OTTAWA, Aug. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Exactly 100 years after the declaration of the First World War, the Royal Canadian Mint joins Canadians in thanking those who risked their lives or made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the universal values of freedom, democracy and justice from 1914 to 1918, and ensure victory for Canada and all the nations united by the Allied cause.

"The men and women of the Mint are proud to have paid homage to Canada's veterans through a rich variety of collector and circulation coins for many years and we join fellow Canadians in reflecting on the invaluable contribution of those who fought for us in the First World War," said Marc Brûlé, Interim President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.  "We are honoured to continue this tradition over the next several years with coins which will ensure the sacrifices of those on the battlefield or on the home front between 1914 and 1918 are never forgotten by present and future generations of Canadians."

Starting with the launch of the 2014 Silver Dollar in January of this year, the Mint has embarked on an all-encompassing coin program to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War as well as the 75th anniversary of the Second World War.  With so many stories and events touching Canadians on so many levels, the program will run until 2020, and will include both circulation and collector coins. 

About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2008 certified company, the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca.

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint