Royal Canadian Mint ice hockey coins facts for kids
The Royal Canadian Mint creates many special coins, and a popular theme has been ice hockey. The very first hockey coin was made for the 1988 Winter Olympics. It came out on February 25, 1986, and showed a goalie. This coin was also the first silver coin to have words carved around its edge.
In the 1990s, hockey coins became more common. The first one in this decade was a $200 coin in 1991. It was called A National Passion and celebrated the energy of Canadian youth and their love for hockey. Hockey was also the main theme for two special Silver Dollar coins in 1993 and 1997.
Later, in 2005, coins started to feature logos from Canadian National Hockey League (NHL) teams. These coins were part of special gift sets. The twenty-five cent coins in these sets had a team logo in color. The first sets were for the 2005-2006 NHL season and included teams like the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs. The next season, all six Canadian NHL teams had their own sets. These sets even showed "vintage" (old) team logos, like the first one for the Vancouver Canucks (which had a stick and a puck) and the Senators' logo from the 1920s.
Fifty Cents
Canadian Sports Series
The Royal Canadian Mint also made a special 50-cent coin as part of a Canadian Sports Series.
| Year | Description | Artist | Finish | Issue price (was part of four coin set) | Total mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | First recorded ice hockey game, 1875 | Brian Hughes | Proof | $59.95 | 50,091 |
Olympics
To celebrate the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint released five sets of Olympic coins. Each set had two coins, and one of the coins in Series Two honored hockey.
These coins helped raise money for the Olympic event. For the first time on Canadian coins, words were put on the edge. All ten silver coins had "XV OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES – JEUX OLYMPIQUES D’HIVER" written on their edges. Some rare coins were made that missed this edge lettering.
Calgary Games
Here is information about the hockey coin from the Calgary Olympics series.
| Year | Series | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Issue price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Second Series | Hockey | Ian Stewart | 396,602 | $37.00 |
Vancouver Games
The Mint also made coins for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Circulation
These coins were made for everyday use and had a value of twenty-five cents.
| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Ice Hockey | Glen Green | 22,000,000 | |
| 2009 | Ice Sledge hockey | Glen Green | 22,000,000 | |
| 2009 | Olympic Moment #1: 2002 Men's Hockey Team | Jason Bouwman | 29,000,000 | |
| 2009 | Olympic Moment #2: 2002 Women's Hockey Team | Jason Bouwman | 29,000,000 |
Sterling Silver
These special coins were made of sterling silver. Sterling silver is a mix of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Issue price | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Ice Hockey | Steve Hepburn | 45,000 | $69.95 | April 4 |
Specifications These are the details for the sterling silver hockey coin.
| Composition | Finish | Weight (grams) | Diameter (mm) | Special notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper | Proof (with hologram on reverse) | 27.78 | 40 | First ever holographic coin collection for the Olympic Winter Games |
Mascot Sport Poses
These 50-cent coins featured the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic mascots: Miga, Quatchi, and Sumi. Mukmuk, who was a "sidekick" mascot, was not on any of these coins. Each coin came in a plastic sleeve and cost $9.95.
| Mascot | Sport Pose |
|---|---|
| Miga | Ice Hockey |
| Quatchi | Ice Hockey |
| Sumi | Paralympic Ice sledge Hockey |
NHL Coins
The Royal Canadian Mint has made many coins featuring teams and players from the National Hockey League.
Twenty-Five Cents
These 25-cent coins were often part of special gift sets for NHL teams.
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue price | Special notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Montreal Canadiens | N/A | N/A | 24.95 | From Montreal Canadiens Gift Set |
| 2006 | Ottawa Senators | N/A | N/A | 24.95 | From Ottawa Senators Gift Set |
| 2006 | Toronto Maple Leafs | N/A | N/A | 24.95 | From Toronto Maple Leafs Gift Set |
| 2007 | Calgary Flames | N/A | 832 | 24.95 | From Calgary Flames Gift Set |
| 2007 | Edmonton Oilers | N/A | 2213 | 24.95 | From Edmonton Oilers Gift Set |
| 2007 | Montreal Canadiens | N/A | 2952 | 24.95 | From Montreal Canadiens Gift Set |
| 2007 | Ottawa Senators | N/A | 1634 | 24.95 | From Ottawa Senators Gift Set |
| 2007 | Toronto Maple Leafs | N/A | 3527 | 24.95 | From Toronto Maple Leafs Gift Set |
| 2007 | Vancouver Canucks | N/A | 1264 | 24.95 | From Vancouver Canucks Gift Set |
Fifty Cents
These 50-cent coins honored famous "legends" (great players) from specific NHL teams.
| Year | Team | Legends | Mintage | Issue Price | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Montreal Canadiens | Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur, Jacques Plante, Maurice Richard | 25,000 | $99.95 | Specimen |
| 2005 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Johnny Bower, Tim Horton, Dave Keon, Darryl Sittler | 25,000 | $99.95 | Specimen |
- NOTE: All "legends" sets included four coins with pictures from the Hockey Hall of Fame.
