Giant Panda on Canadian Commemorative

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Giant pandas' commemorative coin unveiled in Calgary

By HELEN PIKES
StarMetro Calgary
Sat., June 2, 2018

CALGARY—Animal lovers are really taking a shine to the giant pandas, and now there's a coin to remember the bears by.

On Saturday, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a collector coin to celebrate the giant panda and celebrate its symbolism of friendship between China and Canada at the Calgary Zoo.

The Calgary Zoo's panda passage opened in May after China's giant pandas finished up their five-year stay at the Toronto Zoo. They will be in Calgary for five years, completing the 10-year breeding loan agreement between Canada and China.

Carlene San Martin said she was at the right place at the right time. She's been collecting coins since the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, and tries to snag coins that hold some sort of sentimental value for her.

She was at the Calgary Zoo visiting the pandas and grabbed coins for herself, and her mother's cousin in Holland, who also collects coins.

"The panda is one of my favourite animals," said San Martin.

Francine Hochereau, vice-president, marketing and communications, Royal Canadian Mint, said this is the first panda coin the mint has done, but not the first Chinese-themed coin minted in Canada. Every year, a coin to commemorate the New Lunar year is produced as well.

"It was really the year of the panda, but it's also the year of tourism between China and Canada," Hochereau said. "It's very special for us."

And Hochereau said the two panda cubs, Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue, born in Canada make the coin all the more significant.

The two cubs were born at the Toronto Zoo in 2013, two years after parents Er Shun and Da Mao's arrival in 2013.

The 99.9 per cent pure silver coins will cost a pretty penny at $29.95 per coin. They can be purchased across Canada at Canada Post, online, over the phone and at the Mint's gift shops in Winnipeg and Ottawa.

Source: The Star

Image Caption: Francine Hochereau, vice-president of marketing and communications with the Royal Canadian Mint, shows off the new coin design alongside Greg Royer, chief operating officer of the Calgary Zoo.

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A better look at the coin...image taken from RCM's website.

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