they were already considered one of the rarest of all 20th century $10 gold coins as nearly all were exported in commercial trade, or held in Treasury vaults and eventually melted in the 1930s. No hoards have ever turned up and the coin remains very rare, and popular, to this day.

Further highlights from the auction include, but are not limited to:

A Rare Justh & Hunter Large-Sized, Memorable Gold Ingot, Nearly 15 Pounds, Recovered from the S.S. Central America:

Large Rectangular Justh & Hunter 179-Ounce Gold Ingot (1855-57). This large, deeply-patinated rectangular ingot was among many recovered from the doomed ship S.S. Central America, which foundered in a hurricane in 1857, carrying to the sea floor the present example and many others marked with the Justh & Hunter imprint, as well as those of numerous other assayers. A memorable and historic piece of the California gold rush.
Realized: $322,000

Landmark 1804 Quarter Eagle, 13 Star Reverse, the Rarest Quarter Eagle Major Variety, BD-1,
Possibly Finest Known, AU58:

A strong candidate for Finest Known, this coin is a memorable specimen of one of the rarest major varieties in the U.S. gold series. The BD-1 variety is characterized by the presence of 13 stars on the reverse, compared to the 14 stars of the more available BD-2 variety of this date.

Realized: $322,000

Possibly the Finest Known 1776 Brass Continental Dollar, MS63, Newman 1-B, Hodder 1-A.2, Reverse Double Struck:

About 15 brass Continental Currency pieces are known in all grades, and they are only known from the original engraving or the first modification of Reverse A. Breen recorded an example of the EG FECIT variety in brass; however, that piece has never materialized. Current rarity information indicates that there are three known examples of Hodder 1-A.1, and about 12 known of Hodder 1-A.2, the variety that was offered in Los Angeles.

Realized: $299,000

Excessively Rare 1776 Ornamented Date Dollar, XF45 PCGS. CAC. Newman 5-D, Hodder 4.1-B, W-8480, R.8., Tied for the Finest of Three Known:

Only three examples of the Ornamented Date rarity, including this coin, are known to collectors. The Norweb specimen and the present example appear to be tied for the finest known of the Ornamented Date variety. However, the Norweb coin is now in the collection of a well established New York colonial specialist, and will likely remain off the market for a long time. The present example, which was unknown to older generations, first appeared in the Christie’s sale of November 1990, lot 241, where it was conservatively graded Very Fine. The third specimen appeared in the June 1997 Spink America sale, lot 19, with a provenance to Burdette Johnson, Col. E.H.R. Green, and Waldo Newcomer before him.

Realized: $276,000

A Spectacular 1844 Quarter, PR66 NGC, CAC. Ex: Pittman-Kaufman, Finest Known, the Only Certified Example: The rarity of the 1844 proof quarter is attested to by its certified population of one, this NGC-graded PR66 coin pedigreed to the John Jay Pittman and Phil Kaufman collections. Additionally, Larry Briggs, in his The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of United States Liberty Seated Quarters, says of the 1844 quarter that there are “approximately five proofs,” and Walter Breen, in the Complete Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Coins, also contends that there are “Five proofs traced.”

Realized: $276,000

For more information on the August 2009 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, to read detailed descriptions of these, and any other lots, and to download full-color, enlargeable images, go online to www.HA.com/1128.

Heritage Auction Galleries is the world’s third largest auction house, and by far the largest auctioneer of rare collectibles, with annual sales more than $700 million, and 450,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage? Get them as they happen at: www.Twitter.com/HeritagePress; www.Twitter.com/JimHalperin; Facebook: Heritage Auction Galleries. To view a compete archive of Heritage press releases go to: www.HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: www.ha.com/PR-1717.

Although the $10 “eagle” was the largest gold coin issued under the Mint Act of 1792, it would be over forty years before most citizens would see this “Flagship” denomination. First minted in 1795, Congress’ ill-conceived 15 to 1 silver/gold ratio doomed the coins-and their smaller brothers-to hoarding and melting from the start. The result was inevitable. Eagle production ended in 1804, quarter eagle mintages remained minute, and only half eagles were made in quantity, primarily for transactions between banks. Many still succumbed to European melting. Finally, in an effort to return gold coins to the channels of commerce, Congress passed the Act of 1834, changing the silver/gold ratio to 16 to 1. Almost overnight, U.S. silver coins were worth more than the equivalent amount in gold coins.

