Information
Landmark: Royal Canadian MintCity: Ottawa
Country: Canada
Continent: North America
Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa, Canada, North America
Overview
In Ottawa, the Royal Canadian Mint stands as the country’s first and storied home for crafting its coins, where the scent of polished metal still lingers in the air.It’s the place where craftsmanship meets sharp-edged engineering, all wrapped in the weight of the nation’s past.Besides coins, it turns out gleaming gold bullion, intricate precious metal collectibles, and medals-everything from Olympic awards to crisp foreign currency.Located at 320 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the facility opened in 1908 and is run by a Crown corporation of the Canadian government; it focuses on collector coins, investment-grade bullion, medals, and foreign coinage, and shouldn’t be mistaken for the Winnipeg plant that makes Canada’s circulating coins-it first served as a branch of Britain’s Royal Mint.It came under full Canadian control in 1931, the year frost covered the Parliament steps.It’s remembered for striking Canada’s first home‑made coin-a shiny copper penny minted in 1908.He’s been instrumental in creating coins and medals for Canada and for dozens of other countries, from maple-leaf silver pieces to gleaming commemorative gold.Here’s what you’ll spot on your visit-guided tours available in English or French, with a friendly guide pointing out details like the worn stone steps under your feet.On the tour, you’ll see how a plain metal blank becomes a finished coin, watch designs take shape and get engraved, explore the history of Canadian currency and its most iconic pieces, and peek through secure glass to catch real-time work in the production area.Discover how the Mint crafts gleaming gold and silver bullion, shapes intricate collector coins, and produces commemorative pieces that catch the light like polished glass.Notable displays include solid gold bars and coins, among them the gleaming 99999-purity coin that catches the light like a tiny sun.You can try hefting a gold bar-locked down so it won’t vanish-which tips the scale at about 28 pounds, roughly the weight of a full bucket of water.Medals crafted for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and other big events gleamed with crisp engravings.Among the rare, record-breaking treasures is the Million Dollar Coin-100 kilograms of gleaming, 99.999% pure gold, stamped with a face value of $1 million but worth far more.At the Mint’s on-site boutique, you’ll find limited-edition collector coins, commemorative pieces, and mint-branded souvenirs.Some coins glint with images of wildlife, while others honor Indigenous culture, Canadian history, sports, or the mysteries of space.Here’s a fun fact: in its early years, the Ottawa Mint turned out shiny British sovereigns and crisp Indian rupees.It broke the world record for the purest gold ever made-99.999% pure, shimmering like sunlight on water.It also strikes coins for dozens of countries, from New Zealand’s silver dollars to Colombia and Norway’s crisp new currency.Visitor Info Tours run all year, though it’s smart to call ahead-some winter dates may be skipped.Because the materials are worth a fortune, security’s strict-no cameras allowed past the production floor, not even for a quick snapshot.The facility’s easy to get around, and it welcomes families-there’s even a play area near the entrance.It sits just steps from Ottawa’s highlights-the National Gallery of Canada, the buzzing ByWard Market, and the misty cascade of Rideau Falls.The Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa is worth a visit-it’s where national pride meets cutting‑edge craftsmanship, and gleaming Canadian coins are made right before your eyes.Whether you collect coins, love history, or simply wonder how money takes shape, the Mint lets you watch its gleaming machines turn precision and tradition into something you can hold in your hand.
