Royal Canadian Mint’s 2012 celebratory coin series - Polidicks

[QUOTE=The National Post][B]Gary Taxali brings joy and style to the Royal Canadian Mint’s 2012 celebratory coin series[/B] Beavers, moose and maple leaves — these are the markers on our national currency that we’ve come to know and associate with our country’s identity. Gary Taxali will change that. The internationally renowned artist has teamed up with The Royal Canadian Mint for a series of six 2012 celebratory coins that promises to bring ice cream cones, tooth fairies and smiley faces to our quarters. When was the last time a moose on a quarter smiled at you? The Toronto-based artist, whose resume spans from The New York Times and Rolling Stone to Converse and Levi’s, as well as a teaching position at OCAD, was contracted by the Royal Mint to design six coins, each reflecting a specific theme. Given complete artistic freedom, Taxali brought life to the themes of birthday, new baby, wedding, tooth fairy, O Canada and holiday. “Creative freedom is kind of an understatement,” says Taxali. “It was easy, fluid, balanced and it was fun and collaborative. It was so much creative freedom that it got to the point where I was waiting for some higher-up to be like, ‘Oh, this is crazy, we can’t do that!’ “I’m sure it was hard for them to say ‘yeah’ because it’s a bit of a leap on their part since the themes in the past tended to be a bit on the conservative side, in terms of imagery. Mine are little whacky characters with their tongues sticking out. I didn’t feel once that I compromised myself, artistically.” Beyond that, the Royal Mint allowed a few firsts: Taxali was allowed to imprint his initials on each coin and was also allowed to use his own font style called ‘Chumply’. In short, he got the “entire real estate.” “It’s a dream job and every time I talk about it, the only word I can really describe is honour,” says Taxali. “It’s a huge, huge honour to be bestowed this kind of privilege and we came up with a really good representation of my work.” The coin that Taxali is most proud of is the wedding-themed coin, featuring two intertwining rings that represent a gender-neutral marriage. “I live in a country where gender is irrelevant and the coin has to represent that,” says Taxali. “I thought it would be a nice thing to represent that and to show two rings; is one a man and one a woman? Two men? Two women? It doesn’t matter what they are, they represent the union of two people. “The Royal Mint really liked that idea because it represents the spirit of our nation and also, I think that it’s empowering to somebody and hopefully this calling will send a powerful message that we’re all the same and a wedding is a wedding. I think this is probably the first piece of currency in the world, paid by a federal government that is pro-wedding regardless of gender and that makes me really happy.” The significance behind this, as Taxali explains, is not only commendable, on our country’s part, but also indicative of our identities outside of the conservative images of the wildlife and maple leaves. “I think it says that our country is young and open-minded; I think that it says we’re cool!” says Taxali. “We’ve got something to say and maybe this is a bit of a benchmark, it says that we are our money and our stamps are a reflection of the citizens.” In Taxali’s reflective modesty, he muses that this project could’ve been handed to many other artists and that he just lucked out as the first. He hopes that this will spark more future collaborations, though, as Canada’s booming with a bevy of talent. “There are so many artists that would do so many amazing coins,” explains Taxali. “The stuff that we use is currency and the stuff that we use to represent Canadian symbols should be made by people who have different points of views and ideals because that’s what the country is comprised of.” [B]By Melody Lau[/B][/QUOTE] [img]http://nationalpostarts.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/coin1.jpg[/img] What do other countries do with their currency? Canada does all sorts of fucked up stuff with its.

So more currency that sometimes just doesn't work in vending machines? Fuck.

[QUOTE=Cl0cK;34369423]So more currency that sometimes just doesn't work in vending machines? Fuck.[/QUOTE] That shit never happens to me, it only happens to toonies. Nothing else, just toonies.

I can understand the rings but why put little feet on them?

[QUOTE=Hidole555;34369447]I can understand the rings but why put little feet on them?[/QUOTE] looks neat I guess? What are the rings even for.

Man, one time i bought something in a vending machine, and not only did i get my drink but it started spitting out toonies. i shit you not, i got $4 back when i paid $2.25. No, thank YOU Coca Cola!

[QUOTE=doonbugie2;34369456]looks neat I guess? What are the rings even for.[/QUOTE] bad reading [QUOTE]The coin that Taxali is most proud of is the wedding-themed coin, featuring two intertwining rings that represent a gender-neutral marriage.[/QUOTE]

are those rings having sex? [editline]24th January 2012[/editline] oh, gender-neutral sex. ok

[QUOTE=Cl0cK;34369423]So more currency that sometimes just doesn't work in vending machines? Fuck.[/QUOTE] Their size is identical to every other quarter. [editline]24th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Triumph Forks;34369508] oh, gender-neutral sex. ok[/QUOTE] the best kind

I must have terrible mutant quarters then.

[QUOTE=Sixer;34369419][ What do other countries do with their currency? Canada does all sorts of fucked up stuff with its.[/QUOTE] Canada also makes super bling coins as well. [img]http://www.mint.ca/store/dyn/MEDIA_ProductCatalog/m1480050_114635_rev_388.png[/img] Awwww yeah.

[QUOTE=Sumap;34370066]Canada also makes super bling coins as well. [img]http://www.mint.ca/store/dyn/MEDIA_ProductCatalog/m1480050_114635_rev_388.png[/img] Awwww yeah.[/QUOTE] wonder why the queen never looks left bet there's something scary over there

Fucking sexy coins asdf

[QUOTE=Cl0cK;34369423]So more currency that sometimes just doesn't work in vending machines? Fuck.[/QUOTE] why would you use the dope coins on vending machines?

[QUOTE=Lemonator;34370142]why would you use the dope coins on vending machines?[/QUOTE] Because after a while you get tired of seeing them Like all of the Vancouver quarters, Jesus fuck so many skiing people

[QUOTE=Zeke129;34370100]wonder why the queen never looks left bet there's something scary over there[/QUOTE] Alberta and BC.

[QUOTE=Sumap;34370066]Canada also makes super bling coins as well. [img]http://www.mint.ca/store/dyn/MEDIA_ProductCatalog/m1480050_114635_rev_388.png[/img] Awwww yeah.[/QUOTE] Gets weirder. One after Osama died. [img]http://media.salon.com/2012/01/coin-460x307.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Firespray;34370241]Gets weirder. [img]http://media.salon.com/2012/01/coin-460x307.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] A coin with the US military on it that says "you can run but you cannot hide" is actually kind of scary [img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1S008rdjknU/TwHezFYteOI/AAAAAAAACns/FsqQfa5ryS8/s1600/big-brother-watching-obamacartoon.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=zzzz;34370324]A coin with the US military on it that says "you can run but you cannot hide" is actually kind of scary[/QUOTE] When I said "fucked up" I really meant, "silly" or "dumb." I sit corrected. THAT is fucked up.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;34370100]wonder why the queen never looks left bet there's something scary over there[/QUOTE] She looks left on postage stamps She probably just sits there during her spare time turning her head going "I'm a stamp! Now I'm a coin! I'm a stamp! Now I'm a coin! I'm a stamp! Now I'm a coin!"