Royal Canadian Mint Launches Second Coin of Popular Chinese Lunar Series
OTTAWA, January 14 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Mint launched the Year of
the Rabbit Sterling Silver Coin, the second of a popular coin series launched
by the Royal Canadian Mint to commemorate the Chinese Lunar calendar.
''This is one of our most popular series,'' announced Danielle Wetherup,
President of the Royal Canadian Mint. ''We expect the Year of the Rabbit
Coin, the second coin of this twelve year series, will be as popular as last
year's coins.''
The centre of the Year of the Rabbit coin features an octagonal 24 karat
gold covered cameo depicting the Rabbit. In each year of the series, the
design on the gold cameo will change to depict the animal for the year of
issue. The twelve animals of the Chinese lunar calendar appear around the
circumference of the reverse of the sterling silver coin. Canadian artist
Harvey Chan created the design of the Chinese symbols. The obverse of the
coin portrays an effigy of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Dora de
Pédery-Hunt, surrounded by the inscription 15 DOLLARS, CANADA, 1999.
The Chinese lunar calendar follows a twelve year cycle and each year is
associated with an animal. The twelve animals of the Chinese lunar calendar
are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, monkey, rooster, dog and
pig. Chinese astrology attributes character traits to each animal, and people
are said to share the traits of the animals associated with the year in which
they are born. Character traits of those born in the Year of the Rabbit
include clear-sightedness, excellent judgement of character and a very
affectionate nature.
The Mint will produce 68,888 of the Year of the Rabbit coins. The coins
come in an embossed red velvet box with gold moiré sides. For the entire 12
coin set the Mint is offering a collectible box with twelve sided insert to
house the series. The coins are available for $72.88 ($48.48 US) through the
Royal Canadian Mint's global network of dealers and distributors. In North
America, the coins are available directly from the Mint by calling in Canada
1-800-267-1871, 1-888-796-1998 and for Toronto (416) 293-2788 or
1-800-268-6468 in the US.
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the
minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Royal Canadian
Mint is recognised as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the
world, offering a wide range of specialised, high quality coinage products and
related services on an international scale.
YEAR OF THE RABBIT STERLING SILVER, GOLD CAMEO COIN:
ROYAL CANADIAN MINT CHINESE LUNAR CALENDAR COIN SERIES
THEME
1999 is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese lunar calendar. Chinese
astrology follows a twelve year cycle, with a different animal associated with
each year in the cycle. The twelve animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit,
dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Chinese astrology
attributes character traits to each animal, and people are said to share the
traits of the animal who is the symbol for the year in which they are born.
DESIGN
Obverse
Contemporary effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, by artist Dora de
Pédery-Hunt, surrounded by the inscription 15 DOLLARS, CANADA, 1998.
Reverse
An octagonal gold covered cameo in the centre of the coin depicts the
animal who is the symbol for the year of issue, as well as the initials HC for
Harvey Chan, the artist. The cameo of the 1998 coin depicts the tiger. The
twelve symbols of the Chinese Lunar Calendar appear around the circumference
of the coin.
ARTIST
Harvey Chan was born in Hong Kong and came to Canada in 1976. He studied
graphic design and illustration at the Ontario College of Art and Design.
Since graduating in 1982, Mr. Chan has been working as an illustrator for
major Canadian publications and advertising agencies. He also devotes himself
to fine art, primarily figurative work and has exhibited actively through the
years. Recent awards of Mr. Chan include: Gold medal from Studio Magazine
Annual Show (1996), Bronze from the 1996 CAPIC (Canadian Association of
Photographers and Illustrators in Communications) national show, 1997 Ruth
Schwartz Foundation Award for Canadian Children's Books. In the summer of
1997, the artist received the Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Medal from the
Canadian Association of Children's Libraries at the National Library of Canada
in Ottawa.
COIN SPECIFICATIONS
Composition Coin: 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper.
Cameo: 24 karat gold covered
Weight 34 grams
Diameter Coin: 40 mm. Cameo: 17.5 mm
Edge Reeded
Face Value $15.00
Finish Proof: frosted relief on brilliant background
Mintage 68,888
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available
on the Canadian Press Photo Network/
-30-
For further information: Pierre L. Morin, Communications Advisor,
(613) 993-9999, (613) 991-5342, Fax: (613)991-2628, morin@rcmint.ca; For
more information on the Royal Canadian Mint, its products and services, visit
us on the Web at www.rcmint.ca
ROYAL CANADIAN MINT has 8 releases in this database. |
