CFL.ca Staff

REGINA -- Saskatchewan Roughrider fans are known to be raucous, but now they've literally gone loonie.

Hundreds of fans lined up in Regina to get their hands on one of three million Saskatchewan Roughrider loonies unveiled by the Royal Canadian Mint.

“This circulation coin is a tremendous honour for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and a unique opportunity for our fans across the country to show their Rider pride," stated Riders President and CEO Jim Hopson. “We are extremely grateful to the Royal Canadian Mint for producing the Rider Centennial Loonie and leaving a lasting legacy across Canada.”

The loonie, with a giant "S" on one side, was minted to help the football club celebrate its 100th anniversary. The three million “Centennial loonies” will be introduced to the marketplace across western Canada over the next few days, with a series of coin exchanges planned to publicize the launch and provide opportunities for the public to obtain this unique coin.

James Love, chairman of the board of the mint, jokes that he thinks fans will be delighted to get the coin even if it was minted in Winnipeg, which is home to the Blue Bombers.

Love says he doubts the coins will see much circulation as fans pocket the collectible.

The Riders are only the second team to get centennial loonies after the mint introduced a one dollar coin to mark the Montreal Canadiens 100th anniversary last year.

“The Saskatchewan Roughriders are icons of Canadian football and the Government of Canada is proud to join Canadians in celebrating their 100th anniversary,” said the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport). “This new coin produced by the Mint has immortalized an important milestone in Canadian sports history which Rider fans and Canadian football enthusiasts alike can cherish for years to come.”

“The Roughriders and their legendary fan base have been part of Saskatchewan culture for a century and the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to commemorate their special place in Canadian sports history through this new one-dollar circulation coin,” said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “Each of the three million 2010 Saskatchewan Roughriders Centennial one-dollar coins entering circulation today will be a permanent tribute to the incredible spirit and pride of generations of Roughrider fans.”

Canadians can now find the one-dollar commemorative circulation coins in their change, or order online (while supplies last) by visiting www.mint.ca/roughriders.

Coin exchanges will occur between September 2-5 in Regina, Moose Jaw and Saskatoon. For additional details, visit www.riderville.com for times and locations.

-with files from The Canadian Press