2017 25-cent Coin - 125th Anniversary of the Stanley Cup Ten Coin 

Inspiring awe, hope and fascination wherever it travels, the Stanley Cup® is more than just a trophy: it's a national treasure intimately associated with a game that ignites deep passion and pride among Canadians—and is ingrained into our very sense of national identity. From its humble beginnings as a sterling silver bowl donated by Governor General, Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley to recognize the country's top amateur hockey club, the Stanley Cup® has become one of the most revered trophies in all of sports.

As the only trophy in professional sports tobear the engraved names of winning team's players, staff and management, its history is engraved directly onto the Stanley Cup® itself. This tradition started in 1893 whenthe first Cup was awarded to the Montréal Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA), on behalf of the Montréal Hockey Club. By 1902, there was no room left on the base attached to the bowl for any more engravings.As a result, teams began inscribing their names on and even inside the bowl itself!

Several tiered rings and narrow bands were added over the years to make space for more engravings, giving the Cup a long, cigar-like shape. The “Stovepipe” Cup was redesigned in the late 1940s, leading to theintroduction of the current iconic one-piece designin 1958. Today, the five bands that make up the barrel of the Cup have enough space to engrave 52 namesfrom 13 winning teams. When all the rings are full,the oldest band is removed and preserved at the Hockey Hall of Fame, and a new blank band is added to the bottom of the Cup.

The Stanley Cup® is the oldest trophy in professional sports—and through the countless names that have been etched onto its surface—it is the keeper of 125 years of victories, traditions and dreams. While its purpose andappearance have changed throughout the years, the Cup itself remains forever linked to Canada's winter sport, connecting generations of Canadians to our collective passion for hockey for well over a century and counting. Truly, its history is interwoven with our own. And no matter what team wins it or where it may go, the Stanley Cup®'s home will always be Canada.

The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to mark the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup® witha quarter—pocket change that pays tributeto hockey's ultimate prize and a celebrated Canadian icon.

The design of this new coin depicts the Stanley Cup® flanked by two hockey players. On the left is a player who would have vied for the trophy in its earliest days; on the right is a player from today's era. Together, they represent the full span of the Cup's rich history.