To mark its record financial performance in 2011, the Royal Canadian Mint (R C M) struck a silver medal in 2012 that featured a design representative of each of its four business lines. The medal was not sold to the general public; it was distributed to R C M employees in April 2012 to thank them for their "hard work and dedication to the Mint."
The medal's attractive design is a composite of design elements taken from four different coins produced by the R C M in 2011, with each coin representing a different Mint business line. The four business lines, in the order in which they are represented on the medal, are: a) Canadian Circulation, b) Numismatics and Collectibles, c) Foreign Coinage and d) Bullion and Refinery. All four business lines were profitable in 2011, and the Mint achieved annual revenue of $3.159 billion (CAD) with a profit of $32.4 million (CAD).
(Royal Canadian Mint 2011 Annual Report)The medal presents the design elements of the representative coins via four left-to-right arching segments that have their origin point between the 7:00 and 8:00 clock positions. Flanking the origin point are the English and French inscriptions "OURS TO CELEBRATE" and "TANT À CeLeBRER."
The first (leftmost) segment features elements of the highly stylized 2011 Boreal Forest two dollar coin which was part of the R C M's "Our Legendary Nature" series of circulating commemorative coins. Other coins in the series included a Parks Canada "Loonie" and three wildlife-themed quarters depicting either a Wood Bison, an Orca Whale or a Peregrine Falcon.
The medal's next segment also reflects the R C M's 2011 celebration of Canada's natural wonders. It incorporates elements from the reverse of the Mint's annual commemorative silver dollar which, like the circulating one dollar commemorative, marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of Parks Canada, the current name of what was originally called the Dominion Parks Branch. The commemorative reverse of the silver dollar was designed by Luc Normandin.
The instantly familiar Maple Leaf of the R C M's precious metal bullion coins is the design element of the medal's third segment. The simple, single leaf design has been in use since 1979 on the Gold Maple Leaf coin and since 1988 on the Silver and Platinum Maple Leaf coins.
The last segment features the South Point Lighthouse of Barbados, as seen on that nation's five cents piece. The R C M began producing circulation coins for Barbados in 1973 with the lighthouse design in use on the five-cent piece from the beginning. The 2011 five-cent coin was struck on a brass-plated steel planchet.
The reverse design of the medallion is far simpler than its obverse. The then-current R C M logo is seen at the center encircled by a solid ring and the Mint's name in English and French.
The medal is struck on a one-ounce silver planchet of 0.999 fineness; it is 38 mm in diameter and has a serrated edge.
The medal came in standard R C M packaging: a maroon clamshell case enclosed in a black box. The box featured a label with the name of the employee to which the medal was to be given. A folded note from Ian Bennett, the then-current R C M President and CEO, was inserted inside the clamshell; the size and form of the note is very similar to the COAs used by the mint for its NCLT coins.
Following is the text of the note:
April 2012
Dear [Name]
Every year, we pause to reflect on what we accomplished, noting significant milestones. I am nothing short of impressed by what the Mint accomplished in 2011, by reaching $3 billion in revenue and profitability across all business lines.
This is a remarkable achievement for the Mint, a manufacturing business, to have consistently prospered in spite of a difficult economic climate.
From the launch of the new ETR program to record production volumes of numismatic products and breaking ground for the Winnipeg expansion that will lay the foundation for new business opportunities, our combined efforts contributed to this success.
It is an honour to present you with the enclosed 1-ounce fine silver medallion celebrating our success in 2011. We kept focus on our people and attention on our customers. This medallion represents the Mint's four business lines and marks their outstanding achievements as 'Ours to celebrate'.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the senior executive team, I thank you for your hard work and dedication to the Mint and our vision to be the best min in the world.
Ian E. Bennett
President and CEOMintage figures were not published by the R C M, but as it had 1,042 employees at the end of 2011, it is reasonable to assume that the medal's mintage approximates this figure.
The medal is not commonly encountered in the marketplace as many R C M employees have, presumably, held their medal as a service memento. Five or six years ago, when the medal did appear more regularly in the market, it often sold in the range of $120 to $150 CAD. Selling prices were found outside of this range - above it, as well as below it - but the majority appeared to settle in the stated range (from my obervations, your mileage may vary). Today's market for the medal is hard to gauge, with too few available for a "typical" selling price to be established.
At the time, the 2011 R C M "Ours to Celebrate" medallion was a fitting gift to employees for their efforts on behalf of the Mint. Today, the piece has become a sought-after collectible for fans of the Mint's non-mainstream modern issues.
2011 R C M Employee Appreciation Medal
Posted 08/30/2021 4:21 pm