At that point gold coins reentered circulation in abundance. The favorable price the U.S. paid for gold-vis-a-vis silver-guaranteed the Mint a continuous supply of the yellow metal that would last for years. The California Gold Rush only fueled more production, and made gold coins familiar across the land. But the Civil War would change all that, as it would change everything in America, including the coins themselves.

At the beginning of the war, hoarders and speculators saw to it that gold coins again vanished from public view, including the eagle, reintroduced in 1838 after a 34-year hiatus. As battles raged, and one side or the other proved victorious, confidence in paper currency quickly faded. Soon the gold eagle was worth 20 percent or more over face value in Federal “greenbacks.” As the war progressed-with casualty rates of more than 80 percent and the decimation of entire regiments-the nation as a whole experienced a spiritual revival. The somber and reflective mood of America was as deep as the scars of the war, and it seeped into every facet of daily life.

In 1861, in a letter to Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, the Rev. M.R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, Pa. proposed recognizing the nation’s faith in the Deity on the coinage. A religious man, Chase embraced the idea and directed Mint officials to proceed with designs. Patterns of several denominations struck between 1861 and 1865 experimented with various mottoes, such as “God and Our Country” or “God Our Trust.” The final selection was IN GOD WE TRUST, familiar on our coins to this day. The new two-cent piece received the motto in 1864, and the Coinage Act of March 3, 1865 ordered its placement on gold and silver coins as well. It would first appear on the eagle in 1866.

The eagle issued since 1838 was the Christian Gobrecht designed Coronet Head, featuring a neoclassic head of Liberty adorned with a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. Thirteen stars surround the bust, with the date below. The reverse depicts an eagle holding arrows and an olive branch, encircled by the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TEN D. Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre placed the new motto on a scroll over the eagle’s head. From 1866 through 1869, only Philadelphia (no mintmark) and the increasingly important San Francisco (S) branch struck this new design. Production began at Carson City, Nevada (CC), in 1870 and continued through 1893. New Orleans (O) coins appeared in 1879, and the new Denver (D) facility began mintage in 1906. Mintmarks are found on the reverse, below the eagle.

The first twelve years saw especially low mintages and many later dates never exceeded 100,000. Over the entire life of the series, only 37 dates show six-digit production, and just 10 dates saw more than one million struck. There are five issues with mintages below 1,000: Philadelphia coins of 1873, 1875, 1876 and 1877, and the New Orleans issue of 1883. Proof eagles were struck in Philadelphia every year of the design. If business strike mintages were generally small, proof production was virtually microscopic, totaling just 2,327 coins. From 1866 through 1907, only in 1900, 1902 and 1904 did proof coinage exceed 100 pieces.

In considering the rarity of Coronet eagles with motto, it’s apparent that limited mintages went hand in hand with collector disinterest in pieces of such high face value. Relatively few coins were struck, but there were even fewer collectors interested in gold coins by date. Nor is low mintage the only guide to rarity. Some dates with relatively high figures are substantially scarcer today than their published totals might suggest. The 1888 Eagle is a case in point. Though 132,973 business strikes were produced, the coin is elusive in any grade and virtually unknown in mint state. With the exception of 1901-S, and to a lesser extent, the 1901, all issues of this series are RARE in gem uncirculated, limiting type collectors to only the occasional appearance of other dates. Infrequently, one-of-a-kind superb pieces surface in “name” collections, like the amazing 1899-O or 1901-O (among many others) from the Eliasberg estate.

If few collectors sought uncirculated eagles by date, the number seeking proof gold was vastly smaller, with even the great 19th century collectors showing only casual interest in these costly coins. The remarkable Garrett family collection was one of the few to boast a nearly complete run of gold proofs of this era. The family’s vast wealth enabled at least two generations of Garretts to routinely order complete sets of all proof gold denominations each year. Even so, one has a distinct feeling that the Garrett holdings were assembled as a kind of automatic reflex action rather than a consciously savored decision made each year.

The series contains enough major rarities to have attracted the attention of coin alterers. Since several of the most elusive issues were struck in Philadelphia, mint mark removal has been attempted to simulate Philadelphia strikes of 1873, 1875, 1876 and 1877. Counterfeits also exist of other dates, many made in the Middle East. Authentication of questionable specimens is highly recommended.

