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OTTAWA, June 7, 2012 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Mint is pleased to introduce the $10 Fine Silver Coin Canadian Geographic Photo Contest - Praying Mantis,

which features the work of Robert Ganz, the grand prize winner in the fourth annual Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year contest. The coin and the award-winning photograph which inspired it are the centerpieces of the Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa.  This exhibition showcases the work of contest winners from across Canada, from June 8 to August 26, 2012.

The reverse side of the collector coin which beautifully captures Mr. Ganz's work features a slender praying mantis clinging to the underside of a tufted grass flower. The sharp contours of the mantis' body starkly contrast the soft texture of the downward-curving plant. This elegantly designed coin has a limited mintage of 7,500 and is composed of 99.99% fine silver. It will retail for $69.95 CAD when it goes on sale July 16, 2012.

"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to celebrate both our nation's talent and natural beauty by reproducing a stunning Canadian wildlife photograph on an eye-catching collector coin" said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.  "The breathtaking moment captured by the lens of Robert Ganz can now live on for the enjoyment of coin collectors and nature lovers world-wide thanks to the crafting of a fine new silver collector coin from the Royal Canadian Mint."

"The Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year contest attests to the artistry, talent and determination of the photographers who are keen to share with other Canadians their own fascination with wildlife," said André Préfontaine, Executive Director of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. "As a result of the unique partnership of the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Royal Canadian Mint and Canadian Geographic, Canadians will have unprecedented access to this year's winning photos that are featured in the exhibition, on a collector coin and in the magazine."

The public can view the stunning wildlife imagery captured by all the contest winners, runner-ups and honourable mentions online at http://photoclub.canadiangeographic.ca/photos/wildlife_contest/default.aspx.

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.

About Canadian Geographic Enterprises
Canadian Geographic Enterprises (CGE) publishes the award-winning Canadian Geographic magazine, Canadian Geographic Travel and Géographica. CGE is wholly-owned by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, among the largest not-for-profit education organizations in the country. CGE also operates related websites and the Canadian Geographic Photo Club, Canada's most extensive online photographic community that is also the home of the annual CG Photo Contest and the Canadian Wildlife Photo of the Year Contest.