The Royal Canadian Mint cheers on Olympic and Paralympic athletes with the launch of the 2006 Lucky Loonie

Jan 18, 2006

Ottawa – The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to issue Canada’s newest circulation coin, the 2006 Lucky Loonie. This one-dollar coin, which features the familiar loon in flight along with the official emblem of the Canadian Olympic Team, will serve as a good luck charm for Canadian athletes competing at the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The Royal Canadian Mint has provided each member of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams with a Lucky Loonie as their own personal good luck charm. As a circulation coin, Canadians from coast to coast to coast will have a chance to own a piece of the Canadian Olympic dream.

In what is now a legendary tale, Canadian ice maker Trent Evans embedded a Loonie at centre ice prior to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City to bring good luck to Canada’s gold medal-winning men’s and women’s hockey teams. In 2004, the Royal Canadian Mint created the first Lucky Loonie as a way of passing on its special magic to the Canadian Olympic Team as it departed for the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games.

"The Royal Canadian Mint is delighted to be joining Canadians as they cheer on our athletes at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games,” said Marguerite F. Nadeau, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The Lucky Loonie has become a symbol for Canadian sporting success and we are pleased to have RBC Financial Group as our official distribution partner of this coin, which will ensure that Canadians from across the country can share in this spirit of celebration.”

The Royal Canadian Mint will produce up to 10 million Lucky Loonies, which will enter circulation today. The coins will be distributed exclusively by RBC Financial Group and are available at RBC branches across Canada.

In addition to the circulation coin, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to offer a range of 2006 Lucky Loonie collectibles: the 2006 official first day Lucky Loonie ($15.95), the 2006 sterling silver Lucky Loonie ($39.95), the 2006 Lucky Loonie circulation coin roll ($39.95) and the 2006 Lucky Loonie Bookmark ($12.95). All products are available directly from the Mint at 1 800 267 1871 or on the Internet at www.mint.ca. By purchasing these items, Canadians will be contributing to the successful staging of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

The Royal Canadian Mint, an ISO 9001 2000 certified company, is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. In operation since 1908, the Royal Canadian 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.

RBC Financial Group (RBC) sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities to national sport associations that support the development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad. RBC has sponsored the Canadian Olympic Committee since 1947, making it Canada's longest-standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team. RBC continues this sponsorship through the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. RBC is also a Premier Sponsor of Hockey Canada, the Canadian Snowboard Team, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, Athletics Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

For more information on the Royal Canadian Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca  


Media contact

Christine Aquino
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
613.993.9999
613.991.5342
aquino@mint.ca  

Jackie Braden
Media Relations
RBC Financial Group
416.974.2124