The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) is the Crown corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets Canada’s coins and a wide range of related products and services. It produces Canadian circulation coins, bullion (e.g., Maple Leaf coins and bars), and numismatic/collector coins; operates a precious-metals refinery and assay services; develops anti-counterfeiting technology; and fulfills foreign coinage contracts for other countries. The Mint is wholly owned by the Government of Canada and operates on a commercial, self-financing basis under the Royal Canadian Mint Act.
Bank notes are issued by the Bank of Canada; the Mint is responsible for coins.
| Type | Crown corporation (Government of Canada) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1908 (Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint); Crown corporation since 1969 |
| Mandate | Produce and manage Canada’s coinage; manufacture and market bullion/numismatics; provide refinery and coinage services in Canada and abroad |
| Facilities | Ottawa, ON (numismatics, bullion, refinery, R&D, boutique) • Winnipeg, MB (high-volume circulation coin production for Canada and foreign clients; tours) |
| Canadian denominations (current) | 5¢ • 10¢ • 25¢ • $1 loonie • $2 toonie (1-cent coin withdrawn from circulation in 2012) |
| Official site | mint.ca |
Mandate and what the Mint does
The Royal Canadian Mint:
- Designs and produces Canadian circulation coins and manages the national coin supply on behalf of the Government of Canada (demand forecasting, production, distribution, and recycling of worn coins).
- Manufactures and markets bullion (gold, silver, platinum, palladium) including Maple Leaf coins and bars, with assay and secure packaging/certification options.
- Creates numismatic and collector coins featuring Canadian themes, commemorations, and innovative technologies (colour, selective plating, novel shapes, special finishes).
- Provides a precious-metals refinery and assay laboratory that refines and tests gold and silver to high purities for bullion and industrial customers.
- Supplies foreign coinage—blanks and finished circulation coins—for dozens of countries through international contracts.
- Develops and deploys anti-counterfeiting and security technologies for circulation and bullion products (e.g., micro-engraving, radial lines, latent images, multi-ply plated steel).
Facilities
- Ottawa (1908)
The historic Sussex Drive complex focuses on lower-volume, high-value production (numismatics and bullion), precious-metals refining and assay, research and development, and a public boutique. Select tours and special events are offered.
- Winnipeg (1976)
One of the world’s most automated coin plants, Winnipeg strikes Canadian circulation coins and large foreign orders. It also hosts an education centre and guided tours.
Canadian circulation coins
| Denomination | Composition/notes | Common nickname(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 cents | Multi-ply plated steel (nickel finish) | — |
| 10 cents | Multi-ply plated steel (nickel finish) | — |
| 25 cents | Multi-ply plated steel (nickel finish); frequent commemoratives | — |
| $1 | Aureate (brass-plated) multi-ply plated steel; loon design | Loonie |
| $2 | Bi-metallic: outer ring multi-ply plated steel, inner core aluminum-bronze/brass; security features on newer issues | Toonie |
- The 1-cent coin was withdrawn from circulation in 2012; cash transactions are typically rounded to the nearest 5¢.
- Canadian circulation coins periodically feature commemorative designs (e.g., anniversaries, poppy quarters, Indigenous themes, sporting events), sometimes with colour.
- Security updates introduced in the 2010s added micro-engraving, precise radial lines, and advanced platings to deter counterfeiting.
Bullion: Maple Leaf coins and bars
The Mint’s flagship bullion includes:
- Gold Maple Leaf (GML) and Silver Maple Leaf (SML) coins, typically .9999 fine with industry-leading purity and precision.
- Platinum and Palladium Maple Leaf coins (select years).
- Gold and silver bars with serialized certificates.
Bullion coins feature precision radial lines and a micro-engraved maple-leaf privy mark (by year) on many issues, enabling optical verification. The Mint also offers dealer programs and authentication tools for market participants.
Numismatic and collector coins
RCM produces annual core sets and special issues that showcase Canadian history, culture, wildlife, technology, and art. Innovations include:
- Selective colour and plating (e.g., gold, rose-gold accents)
- Unusual shapes/cuts and high-relief strikes
- Glow-in-the-dark and textured finishes
Many issues are sold in limited mintages with certificates and presentation packaging; some are struck at Winnipeg and carry a “W” mint mark, while others bear none (standard Canadian circulation coins typically have no mint mark).
Refinery and assay services
The Ottawa refinery refines gold and silver to high purities suitable for bullion production and provides third-party assaying. It also fabricates blanks and components for Mint products and for contract customers.
Foreign coinage
Through international contracts, the Winnipeg facility supplies coin blanks and finished circulation coins to numerous countries. Contracts vary by denomination, composition, and security requirements, leveraging the plant’s high-volume automation.
Anti-counterfeiting & security technology
Canadian circulation and bullion products incorporate:
- Micro-engraving and machine-readable privy elements
- Radial line fields and precise bi-metallic joins (on $2)
- Multi-ply plated steel technology for durability and security
The Mint also provides authentication assistance and education to financial institutions, retailers, and law enforcement.
History (concise timeline)
- 1908: Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint opens; the first domestically struck Canadian coin (a 50-cent piece) is produced.
- 1931: Control transferred from the UK; the facility becomes the Royal Canadian Mint.
- 1969: RCM becomes a Crown corporation under the Royal Canadian Mint Act.
- 1976: Winnipeg facility opens for high-volume circulation production.
- 1987: Introduction of the $1 loonie; the $1 bank note is replaced in circulation by coin.
- 1996: Introduction of the bi-metallic $2 toonie; the $2 bank note is replaced in circulation by coin.
- 2004: First colourized circulation quarter featuring the poppy.
- 2012: 1-cent coin withdrawn from circulation; cash rounding begins.
- 2010s–present: Expanded bullion program, advanced security features, and continued international coinage contracts.
Governance and finances
The Mint reports to Parliament through the Minister of Finance. A Board of Directors provides corporate oversight; day-to-day operations are led by an executive team. The RCM is intended to be financially self-sustaining, generating revenue from coinage services, bullion and numismatics, and international/contract work, while meeting public-policy obligations for Canada’s coin supply.
Visiting the Mint
- Ottawa (Sussex Drive): boutique, seasonal tours, and special events; historic architecture and displays.
- Winnipeg (Fermor Avenue): guided tours showcasing automated production lines, with a visitor gallery and boutique.
See also
- Canadian dollar • Bank of Canada • Coins of the Canadian dollar
- Royal Canadian Mint Act • Bank of Canada Museum • Parks Canada (nearby federal attractions)
External links (official)
- Royal Canadian Mint — Home: https://www.mint.ca/
- Royal Canadian Mint — Bullion: https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/bullion
- Royal Canadian Mint — Tours & visits: https://www.mint.ca/en/discover/tours