Coeur Shareholders Overwhelmingly Approve Proposals; Company Also Provides Update on Exploration Activities and Debt Reduction Efforts.

Business Editors

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2002

Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation (NYSE:CDE) today announced its shareholders elected directors and approved four proposals at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders held today.

Coeur's shareholders elected a slate of ten directors, approved an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock from 125 million to 250 million, and approved increases in the numbers of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Company's Executive Compensation Program and Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.

Highlights from the Company's presentation to its shareholders included:

Positive Exploration Results

Coeur continues to generate positive exploration results at Cerro Bayo in Chile and Martha in Argentina.

At Cerro Bayo, four drill rigs are presently active. Two are focused on delineating additional reserves in the immediate area of mining operations. The other two are being used for "step-out" drilling up to 1.0 mile to the north and 0.6 miles to the south of the existing mine infrastructure in order to expand total resources. The drilling program is part of an expanded $1.2 million exploration program taking place during the second half of 2002. The program's objectives are to increase reserves/resources and improve our geologic understanding of the highly prospective 3 mile wide by 6 mile long Cerro Bayo mineralized zone.

The Company has intersected new vein structures at Cerro Bayo. During recent drilling on the Celia vein -- one of the main sources of new reserves -- Coeur intersected two new veins. Select values from these intercepts on the new Marta vein located 80 feet west of the Celia vein included 6.6 feet of 36.3 oz/ton silver and 0.17 oz/ton gold and 4.0 feet of 42.9 oz/ton silver and 0.39 oz/ton gold.

At Martha, Coeur has now completed twelve reverse circulation holes totaling 2,600 feet and is planning to drill an additional sixteen holes. These holes were drilled to assess the potential in the immediate area of the mining operations where additional reserves could be defined. Early results included 13.0 feet of 162 oz/ton silver and 0.14 oz/ton gold located outside the eastern limits of the existing reserves. This result suggests that there is a good probability that the mineralized zone could be extended eastwards of the lower level of the mine and could significantly increase the grades of the reserve block defined in that area.

Continued Debt Reductions

Coeur's outstanding indebtedness has decreased to $105 million, down from $146 million at the beginning of the year. A significant portion of the remaining debt continues to voluntarily convert into shares of Coeur's common stock. Since June 30, approximately $21.9 million of debt has converted into shares of common stock.

Since embarking on its debt reduction program in 1998, the Company has reduced its annual cash interest expense from $20.4 million to approximately $5.3 million. Together with the Company's significant growth in its low-cost silver production, Coeur should generate positive cash flow during the remainder of 2002.

Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation is the world's largest primary silver producer, as well as a significant, low-cost producer of gold. The Company has mining interests in Nevada, Idaho, Alaska, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.

This document contains numerous forward-looking statements relating to the Company's silver and gold mining business and future transactions effecting its liquidity and capital resources. The United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Operating, exploration and financial data, and other statements in this document are based on information the company believes reasonable, but involve significant uncertainties as to future gold and silver prices, costs, ore grades, estimation of gold and silver reserves, mining and processing conditions, changes that could result from the Company's future acquisition 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, and risks inherent in the ownership and operation of, or investment in, mining properties or businesses in foreign countries. Actual results and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.