When grading this design, look for traces of wear on the top of the coronet over Liberty’s forehead, on the top of her hair and just over her eye. On the reverse, check the tips of the eagle’s wings, neck and claws. While describing the degree of wear is straightforward enough, severe bag-marking and abrasion are major problems on many of these large and heavy coins. Often, deep mint-frost remains, painfully highlighted by a forest of contact tics, reeding marks and scuffing.

In 1907, the Coronet Head design was replaced by the Teddy Roosevelt inspired and Augustus Saint Gaudens created Indian Head motif. It would be minted until the end of U.S. gold coinage in 1933.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Diameter: 27 millimeters Weight: 16.718 grams Composition: .900 gold, .100 copper Edge: Reeded Net Weight: .48375 oz pure gold

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Akers, David W., United States Gold Coins, Volume V, Eagles 1795-1933, Paramount Publications, Englewood, OH, 1980. Breen, Walter, United States Eagles, Hewitt Printing Corporation, Chicago. Breen, Walter, Walter Breen’s Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, F.C.I. Doubleday, New York, 1988. Taxay, Don, The U.S. Mint and Coinage, Arco Publishing Co., New York, 1966. Vermeule, Cornelius, Numismatic Art in America, The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1971. Winters, Douglas, & Cutler, Lawrence, M.D., Gold Coins of the Old West: The Carson City Mint 1870-1893, Bowers & Merena Galleries, Wolfeboro, NH, 1994. Winters, Douglas, New Orleans Mint Gold Coins 1839-1909, Bowers & Merena Galleries, Wolfeboro, NH, 1992.

Coin Information Provided Courtesy NGC.

With more than a dozen coin dealers from across Canada, visitors will have the opportunity to see a wide variety of Canadian and world coins as well as bank notes. Currency on display will also include a range of ancient gold and silver coins that were once used by the Greeks and Romans as well as current innovative coins and bank notes. While many coins will be available for purchase, visitors are also welcome to bring and exchange a few coins from their very own collection.

All visitors are welcome and will receive complimentary admission to the show and enjoy a tour of the Mint and interactive coin museum. The Mint is also offering free Tim Hortons coffee and cookies on both show days, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The museum offers the opportunity to hold a 28 lb., 99.99% pure gold ingot worth almost $400,000 and to participate in various educational coin collecting programs. The show will be open on May 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on May 24th. The Mint is located at 520 Lagimodière Boulevard.

About The Manitoba Coin Club

The Manitoba Coin Club was established in 1954 as a not-for-profit community organization that is open to all persons in accordance with its objectives to promote the science of numismatics, aid its members in the study, acquisition, and exhibition of numismatic material, while cooperating with all numismatic organizations and individuals.

For more information on the Manitoba Coin Club or the Spring Coin Show at the Royal Canadian Mint Winnipeg, please contact James Mcleod at (204) 223-6060.

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 9001-2000 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. The Mint is an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and has undertaken to produce the most extensive circulation coin program in relation to the Olympic Games ever conceived by any mint worldwide, while also offering limited mintage collector coins and sets. Visit www.mint.ca/2010 for Vancouver 2010 keepsakes and gifts.

“The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to pay tribute to compelling symbols of Canadian identity which speak to Canada’s heritage, culture and values through collector coins which routinely stand out as among the world’s best,” said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The newest collector coins of 2009 continue to express the Mint’s passion for quality and innovation which attract coin collectors from across Canada and around the world”.
The following are descriptions of the new products being introduced.

2009 50-CENT TRIANGLE COIN – SIX STRING NATION GUITAR
The dreams of Canadian broadcaster Jowi Taylor are reborn in the Mint’s newest triangular 50-cent coin honouring the all-Canadian Six String Nation Guitar. This coin’s intriguing resemblance to a guitar pick makes it an ideal backdrop against which the story of this unique Canadian symbol can be shared and preserved from coast to coast. Mr. Taylor’s vision took shape in 1995 when he undertook to build an object made from pieces of artefacts collected from all over Canada. He settled on the idea of making a guitar after a chance meeting with luthier George Rizsanyi.

After 10 years of collecting rare objects such as pieces of Maurice Richard’s Stanley Cup Ring, Pierre Trudeau’s canoe paddle and the deck of the Bluenose II, this unique creation made its debut in Ottawa on Canada Day 2006, where it was played by several acclaimed Canadian artists performing at the Parliament Hill celebrations.

