(Original link at Toronto Sun.)
(Toronto Sun)
Angela Hennessy, Toronto Sun
Published on Tue Aug 05 2014
TORONTO – Casa Loma is now marked in Mint history.
The Royal Canadian Mint has designed a coin inspired by a stain glass portion of the McClausland dome located inside the castle.
On Tuesday, the Mint unveiled its newest collector’s coin — covered in translucent and opaque enamel — as part of a three-coin series honouring Canadian landmarks.
“Casa Loma was built to celebrate the highest forms of architectural craftsmanship and decorative art, and few examples shine brighter than the McCausland dome,” federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver said.
Casa Loma had been a fledgling landmark in Toronto until earlier this year when Liberty Group took it over.
“It’s quite something that Casa Loma is going through right now as they try to renovate and bring it back to life and hopefully the coin will help with that,” Marc Brule, interim president for the Royal Canadian Mint, said.
Casa Loma CEO Nick Di Donato said he is excited about this commemoration.
“It’s an absolute thrill to see the McCausland stained glass dome forever captured by such expert craftsmanship,” he said.
“The idea is that Casa Loma becomes the prolific icon that it should be here in the City of Toronto. It’s a tribute to the arts and culture in Toronto.”
The coin, with a very limited mintage of only 7,500, has a face value of $20 and a retail value of $130.
The first in the stain glass-inspired coin series was revealed last spring and featured the Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. The third coin is expected to be inspired from a landmark in Regina.