Founded in 1908, the Royal Canadian Mint is the crown organization responsible for all of the special edition and Maple gold Leaf bullion investment coins in circulation in Canada, along with medallions and sports medals. It no longer deals with ordinary cash. Its Ottawa headquarters are located in an ornate historic building, where roughly 70% of Canada’s gold is processed. The headquarters are open on a daily basis for public tours. Just make sure you reserve a place beforehand.
The tour usually lasts around 45 minutes, and you will be guided through an interactive journey exploring how the coins are made. Among the many spectacular things you will encounter are the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics medals, and the unfathomable Million Dollar Coin. You will also be exposed to the skill and creativity that goes into producing a coin, along with the technological developments that made this possible. This includes an informative live demonstration.
The Royal Canadian Mint is located centrally, and is just a short walk away from other major attractions like the National Gallery of Canada and the vibrant ByWard Market. It offers a fun and educational space in which to learn about the production side of Canada’s vast array of coins.