Royal Canadian Mint unveils its 2017 Canada 150 circulation coin series

The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled its 2017 Canada 150 circulation coin series featuring the work of five Canadians selected by popular vote to design the tails sideof the new coins.

In March 2015, the mint launched a national contest inviting the public to create new designs for the 2017 circulation coin series celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary.

Each coin had to be designed according to a theme. The two-dollar coin's theme is Our Wonders, the one-dollar theme is Our Achievements, the 25-cent coin theme is Canada's Future, the 10-cent coin theme is Our Character and the five-cent coin theme is Our Passions.

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The mint narrowed down the thousands of entries to five finalists in each category and then opened it up to the public to vote on the design that would win each category, with more than one million votes cast by the contest's end.

"The government of Canada is pleased the mint has given Canadians a taste of celebrations to come by unveiling the designs that will change the face of our 2017 circulation coins," said Finance Minister Bill Morneau in a statement.

"These coins will stand the test of time as memorable keepsakes of a milestone in Canadian history."

All of the coins in the new circulation series will start hitting the streets in the spring of 2017.