Mint Unveils 2014 Lucky Loonie

BANFF, AB – The Royal Canadian Mint has announced their latest  commemorative circulation coin, the 2014 Lucky Loonie.  The coin was unveiled Saturday at the Canadian Olympic Team’s Sochi Block Party event in Banff by Blake Richards, MP for Wild Rose, Christine Aquino, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Royal Canadian Mint,Steve Podborski, Sochi 2014 Chef de Mission and Jean-Luc Brassard, Assistant Chef de Mission.

“Our Government is proud to support and foster the success of our athletes on the international stage, including the Sochi 2014 Winter Games,” said Mr. Richards.  “The 2014 Lucky Loonie is yet another way to show our athletes that we celebrate their life-long commitment and wish them well as they represent Canada in Sochi.”

“The 2014 Lucky Loonie is a special keepsake to commemorate the achievements and talent and of Canada’s athletes as they compete at the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Mr. Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.  “Canadians can wish our athletes luck by keeping this special coin produced by the Mint as well as create a lasting memory of Canada’s participation at the Games.”

In what is now a legendary tale, a Loonie was buried 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 ice hockey teams.  The Mint has since produced a Lucky Loonie circulation coin for each subsequent Games. Each member of the Canadian team will receive a 2014 Lucky Loonie upon their arrival in Sochi.

The circulation coin features a familiar Lucky Loonie design of a loon spreading its majestic wings while sitting on rippling Canadian lake waters, bearing the year 2014. Designed by artistEmily S. Damstra, the coin also features the Canadian Olympic Team logo.  Five million 2014 Lucky Loonies have been produced and will enter into circulation on January 20^th. Canadians are encouraged to look for the coin in their change or visit www.mint.ca/luckyloonie.

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint