In celebration of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s 75th anniversary, the Royal Canadian Mint has introduced a unique silver collector coin, unveiled by Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall. Prince Charles and Camilla made a stop in Winnipeg, MB, yesterday as part of their Canadian tour, and Camilla paid a visit to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's wife, Laureen Harper. The guests first toured the ballet company’s wardrobe department, observed a ballet class for those with physical and developmental disabilities, watched a pas de deux, and then Camilla unveiled the commemorative coin. After the unveiling, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Shelly Glover presented Camilla with one of the coins. “The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is among Canada’s most prestigious and dynamic cultural institutions, renowned for teaching, creating and performing outstanding dance for the past 75 years,” said Minister Glover. “Our government is a proud supporter of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and wishes it prolonged success as it continues to flourish in Winnipeg.” The coin features an engraved rendition of a photograph from one Canada’s top dance photographers, David Cooper. The image is of six dancers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s production of The Sleeping Beauty. Using “sheer effect” colour, the engraving vibrantly highlights the traditional tutus of the dancers. “As the Royal Winnipeg Ballet celebrates 75 years of bringing joy to audiences and dance enthusiasts alike, we continue to spark excitement and artistic innovation as one of the world’s premiere dance companies,” said André Lewis, artistic director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. “The beautifully crafted coin by the Mint adds to an exciting year of performances and celebrations befitting Canada’s oldest ballet company.” The $20 silver coin has a limited mintage of 7,500, retails for $114.95 and comes in its own music box. (When opened, the box plays a Sleeping Beauty melody composed by Tchaikovsky.) If you’d like to purchase this special commemorative coin, visit the Royal Canadian Mint website. Photo courtesy of the Royal Canadian Mint