As the world turns its attention to Brazil for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Canada’s famous “Lucky Loonie” is at it again, sporting a special design to express pride in Canada’s athletes and to cheer them on.
The Royal Canadian Mint has released its 2016-dated circulation Lucky Loonies in packs of five coins and specially wrapped rolls of 25 coins.
It all began during the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games, when a loonie was embedded under the ice for the gold-medal game between Canada and the U.S. That year, Canada’s men’s and women’s hockey teams both went on to win gold, and the Lucky Loonie legend was born, bringing its special magic to Olympic ice ever since.
In 2004, the Mint began issuing Lucky Loonie coins to celebrate Canada at every summer and winter Games.
This year, the 2016 Lucky Loonie features a new look and design element: it’s engraved with the words “LUCKY LOONIE / DOLLAR PORTE-BONHEUR”, its popular moniker. Designed by Canadian artist Derek Wicks, the coin also creates an energizing design of a common loon on the water, its arched body and outstretched wings poised for take-off. It’s a symbolic salute to Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes as they soar to new heights at Rio 2016.
The coin’s obverses features Susan Blunt’s portrait of the Queen with surrounding inscriptions of “ELIZABETH II, D G REGINA” and “DOLLAR”. Each coin has a weight of 6.27 grams and a 26.5-mm diameter.
The Mint also issued a Proof silver ‘Lucky Loonie’ this year.
SILVER COIN
This year, the Mint also struck a 99.99 per cent pure silver “Lucky Loonie” with a weight of 7.89 grams, a 26.5-mm diameter and a mintage of 15,000.