Royal Canadian Mint – history of the mint

Canadian currency was initially minted at London’s Royal Mint, although some circulation coins were also created at the privately owned Heaton Mint in Birmingham. In a wave of independence aspirations, a local mint in Ottawa was developed in 1890.

Officially opened in 1908, the mint first had the status of a branch of the Royal Mint and minted 50-cent coins. After Canada gained independence, the Royal Canadian Mint was established under the management of the Department of Finance of Canada. In 1969, the mint underwent a reorganization and became an autonomous institution. Royal Canadian Mint’s headquarters are still located in Ottawa, but a second complex, in Winnipeg, was built in 1976.

Royal Canadian Mint today

The Ottawa facility deals almost exclusively with the production of collector and investment coins, while the Winnipeg facility mints circulation coins for Canada and other countries. The collector offerings are primarily coins featuring Queen Elizabeth.

The new series also includes, among others:

• Lunar Year of the Dragon silver coins (1 oz.),
• Maple Leaf silver coins (1006 g),

Remembrance Day silver coins (1 ounce).

Investment gold can be purchased in the form of commemorative coins, such as those with a Grizzly bear, frigate or marten design. There are also coins commemorating famous Canadians and decorative medals finished with precious stones.