OTTAWA, June 7, 2012 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Mint is
pleased to introduce the $10 Fine
Silver Coin Canadian Geographic Photo Contest - Praying Mantis,
which features the work of Robert
Ganz, the grand prize winner in the fourth annual Canadian
Wildlife Photography of the Year contest. The coin and the
award-winning photograph which inspired it are the centerpieces of
the Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year exhibit at the
Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. This exhibition showcases the
work of contest winners from across Canada, from June 8 to
August 26, 2012.
The reverse side of the collector coin which beautifully
captures Mr. Ganz's work features a slender praying mantis clinging
to the underside of a tufted grass flower. The sharp contours of
the mantis' body starkly contrast the soft texture of the
downward-curving plant. This elegantly designed coin has a limited
mintage of 7,500 and is composed of 99.99% fine silver. It will
retail for $69.95 CAD when it goes on
sale July 16, 2012.
"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to celebrate both our nation's
talent and natural beauty by reproducing a stunning Canadian
wildlife photograph on an eye-catching collector coin" said
Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of
the Royal Canadian Mint. "The breathtaking moment captured by
the lens of Robert Ganz can now live
on for the enjoyment of coin collectors and nature lovers
world-wide thanks to the crafting of a fine new silver collector
coin from the Royal Canadian Mint."
"The Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year contest attests
to the artistry, talent and determination of the photographers who
are keen to share with other Canadians their own fascination with
wildlife," said André Préfontaine, Executive Director of the Royal
Canadian Geographical Society. "As a result of the unique
partnership of the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Royal Canadian
Mint and Canadian Geographic, Canadians will have
unprecedented access to this year's winning photos that are
featured in the exhibition, on a collector coin and in the
magazine."
The public can view the stunning wildlife imagery captured by
all the contest winners, runner-ups and honourable mentions online
at
http://photoclub.canadiangeographic.ca/photos/wildlife_contest/default.aspx.
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.
About Canadian Geographic Enterprises
Canadian Geographic Enterprises (CGE) publishes the award-winning
Canadian Geographic magazine, Canadian Geographic
Travel and Géographica. CGE is wholly-owned by the Royal
Canadian Geographical Society, among the largest not-for-profit
education organizations in the country. CGE also operates related
websites and the Canadian Geographic Photo Club, Canada's most extensive online photographic
community that is also the home of the annual CG Photo Contest and
the Canadian Wildlife Photo of the Year Contest.
SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint