As anyone in the U.S. knows, we’ve been releasing new quarters with state designs on the reverse side. They’re almost done now, with just Alaska and Hawaii left. I had started to collect them a while ago, and then I lost my cardboard container and I stopped. A few weeks ago I saw some new quarter holders at the bookstore. This one has room for two quarters per state (and here is where my collecting madness ends because I don’t even care what the two different letters are supposed to be represent). But I decided to start again, getting one set for Clark and one for Tabitha. And then some day in the not too distant future, they’ll say, “You’re a geek, Dad,” and use them to buy ice cream or something.
Anyhow, while I was scouring our cash box at work for more quarters, I found a Canadian quarter with a skier on it…in honor of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Now, clearly anyone in Canada knows that this is happening, but it is shocking that it took me over a year and a half since the first one came out to find out about it here in the U.S. I know it’s not international news when a country modifies its currency, but COME ON!
I harbor a secret desire to go to Vancouver for the Olympics (well, Vancouver in and of itself would be awesome, but the Olympics might be cool too), but I’m not sure it’s wise with a 5 and 3 year old. So, I thought it would be really cool to collect all of these quarters just in case. Wikipedia tells me there will be 12 altogether.
At some point I’m going to have to write to RBC (whose Olympic commercial with Mr Muffin was so charming, Sarah and I wished we could get one) and see if I can buy some. Or, if any of my faithful Canadian readers would like to contribute to this barely worthy cause… You can email me about sending me a Vancouver 2010 quarter with the sport of your choice on it. Just think, it’ll cost you a quarter (and a 96 cent stamp) to make a small time coin collector happy. (And of course, if there’s something comparable I can send you, just ask!)
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Hi, Paul!
Actually, there’s more coins that just the quarters and you don’t need to rely on the kindness of either friends or strangers to get your very own.
The Canadian Mint sells them from its website, and you can see all the interesting concepts of the coinage program. The Mint is a sponsor of the 2010 Winter Olympics and so some of the proceeds from sales of the coins goes to help mount the Games and support the athletes.
The Mint’s web address is: http://www.mint.ca
The Winter Olympics website is: http://www.Vancouver2010.com
We (Canadians) hope you’ll come and see us in February and March 2010 — It’s going to be astounding — and kid friendly, with lots to do for kids.