More 50-cent coins were released in 2010, featuring images of athletes from each team.
| Year | Theme | Mintage | Issue price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Calgary Flames | N/A | 14.95 |
| 2010 | Edmonton Oilers | N/A | 14.95 |
| 2010 | Montreal Canadiens | N/A | 14.95 |
| 2010 | Ottawa Senators | N/A | 14.95 |
| 2010 | Toronto Maple Leafs | N/A | 14.95 |
| 2010 | Vancouver Canucks | N/A | 14.95 |
- NOTE: All coins showed part of an athlete's image from the team.
One Dollar
These one-dollar coins were also part of special gift sets or coin and puck sets.
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue price | Special notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Calgary Flames | N/A | N/A | 15.95 | From Coin and Puck Set |
| 2008 | Calgary Flames | N/A | N/A | 24.95 | From Calgary Flames Gift Set |
| 2008 | Edmonton Oilers | N/A | N/A | 15.95 | From Coin and Puck Set |
| 2008 | Edmonton Oilers | N/A | N/A | 24.95 | From Edmonton Oilers Gift Set |
| 2008 | Montreal Canadiens | N/A | N/A | 15.95 | From Coin and Puck Set |
| 2008 | Montreal Canadiens | N/A | N/A | 24.95 | From Montreal Canadiens Gift Set |
| 2008 | Ottawa Senators | N/A | N/A | 15.95 | From Coin and Puck Set |
| 2008 | Ottawa Senators | N/A | N/A | 24.95 | From Ottawa Senators Gift Set |
| 2008 | Toronto Maple Leafs | N/A | N/A | 15.95 | From Coin and Puck Set |
| 2008 | Toronto Maple Leafs | N/A | N/A | 24.95 | From Toronto Maple Leafs Gift Set |
| 2008 | Vancouver Canucks | N/A | N/A | 15.95 | From Coin and Puck Set |
| 2008 | Vancouver Canucks | N/A | N/A | 24.95 | From Vancouver Canucks Gift Set |
NHL Goalie Mask Coins
In October 2008, the Royal Canadian Mint released six sterling silver coins, each worth $20. Each coin showed the goalie mask of one of the six Canadian NHL teams. It's thought that fewer than 50 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens goalie mask coins still exist.
| Year | Face Value | Teams | Artist | Mintage | Composition | Issue Price | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Twenty dollars | Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks | Marcos Hallam | under 200 coins per team | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper | 74.95 each | Includes special lucite stand |
Montreal Canadiens 100th Anniversary
To celebrate the Montreal Canadiens' 100th anniversary, over 10 million Canadian one-dollar coins were made with the team's famous logo in March 2009. Canada Post also released four million stamps for the anniversary.
Four special gold coins were made by the Mint for the Canadiens' 100th birthday. These coins are now on display at the Centennial Plaza at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Each coin is worth $1 and has the Canadiens' anniversary logo on the back (called the reverse). These coins are part of special displays honoring four legendary players: Howie Morenz, Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, and Guy Lafleur. The front of the coin (called the obverse) shows the image of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. Each display also has two five-cent coins marking the start and end of each player's career. These coins were gold-plated versions of the regular $1 coins.
A special silver dollar coin was also released in two different types of packaging.
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price (with acrylic stand) | Issue Price (with standard packaging) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Montreal Canadiens centennial | Royal Canadian Mint engravers | 15,000 | $74.95 | $69.95 |
Starting in the fall of 2008, the Royal Canadian Mint created six 50-cent coins that were placed inside plastic sports cards. These coins had two dates, 1908 and 2008, to mark the Canadiens' 100th anniversary. All these coins were sold through the Jean Coutu Pharmacy stores in Quebec for $9.95 each.
| Release Date | Year of Logo |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2008 | 2008-09 |
| November 15, 2008 | 1945-46 |
| December 4, 2009 | 1915-16 |
| February 1, 2009 | 1912-13 |
| March 15, 2009 | 1910-11 |
| April 1, 2009 | 1909-10 |
Silver Dollar
Two important moments in hockey history have been celebrated on Canada's silver dollar coins. The first was the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup was first given out in 1893 to the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association team by Lord Stanley. The Mint released this coin in 1993. The "proof" version (a very high-quality coin) came in a black leather case, while the "Brilliant Uncirculated" (BU) version (a regular coin that has never been used) came in a clear plastic case.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Paul Henderson's winning goal against Russia, the Mint put Henderson on its Silver Dollar coin in 1997. The Mint offered two gift sets: one with a sterling silver pin and an Uncirculated dollar, and another with a numbered color picture and an Uncirculated dollar.