The reverse of the nickel-plated steel coin features a hologram insert which vividly depicts the vibrating strings of the Six String Nation Guitar. The coin is enclosed in a folder recounting the intricate tale of one of Canada’s newest national treasures. Limited to a mintage of 30,000, the Six String Nation Guitar coin is available for $34.95 CDN.

2009 DINOSAUR COLLECTION – TYRANNOSAURUS REX
The selectively oxidized Dinosaur Collection four-coin series continues with its third installment: the 2009 $4 Silver Tyrannosaurus Rex Coin. To celebrate Canada’s reputation as a world-class source of dinosaur fossils, the “king” of the dinosaurs is showcased in striking realism on this innovative pure silver coin. Only 20,000 coins, with a suggested retail price of $42.95 CDN, are available world-wide.

2009 $350 PURE GOLD COIN – PITCHER PLANT
The 12th in a series started in 1998, Newfoundland and Labrador’s official flower, the Pitcher Plant, is the subject of the Mint’s 2009 $350 pure gold coin. This newest edition to Canadian floral emblems is honoured in the finest numismatic gold coin in the world, made of 99.999% pure gold. The reverse of this exquisite coin was designed by Newfoundland resident and renowned botanical artist Julie Wilson. Limited to a worldwide mintage of 1,400, this coin retails for $2,149.95 CDN.

2009 VIGNETTES OF ROYALTY COIN SERIES – $15 STERLING SILVER KING GEORGE VI
The continuation of the Royal Canadian Mint’s ultra-high relief “double effigy” silver coins features King George VI, Canada’s sovereign from 1936 to 1952. The next and final issue from this five-coin series will showcase Queen Elizabeth II. This design, as well as all others appearing in this series was approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Bearing a $15 denomination, this visually impressive, frosted effigy is set against a proof field. These coins were struck four times and hand polished in order to achieve their dramatic appearance. Limited to a world-wide mintage of 10,000, this coin retails for $104.95 CDN.

2009 $15 PLAYING CARD MONEY SERIES – TEN of Spades
A new card has been cut from the deck as the third issue of the Royal Canadian Mint’s new Playing Card Money silver coin series features the $15 Ten of Spades. This rectangular-shaped coin evokes an unusual period in early Canadian history when the Governor of New France resolved a shortage of hard currency by seizing all playing cards in the colony and re-issuing all cards bearing his signature as currency. This unique form of currency is revived in a beautifully painted sterling silver coin designed from artwork preserved by Library and Archives Canada and featuring a selectively gold-plated rim.

Appealing to coin collectors and avid card players alike, only 25,000 of these finely crafted coins are available world-wide, each retailing for $94.95 CDN.

2009 1/25 OZ GOLD COIN – RED MAPLE
The smallest gold coin ever produced by the Mint is also the most affordable to be purely made of this increasingly precious metal. For 2009, the 1/25 oz 99.99% pure gold coin is dedicated to the Red Maple, the most abundant and widespread tree in eastern Canada, ranging from southern Newfoundland to south eastern Manitoba. This coin is limited to a world-wide mintage of 15,000 and retails for $99.95 CDN.

2009 25-CENT COIN – NOTRE-DAME-DU-SAGUENAY
In 2009, the 35 mm-diameter 25-cent nickel-plated steel coin shifts to a striking landmark perched on the dramatic cliffs overlooking Quebec’s world-famous Saguenay Fjord. The 10.5-metre, three-ton statue of Notre-Dame-du-Saguenay, designed by Louis Jobin, was erected in 1881 and has since become a regional emblem, watching over sailors and ship’s passengers for more than 125 years. This coin is available for $14.95 CDN, while supplies last.

Two other popular issues are making their return in 2009: the 25-cent coloured Canada Day coin and the 2009 edition of the 50-cent piece in a commemorative paper wrap roll. Retailing for $ 14.95 CDN, the Canada Day coin features Churchill the Polar Bear with his loon, beaver and caribou friends in a package including a postcard and magnetic picture frame. The 2009 50-cent coin roll is limited to 6,000 rolls and retails for $19.95 CDN.

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 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 9001-2000 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. The Mint is an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and has undertaken to produce the most extensive circulation coin program in relation to the Olympic Games ever conceived by any mint worldwide, while also offering limited mintage collector coins and sets. Visit www.mint.ca/2010 for Vancouver 2010 keepsakes and gifts.

