The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The new Flintabbatey Flonatin coins jingling around in the pockets of residents have proven to be as popular as their designers had hoped. "I think the response has been very positive to this point," said Doug O'Brien, president of the Chamber of Commerce, which had the coins minted along with the City of Flin Flon. "They've been well excepted by the businesses and also by the community in general." The $3 coin, legal tender at local businesses until September 2004, was unveiled at a gala early last month. A total of 10,000 coins were minted. The Chamber will use the bi-metal coins as a fundraiser. The more coins that people keep as souvenirs, the more money they will make for the business organization. From talking to residents about the coins, O'Brien said he feels many people are eager to hang onto the keepsakes. "People might be buying them for friends who don't live here anymore or for family members as a gift and that sort of thing," he commented. The popular coins feature Flintabbatey Flonatin on one side and the City of Flin Flon shield on the other. Chamber members began discussing having the coins minted earlier this year when new ideas for fundraisers were being bandied about. The City agreed to pay the upfront costs of having the coins minted Ñ roughly $1 per coin. The Chamber will repay the City with the anticipated profits from the venture. Eager for new revenue streams, the Chamber anticipates making several thousand dollars from the coins. Over the years, Flinty has also appeared on items such as hats, T-shirts and mugs.