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage (proof) | Issue price (proof) | Mintage (BU) | Issue price (BU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Stanley Cup Centennial | Stewart Sherwood | 294,214 | $23.95 | 88,150 | $17.50 |
| 1997 | 25th Anniversary of Canada/Russia Summit Series | Walter Burden | 184,965 | $29.95 | 155,252 | $19.95 |
100 Dollar Gold
This special gold coin celebrated a long-running hockey series.
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 75th Anniversary, Longest International Hockey Series - Royal Military College of Canada vs United States Military Academy hockey classic | Tony Bianco | 9,000 | $329.95 |
200 Dollar Gold
This very valuable gold coin also celebrated hockey.
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | A National Passion (Hockey) | Stewart Sherwood | 10,215 | $425.00 |
Medallions
Starting in 1997, the Royal Canadian Mint began selling hockey medallions. Medallions are like coins but are not used as money. To celebrate Mario Lemieux joining the Hockey Hall of Fame, a set was made for all three people who were inducted that year. One set was made of sterling silver, and another was made of nickel. These were very popular, so more were made later.
When Wayne Gretzky retired, a medallion was made to honor him, with over 50,000 copies. Each medallion cost $9.95 and came in a blue sleeve with the number 99 in red.
Canada Post
Starting in 2000, a series of stamps was released to celebrate the All-Star Game in Toronto. These stamps were so popular that more were released later. From 2001 onwards, the stamps were sold in special collector sets. These sets came in a hard plastic case with a hockey puck and matching medallions made by the Royal Canadian Mint.
| Year of issue | Theme | Players | Issue price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | NHL All-Stars | Jean Béliveau, Eddie Shore, Terry Sawchuk, Denis Potvin, Bobby Hull, Syl Apps | N/A |
| 2002 | NHL All-Stars | Tim Horton, Guy Lafleur, Howie Morenz, Glenn Hall, Red Kelly, Phil Esposito | N/A |
| 2003 | NHL All-Stars | Frank Mahovlich, Ray Bourque, Serge Savard, Stan Mikita, Mike Bossy, Bill Durnan | N/A |
| 2004 | NHL All-Stars | Larry Robinson, Marcel Dionne, Ted Lindsay, Johnny Bower, Brad Park, Milt Schmidt | N/A |
| 2005 | NHL All-Stars | Henri Richard, Grant Fuhr, Allan Stanley, Pierre Pilote, Bryan Trottier, Johnny Bucyk | N/A |
Hockey Hall of Fame
These medallions celebrated new members joining the Hockey Hall of Fame.
| Year of issue | Theme | Description | Composition | Issue price | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees Medallion Collection | Mario Lemieux, Glen Sather, Bryan Trottier | Sterling Silver | $69.99 | 1,997 |
| 1997 | Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees Medallion Collection | Mario Lemieux, Glen Sather, Bryan Trottier | Nickel | $19.95 | N/A |
| 1998 | Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees Medallion Collection | Michel Goulet, Peter Stastny, Roy Conacher, Monsignor Athol Murray | Sterling Silver | $89.99 | 1,998 |
| 1998 | Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees Medallion Collection | Michel Goulet, Peter Stastny, Roy Conacher, Monsignor Athol Murray | Nickel | $29.00 (set), $7.50 (individually) | N/A |
| 1999 | Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees Medallion Collection | Wayne Gretzky, Ian “Scotty” Morrison, Andy Van Hellemond | Sterling Silver | $99.00 | 1,999 |
| 2001 | Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees Medallion Collection | Viacheslav Fetisov, Mike Gartner, Dale Hawerchuk, Jari Kurri, Craig Patrick | Nickel | $29.95 | N/A |
Wayne Gretzky
This medallion was made to honor the famous hockey player Wayne Gretzky.
| Year of issue | Theme | Description | Finish | Weight | Diameter | Thickness | Issue price | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Wayne Gretzky Medallion | Composed of Nickel | Proof | 13.338 | 27 | 2 | $9.99 | 50,000 |
2009 IIHF World Junior Championships
The Royal Canadian Mint also made the medals for the 2009 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. This big event took place in Ottawa from December 26, 2008, to January 5, 2009. The Mint worked with the IIHF and Hockey Canada to design these medals.
First, the Mint cut each blank medal (a medal without a design) from copper. Then, the special Ottawa design was pressed onto each blank twice using a lot of pressure. After that, the medals were given their final look: the gold medals for the champions were plated with 24-karat gold, the second-place medals were silver-plated, and the third-place medals had a warm bronze color. All the medals were coated with a clear finish and had a red Maple Leaf on them.
The Mint also provided the "Player of the Game" award for the tournament. This award was a unique sculpture made of acrylic and aluminum, placed in a cherry wood box.
