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http://www.thetoque.com/040120/shatnercoin.htm

THE ROYAL CANADIAN MINT-- Canada is ready to phase-in the country's first five-dollar circulation coin. Gaining approval and royal ascent for the proclamation authorizing the issue and prescribing the composition, dimensions, and design of the new coin has been a long trek, but with Canada's continuing mission to reduce the amount of paper money in circulation, a five-dollar coin was the next step. To coin a phrase, "It was only logical."

The new 9.2-gram Canadian coin features an effigy of William Shatner, national hero and star of film and television.

The Ministry of Public Works and Government Services has been committed to replacing paper money with coins. Millions of dollars in printing costs will be saved with the five-dollar coin, although the initial minting of $600 million worth of coins is expected to be snatched up by collectors at warp speed.

Minted coins typically have a circulation life of 25 years before they are ultimately destroyed by being placed on railroad tracks or inevitably lost down storm drains. In comparison, paper currency lasts approximately two weeks in circulation before it is irretrievably marred by tears, destroyed in your laundry, or defaced with curly ink moustaches.

William Shatner was chosen to be represented on the coin because of his status as a hero to Canadians, and especially the science fiction community, which makes up approximately 80% of the Canadian population.

Most Canadian coins are composed of standard base metals. However with Shatner on the face, they thought it more appropriate to go with a heavier metal, and ultimately chose a nickel-plated tritanium alloy.

Shatner beamed with joy when told he had been selected to be on the face of the coin.

"I can't...tell you...how happy I am," he said in halting English. "No bones about it. I hope these coins...live long...and prosper...like my career."

This coin is not a limited edition currency, but it is expected that Canadian collectors will cling-on to these coins like a rare Romulan ale--at least for the first few star-dates. Numismatists expect that for the first few months, people will have to trek for kilometres to find a bank or government office that will have them in stock, and cross-border traffic is expected to increase by warp factor 10, as Star Trek nerds will be flocking to Canada faster than fans to a nude Jolene Blalock (T'Pol) website.

Enthusiasts are searching for a nickname for the new coin.

"We've got the 'loonie' ($1 coin), and we've got the 'toonie' ($2 coin)," said Noonian Singh, coin collector and Shatner fan. "So what will we call this enterprise? The Shatty? Kirk's Koin? You'd think that the 'Trekkie' would be the logical choice, but there's just no telling what humans in the early 21st Century will ultimately decide."

The original concept for having (Bill) Shatner minted comes from the years that the Canadian $5 bill was altered using a blue ballpoint pen. The bill ostensibly shows Wilfred Laurier, a former Prime Minister. A few clever marks transformed the staid former Member of Parliament into the character "Spock" from the original television series. Coincidence? Leonard Nimoy is not a Canadian, but his former captain is.

"We want people to use this coin," said Paul Gilbert of the Royal Canadian Mint. "We don't want them to think it's some phoney carnival token. Believe me, this coin is as real as the hair on Shatner's head..."


Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15842

We had dollar coins, but they never really caught on. Coins are more convenient for me.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15849

I think the reason the dollar coins never caught on in the US, they looked too much like a quarter.

Dollar coins are convenient but are heavy in the purse!

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15865

The US does not have dollar coins? I always thought they did.

We have:

1cent
5cent
10cent
25cent
1$
2$

The 2$ is the newest, I remember when they introduced it. Quite a while back though.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15868

The US had dollar coins.

We had the Sacagawea dollar, and we had the Susan B anthony coin, but the Susan B anthony one looked to much like a quarter.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15869

We still have them. I never see any of them though.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15871

So I'm sure lot of people got mixed up. Our 1$ coins are much bigger then the quarters and other coins, and the 2$ is even bigger and look different.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15873

They're still around, but they're not in circulation.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15874

Ah, so basically they stopped making them and make paper only.

I'm sure there's still cad 2$ bills going around but I have not seen one in a long time overhere. If I'd find one, I probably would not spend it.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15877

You know something really rare???

The $1000, $5000, and $10,000 bills.

THey stopped making those in the 30's, and they also stopped making gold coins around that same time.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15878

wow that must be rare. I'm not even sure if canada has those... I think the highest is $100 but I could be wrong.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15879

Yes, but I have one of those two rare things.

In fact, I have quite a few of them.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15881

Photo of one-dollar coin

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15882

I know Tak!!!!

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15883

Found this:



We in fact do have $1,000 bills. Was not sure. For some reason that picture does not include the $5 bill.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15884

The Queen...


We should also have $5 coins. They should have a picture of Napoleon. Enough with the eagles... How about a cat for a change? Oh... And the Latin needs to be replaced with French. (Do you think MagicBrowser will see this? )

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15886

We cover pretty much all the important animals. They missed the squirrel though, maybe they can make a $500 bill or something.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15887

Red Squirrel wrote: We cover pretty much all the important animals. They missed the squirrel though, maybe they can make a $500 bill or something.

The new 5.12379 dollar Canadian bill!

A masterpiece, I must say.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15889

LOL That's funny. It will definatly get handy for those 5.12379 purchases.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15890

I could mess around with a few things in GIMP, and make my own bill which would be way better than Tak's but I'm tired.

Anyway, I live life on the edge, so why not.

BTW Tak, a new dev version is available.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15891

I should try too. Hmm, how about I start a make your own dollar bill thread.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15893

Which forum????

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15895

Dark room forum.

http://www.iceteks.com/forums/show.php/showtopic/1932

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1931, old post ID:15896