SILVER (Ag) PRODUCERS

[NYBob]

Coeur Begins Pre-Commissioning of San Bartolome Silver Mine
in Potosi, Bolivia -



Expected to Become World’s Largest Pure Silver Mine -
February 12, 2008 - 8:57 AM EST

Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation -
(NYSE:CDE) (TSX:CDM) (ASX:CXC) announced today that it has
begun pre-commissioning activities at its -
San Bartolomé silver mine -
which is expected to produce over ten million ounces of silver
during its first twelve months of full-scale operations.

All major plant equipment at San Bartolomé is now in place.
The Company expects the processing facilities to be connected
to the national electrical grid during the second half of
February, at which point full commissioning of the crushers
and mills will commence.
Processing of ore is expected to begin during the second
half of March.
Production and plant utilization will then steadily increase
with full plant capacity anticipated to be reached in August.
“In reaching the finish line at,
the San Bartolomé silver mine -
we are very pleased to report the success in completing
this world-class project while maintaining the highest
standards of safety, quality of construction, and adherence
to cost and scheduling,” said Dennis E. Wheeler,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Over 1,600 workers, almost all of them Bolivians,
have done an excellent job in constructing what will be
the world’s largest pure silver mine,
surpassing over 3.7 million man hours without a lost time
accident, a truly remarkable achievement given the size
and scope of this state-of-the-art facility.

Coeur is proud of the strong community, government and
economic relationships we have developed with the people
and organizations of Potosi and Bolivia, and the Company
is excited about placing the mine into production
and generating value for all stakeholders.”

Overview of Key Mine Metrics:

* Expected silver production during remainder of 2008
of over six million ounces

* Operating cash costs once plant reaches full-scale
operations in August through the end of the year
are expected to be $4.10 per ounce of silver
(excluding royalties and production taxes
of $2.03 per ounce)

* Over ten million ounces of silver production during
the first twelve months of full-scale operations

* 153.0 million ounces of silver mineral reserves
and 34.2 million ounces of additional indicated
mineral resource

* Estimated mine life of 14 years

Year-end 2007 Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources
Category Tonnes Ag Grade (g/t) Contained Ag Ounces

Probable Mineral Reserves
37,900,000 125 153,000,000
Indicated Mineral Resources 14,550,000 73 34,190,000
Inferred Mineral Resources 225,000 61 444,000

Note: Using a silver price of $11/ounce.

Mineral Resources are in addition to Mineral Reserves
and estimated with a cut-off grade of 50 Ag g/t.

Mineral Reserve cut-off grades variable from 63 g/t to
71 g/t based on deposit and ore type.

Additional photographs of the operation can be accessed
through Coeur’s website at

http://www.coeur.com

About Coeur

Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation is one of the world’s
leading silver companies and also a significant gold producer.

Coeur, which has no silver or gold production hedged,
is presently constructing two of the world’s largest
silver mines –
San Bartolomé in Bolivia
and Palmarejo in Mexico;
operates two underground mines in southern Chile
and Argentina and one surface mine in Nevada;
and owns non-operating interests in two low-cost mines
in Australia.
The Company also owns a major gold project in Alaska
and conducts exploration activities in Argentina,
Bolivia, Chile, Mexico and Tanzania.
Coeur common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol CDE, the Toronto Stock Exchange under
the symbol CDM, and its CHESS Depositary Interests are
traded on the Australian Securities Exchange
under symbol CXC.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada, including statements regarding anticipated operating results. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of Coeur. Operating, exploration and financial data, and other statements in this press release are based on information that Coeur believes is reasonable, but involve significant uncertainties affecting the business of Coeur, including, but not limited to, future gold and silver prices, costs, ore grades, estimation of gold and silver reserves, mining and processing conditions, construction schedules, currency exchange rates, and the completion and/or updating of mining feasibility studies, changes that could result from future acquisitions of new mining properties or businesses, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically related conditions), regulatory and permitting matters, risks inherent in the ownership and operation of, or investment in, mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with the SEC and the Ontario Securities Commission, including, without limitation, Coeur’s reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and Palmarejo’s Annual Information Form. Actual results, developments and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coeur disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Coeur undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Coeur, its financial or operating results or its securities.

Donald J. Birak, Coeur’s Senior Vice President of Exploration,
is the qualified person responsible for the preparation
of the scientific and technical information concerning
Coeur’s mineral projects in this news release.
For a description of the key assumptions, parameters
and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and
resources, as well as a general discussion of the extent
to which the estimates may be affected by any known
environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation,
socio-political, marketing or other relevant factors,
please see the Technical Reports for each of
Coeur’s properties as filed on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.

Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation
Director, Investor Relations North America
Tony Ebersole,
208-665-0777


Source: Business Wire (February 12, 2008 - 8:57 AM EST)

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