As the legendary Toronto Maple Leafs take to the ice for their first home game of the 2017-18 NHL season, the Royal Canadian Mint is joining Leafs fans across Canada in celebrating their beloved team’s centennial with a $1 circulation coin.
The new coin was unveiled at the Leafs’ home opener on Oct. 7 outside the Air Canada Centre by Toronto Maple Leafs alumnus Wendel Clark and Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO Sandra Hanington.
“For the last 100 years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have delighted hockey fans across Canada and become a pillar of our country’s sports heritage,” said Finance Minister Bill Morneau. “By honouring 100 years of the Maple Leafs, the Royal Canadian Mint has created a keepsake which is as enduring as Canada’s pride in this truly legendary hockey team. As a resident and Member of Parliament for Toronto, I couldn’t be more proud of this legacy – Go Leafs Go!”
From left: Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO Sandra Hanington and Toronto Maple Leafs alumnus Wendel Clark unveil a $1 circulation coin celebrating the Maple Leafs’ centennial on Oct. 7. (Photo by the RCM)
100-YEAR HISTORY
Designed by Canadian artist Steven Rosati, the reverse of this new $1 circulation coin depicts the emblematic Maple Leafs logo flanked by classic wood and modern composite hockey sticks. Along with the dates 1917 and 2017, the sticks symbolize the team’s 100-year history. A puck at the top of the design completes the coin, of which five million examples are now starting to circulate.
“The Mint is proud to recognize the tremendous legacy of the Toronto Maple Leafs with a special one-dollar circulation coin celebrating their 100th anniversary,” said Hanington. “Leafs fans across the country can now look forward to finding one of these special coins in their change and collecting it as a piece of Canada’s glorious hockey history.”
Hockey fans across Canada can start looking for this coin in their change, attend coin exchanges at the Mint’s Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver boutiques, or obtain limited quantities through an online coin exchange at mint.ca/leafs100.
The obverse of the new $1 Maple Leafs circulation coin features a right-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
OTHER LEAFS PRODUCTS
The Mint has also issued a number of other related collector products, the first of which is a wrap roll of 25 $1 circulation coins featuring the official logo of the 100th anniversary of the Maple Leafs.
As well, Steven Rosati has designed a pair of 99.99 per cent pure silver collectibles: a quarter-ounce coin featuring the Leafs anniversary logo with the number “100” selectively enhanced in the team’s official shade of blue, and a one-ounce Fine silver coin illustrating a modern-era and old-time player in action with a selectively coloured Maple Leafs logo.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs are honoured to have the Royal Canadian Mint recognize our 100th anniversary with this commemorative one-dollar coin,” said Toronto Maple Leafs President and Alternate Governor Brendan Shanahan. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to celebrate this milestone together with our fans with so many unique events and now this commemorative coin.”
These products can be ordered by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the U.S., or online at mint.ca/leafsnation.