Images and product details of the Mint’s newest collection are available by visiting ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca.

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The Royal Canadian Mint and Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium are inviting Canadians to vote on the Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments of all time. The Top 3 moments will be featured on 25-cent coins, each with a mintage of 22 million, and will enter into circulation in the fall of 2009, leading up to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. The results of the Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments will be revealed in a one-hour prime-time broadcast special, in English and French, in September 2009 on CTV, TSN and RDS.

The following are the Top 10 Moments to choose from:

• Nancy Greene – gold medal and silver medal, alpine skiing, Grenoble 1968
• Gaétan Boucher – two gold medals and one bronze medal, speed skating, Sarajevo 1984
• Marc Gagnon – gold medal, short track speed skating, Salt Lake City 2002
• Catriona Le May Doan – gold medal, speed skating, Salt Lake City 2002
• Men’s Hockey Team – gold medal, Salt Lake City 2002
• Women’s Hockey Team – gold medal, Salt Lake City 2002
• Jamie Salé and David Pelletier – gold medal, figure skating, Salt Lake City 2002
• Beckie Scott – gold medal, cross-country skiing, Salt Lake City 2002
• Cindy Klassen – one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals, speed skating, Torino 2006
• Clara Hughes – gold medal, speed skating, Torino 2006

To vote and for full contest rules and regulations, simply log on to www.CTVolympics.ca or www.RDSolympiques.ca by March 25th.

Vote today and enter for a chance to win one of two trips for two to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games!

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 9001-2000 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. The Mint is an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and has undertaken to produce the most extensive circulation coin program in relation to the 2010 Winter Games ever conceived by any mint worldwide, while also offering limited mintage collector coins and sets. Visit www.mint.ca/2010 for Vancouver 2010 keepsakes and gifts.

About Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium
Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium is a unique relationship between leading media conglomerates CTV Inc. and Rogers Media Inc., which together will provide unprecedented coverage and consumer choice in English, French and multi-languages on multiple platforms for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games. Official brands include CTV, TSN, RDS, RIS Info-Sports, Rogers Sportsnet, OMNI, OLN, TQS, APTN, ATN, MuchMusic, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca, The Globe and Mail and select Rogers radio stations across the country.

MONTREAL, MARCH 10, 2009 — After a century of dazzling legions of hockey fans, the Montreal Canadiens are themselves feeling pride and excitement at the Royal Canadian Mint’s official introduction of the 2009 Montreal Canadiens Centennial one-dollar commemorative circulation coin. The coin was unveiled today at Montreal’s Bell Centre by Montreal Canadiens President Pierre Boivin and Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO Ian E. Bennett. The Mint also unveiled a limited-edition Montreal Canadiens Centennial proof silver dollar enhanced with touches of selective gold plating, and presented two of these precious keepsakes to Canadiens Official Ambassadors Henri Richard and Réjean Houle.

“The Montreal Canadiens have made an immeasurable contribution to Canadian sports history and the Mint is delighted to permanently commemorate this legendary team’s 100th anniversary through a special one-dollar circulation coin,” said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The legacy of the Montreal Canadiens will be preserved from coast to coast as Canadians find this coin in their change and save it is as a treasured symbol of Canada’s glorious hockey heritage.”

“The Government of Canada is pleased to participate in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens,” said the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State for Transport. “The legacy and traditions of great success in hockey are captured on this one-dollar circulation coin created by the Royal Canadian Mint and this coin will allow hockey fans across the country to be a part of the celebration.”

“The Royal Canadian Mint’s one-dollar circulation coin paying tribute to the centennial of the Montreal Canadiens is an exceptional addition to our team’s year-long centennial celebration,” said Montreal Canadiens President Pierre Boivin. “The Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in the hearts of hockey fans across Canada and thanks to the Royal Canadian Mint, they can own a piece of Canadiens history every time they collect a 2009 Montreal Canadiens Centennial one-dollar circulation coin.”

Canadians fans across Canada can now look in their change for these new coins or visit www.mint.ca to find products such as a limited-edition roll of 25 coins retailing for $ 44.95 CDN, among other Montreal Canadiens Centennial collectibles. On March 11, 2009, Metro, Quebec’s largest grocery chain, will begin the exclusive distribution of the Mint’s Montreal Canadiens Centennial $1 commemorative circulation coin across the province.

“The Metro grocery chain has a long relationship with the Montreal Canadiens and it is delighted that the Royal Canadian Mint has immortalized the Canadiens’ century of hockey exploits on a new commemorative one-dollar circulation coin,” said Christian Bourbonnière, Metro’s Senior Vice President, Quebec Division. “As the exclusive distributors of the Mint’s one-dollar circulation coin commemorating the centennial of the Montreal Canadiens, we look forward to welcoming hockey fans in our Metro stores across Quebec and helping them collect this special keepsake.”

Today, the Mint also launched a special-edition proof silver dollar which is limited to a world-wide mintage of 15,000. It is available for $69.95 CDN in a clamshell case or $74.95 CDN, if customers choose an innovative acrylic stand simulating a well-worn ice surface. Selective gold-plating over the Canadiens centennial official logo and rim of the coin adds a rich contrast to its proof silver finish. This exquisite, limited-edition keepsake can be purchased at the Montreal Canadiens’ Bell Centre boutique, on-line at www.mint.ca, or by calling 1-800-267-1871 in Canada and 1-800-268-6468 in the United States.

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 9001-2000 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.The Mint is an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and has undertaken to produce the most extensive circulation coin program in relation to the Olympic Games ever conceived by any mint worldwide, while also offering limited mintage collector coins and sets.  Visit www.mint.ca/2010 for Vancouver 2010 keepsakes and gifts.

Images and product details of the Mint’s Montreal Canadiens Centennial coin products are available by visiting ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca

“Through this extensive coin program, the Mint’s goal is to ignite the spirit of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “We expect that collectors from Japan and around the world will forever treasure these precious and elegant reminders of the Royal Canadian Mint’s celebration of an exceptional moment in Canadian sporting history.”

“The Royal Canadian Mint’s Vancouver 2010 Winter Games coin program is one of the most diversified in the history of numismatics,” said Mr. Masahiro Oka, President of Taisei Coins Corporation. “All collectors can find a coin that appeals to them and all of the Mint’s Vancouver 2010 numismatic products can make a precious addition to anyone’s coin collection.”

The Mint’s first Vancouver 2010 Winter Games collector and circulation coins were issued in February 2007. All issues symbolize Canada’s heritage, culture and values through unique and inspiring coin designs.

The proof silver hologram commemorative coins with a $25 face value represent the most extensive series within the Mint’s Vancouver 2010 Winter Games commemorative coin program. From 2007 to 2010, fifteen different designs celebrating winter sports and the Olympic spirit will be issued. Each issue is struck in a very low mintage of only 45,000 coins worldwide and, as a world first for the Olympic Movement, these coins feature a stunning hologram.

Nine dazzling 14-karat gold coins add their own prestige to the Mint’s Vancouver 2010 Winter Games commemorative coin program. With a colour-enhanced design featuring themes such as Canadian wildlife, culture and the Olympic spirit, the application of colour to gold coins represents another first for the Royal Canadian Mint. These beautiful coins are limited to a worldwide mintage of only 8,000.

These are just a few examples of numismatic innovations offered by the Royal Canadian Mint. Over the three-year program, breathtaking one-kilo gold and silver coins, premium 50 mm gold coins and silver 25-cent coins, among many other exquisite products, will be issued.

Taisei’s initial offering to its customers will include the Mint’s 2008 issues from the $25 Vancouver 2010 sterling silver, $75 Vancouver 2010 colourized gold and $250 Silver Kilo coin series. Other coins celebrating the approaching Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver will be added to Taisei Coins’ portfolio as the world counts down to Vancouver 2010. Taisei Coins is the authorized distributor of the Royal Canadian Mint’s official Vancouver 2010 commemorative coins in Japan.

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 9001-2000 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. The Mint is an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and has undertaken to produce the most extensive circulation coin program in relation to the Olympic Games ever conceived by any mint worldwide, while also offering limited mintage collector coins and sets. Visit www.mint.ca/2010 for Vancouver 2010 keepsakes and gifts.

Images and product details of the RCM’s Vancouver 2010 Winter Games collection are available by visiting ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca.

