NYMEX To Host US Debut Of Royal Canadian Mint's 220-LB, 99.999% Pure Gold Bullion Coin With A $1 Million Face Value

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) will host the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) for the U.S. debut of two new products to the international gold bullion market: the world's first 220-pound (100 kilogram), 99999 pure gold bullion coin with a $1 million face value and a 99999 pure one-ounce Gold Maple Leaf (GML) bullion coin at the NYMEX headquarters in Lower Manhattan on May 16.

These coins, produced by the RCM in its facility in Ottawa, Canada, represent the highest achievement in gold purity in the bullion market. The RCM's Ottawa facility also operates a gold and silver refinery and produces high-quality collector coins. The 220– pound, 99999 pure gold bullion coin was originally conceived as a unique showpiece to promote the RCM's purest line of one-ounce GML bullion coins. After several interested buyers came forward, the RCM decided to make a very limited quantity available for sale.

The 99999 pure one–ounce Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin joins the existing family of Gold Maple Leaf products which are internationally renowned for their purity and quality. It is being released for general sale to the public after a successful trial production of a 99999 pure gold bullion coin and positive marketplace reaction. Although this coin presents a new standard in investment products, there are currently no plans to replace the 9999 pure Gold Maple Leaf bullion coins.

NYMEX President and Chief Executive Officer James E. Newsome said, "We are pleased to host the Royal Canadian Mint and to help it showcase its innovative gold bullion products. NYMEX continues to be committed to the precious and base metals markets. Metals trading on NYMEX has increased by 53 percent in the first quarter of 2007 from the previous quarter, and metals are significant to the growth of NYMEX as a whole."

"The Royal Canadian Mint operates in a very competitive environment, which is especially true of the international gold bullion market," said Ian E. Bennett, RCM President and CEO. "Our 100–kg and one–ounce, 99999 pure gold bullion coins are an achievement that separates the RCM from a large field of competitors, and we are grateful to NYMEX for helping promote our new gold bullion coins, which will help further the RCM's reputation for excellence around the globe."

The GML gold bullion coin was first launched in September 1979, as a one–ounce investment coin, and the first to be struck in pure gold. It was 999 pure until 1982, when its purity was raised to 9999, setting a new benchmark for gold bullion coins. In 2007, the RCM has succeeded in maintaining its tradition of leadership in the gold bullion industry by raising the bar once more, to an unprecedented 99999 purity level. GML gold bullion coins are distributed through an extensive network of bullion dealers and offer investors a simple and easy way to add precious metals to their investment portfolios. Interested buyers seeking additional information about these new investment products are invited to visit the RCM web site at http://www.mint.ca or call (866) 677-1477.

The RCM, an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The RCM 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 RCM and its products and services, visit www.mint.ca.