Mint unveils 2010 Poppy quarter

CFB/ASU Valcartier, Quebec — The 2010 coloured 25 cent circulation poppy coin was unveiled at a ceremony held at the Officers’ Mess of CFB/ASU Valcartier on October 25, 2010.

Many veterans, representatives of the Royal Canadian Mint, and soldiers were in attendance for the unveiling of the new coin, which also marks the 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Similar ceremonies were held in Halifax, Belleville and Winnipeg.

“This coin is a way of keeping alive the memory of the sacrifices that were made by so many people in the past, and that are being made in Afghanistan today”, said Michel Bonnet, a veteran and member of the Royal Canadian Legion. “It also commemorates the sacrifices made by the families, which has too often been forgotten in the past.”

The reverse of the coin features a soldier standing in front of a maple leaf flanked by two bright red poppies. His head is bowed and his hands rest on a rifle.

As many as 11 million of the coins will be circulated. Canada Post has an exclusive contract to distribute the coins at its retail outlets throughout the country. The 2010 poppy coin is the third coin of this type to be produced by the Mint and circulated in Canada. Two similar coins bearing coloured poppies were issued in 2004 and 2008.

“The Royal Canadian Mint has created a series of magnificent coins evoking the sacrifices made by our veterans and our troops in conflicts around the world, both yesterday and today”, declared the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs. “The 2010 Poppy Quarter serves as a lasting tribute to their courage and devotion to duty.”

In honour of the veterans and to show support for members of the Canadian Forces currently taking part in combat operations, the Mint has also produced a Remembrance Day collector card. The card includes the new 25-cent poppy circulation coin as well as the 2004 and 2008 poppy coins. It is available for $9.95 and profits will go to the Military Families Fund. It also includes a detachable postage-paid postcard that can be used to send a personal message to a member of the Canadian Forces serving abroad.


Article by MCpl Simon Duchesne, Army News
Photo by Cpl Katherine Duggan