“The Mint is delighted to be taking part in what has become a holiday tradition of cheering on Team Canada, which this year has even more significance, as they are going for gold for the fifth consecutive year”, said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “Each medal has been skillfully crafted at the Mint’s Ottawa facility, which is very proud to be a part of the tournament’s host city”.

“We are proud of the medals and award designs by the Mint,” said Cyril Leeder, vice-chair of the world junior host organizing committee. “They reflect the uniqueness of the event in the nation’s capital and Canada’s hockey spirit. We believe recipients will not only be proud of their accomplishments when they receive the medals and awards, but that the designs will represent their experiences.”

For the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship medals, which were designed in collaboration with the IIHF and Hockey Canada, the Mint cut each blank – which is a medal without a design – out of copper. After the distinctive Ottawa design was struck onto each blank twice on a manual press using several tons of pressure, the medals were given their distinguishing finish: the coveted championship medals are plated with 24kt gold while the second-place medals are silver plated and the third-place medals are finished with a warm bronze tone. All medals are lacquered and bear a Maple Leaf which is coloured with red enamel.

The Mint also sourced the tournament’s popular Player of the Game award, which this year is a uniquely Canadian-made acrylic and aluminum Hoselton sculpture, housed in a cherry wood box. * Images of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship medals and Player of the Game award can be seen by logging on to ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca.

As part of the event, the Mint will be hosting coin exchanges to encourage the public to obtain their Vancouver 2010 commemorative circulation coins on the following dates:

Friday, December 26, 2008
Scotiabank Place Arena, 2nd Level Concourse
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Scotiabank Place Arena, 2nd Level Concourse
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 3, 2009
Scotiabank Place Arena, 2nd Level Concourse
3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Monday, January 5, 2009
Scotiabank Place Arena, 2nd Level Concourse
3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Royal Canadian Mint produces medals and medallions for many applications, including achievement awards, military decorations, promotional items, souvenirs and gifts. Most recently, the Mint participated in the production of Canada’s own Victoria Cross medal as well as the medals for the 2008 HBC Run for Canada. As a proud Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Mint will be responsible for minting the athlete medals, in addition to its extensive commemorative coin program. For more information, please visit www.mint.ca/2010.

About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008, is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2000 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’s history, its products and services, please visit www.mint.ca.

Martin Van Buren, our Nation’s eighth President, was of Dutch descent and was the first President born a United States citizen. His predecessors were of British ancestry or were born British subjects. Van Buren’s father, a tavern keeper, could not afford to send young Martin to college and instead secured for him a clerk position in a law office. While employed there, Van Buren studied law at night and was admitted to the New York Bar.

“Martin Van Buren rose from humble beginnings to become an influential politician through hard work, an attribute that exemplifies the American spirit,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. “We, too, can show our American spirit by using Presidential $1 Coins. They are resilient, practical and 100 percent recyclable.”

The obverse (heads side) of the Martin Van Buren Presidential $1 Coin was created by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and executed by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill. Incused on the coin’s edge are the inscriptions “2008,” “E Pluribus Unum,” “In God We Trust” and the mint of origin. Beginning in 2009, Presidential $1 Coins will feature the inscription “In God We Trust” on the coin’s obverse.

The reverse (tails side) design, by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart, is a dramatic interpretation of the Statue of Liberty, portrayed on all the Presidential $1 Coins.

Martin Van Buren rose through the ranks to become one of New York’s most influential political figures. He was elected Governor of New York before serving as Ambassador to Great Britain, Secretary of State, U.S. senator and vice president. He was elected President in 1837. Shortly after taking office, Martin Van Buren faced the Panic of 1837, an economic depression that plagued his entire administration. He served one term as President.

Van Buren was a shrewd politician and an adept behind-the-scenes organizer, which earned him the nicknames “The Little Magician” and “The Red Fox of Kinderhook.” He is generally regarded as a key influence in the formation of the American political system.

The United States Mint will ceremonially introduce the Martin Van Buren Presidential $1 Coin on the anniversary of his birth, December 5, 2008, in Kinderhook, New York.

To view and download high-resolution images of the circulating Marin Van Buren Presidential $1 Coin, go to: http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=photo#Pres

Background information of the Presidential $1 Coins is available at http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/index.cfm.

Lesson plans are available for download at www.usmint.gov/kids/.

Contact:
Press inquiries: Michael White (202) 354-7222
Customer Service information: (800) USA MINT (872-6468)