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Royal Canadian Mint

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Take a fascinating, affordable tour to learn how coins are made, and shop for unique gifts and collectibles in an historic building near the ByWard Market area.

On your tour, you can learn about the precise art and craft of coin-making, see over $1 million worth of pure gold and even hold a solid gold bar! Discover the mint's storied history, which includes a Guinness World Record for producing the world's largest coin—a 100-kilogram coin made of 99.999% pure gold with a face value of $1 million. On weekdays, you can also watch coins being made. Operating since 1908, the Royal Canadian Mint is one of the world's most respected manufacturers. The mint's Ottawa location makes coins for collectors, many of which commemorate important people and events in Canada's history. It is open daily, year round.

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Royal Canadian Mint, Winnipeg

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Royal canadian mint national historic site of canada.

• 1905 to 1908 (Construction)
• 1909 to 1911 (Significant)
• 1986 to 1986 (Significant)
• 1985 to 1985 (Demolition)
• David Ewart (architect)  (Architect)
• Royal Canadian Mint  (Designation Name)
• The Mint  (Other Name)

Constructed in 1905-1908 to house a branch of the British Royal Mint, this building was one of several designed in the late gothic style by the Department of Public Works in the first part of this century. The building combines the function of a mint (producing coins and medals) with that of a refinery for gold produced by Canadian mines. As a royal mint it also produced imperial gold sovereigns which were a basis of currency. The institution came under the sole jurisdiction of the Government of Canada in 1931 and was re-named the Royal Canadian Mint.

Description of Historic Place

The Royal Canadian Mint National Historic Site of Canada is a two-storey, Tudor-Revival style limestone building. The main part of the building was erected in 1905-1908, the refinery was attached to the rear of the office building in 1909-11. The Royal Canadian Mint is located on Sussex Drive, very close to other government buildings of the period. The formal recognition consists of the building and guardhouse with boundary fence on its legal property boundary at the time of designation (1979).

Heritage Value

Royal Canadian Mint was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1979 because the building combines the function of a mint (producing coins and medals) with that of a refinery for gold produced by Canadian mines. The heritage value of this site resides in its combined historic use, as illustrated by its location, functional design, use of the Tudor-Revival style, and surviving material from its original construction date. Prior to the construction of the Royal Canadian Mint, most Canadian coins were struck at the Royal Mint in London, England, using gold shipped to England from Canada. In January 1908, the Ottawa Branch of Britain’s Royal Mint was officially opened with the striking of a fifty-cent coin. In its early years, the Mint served two functions: it minted coins and it refined gold produced by Canadian mines. The branch mint increased Canada’s ability to maintain some control over its currency. As such, it housed offices and industrial operations. In 1931 the Mint came under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada and was renamed the Royal Canadian Mint. The importance of the building to Canada was evident in the choice of style and the choice of architect. In its styling and its stone cladding, the Royal Canadian Mint was representative of the federal government’s approach to using the stylistic vocabulary of the Tudor Gothic to create a distinctive identity in the Capital. The references to English castles were also well-suited to the Royal Canadian Mint’s function and to its association with the British Royal Mint. The architect, David Ewart, was the Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works. He used the Tudor-Revival style for other prominent federal buildings of the period, particularly the Victoria Memorial Museum National Historic Site of Canada and the Connaught Building National Historic Site of Canada. The Mint facility consists of an office building oriented towards Sussex Drive, and a refinery and workshop placed on an axis at the rear. Access is controlled by a guardhouse admitting entry through a high stone and metal fence. Although originally constructed in 1905-08, with additions in 1909, 1916 and 1951, the Mint experienced its greatest change in 1985, when most of the original building was demolished, leaving only a portion of the façade and tower entryway. The following year, the building was reconstructed to appear identical from the exterior although considerably altered on the interior. In 1987, modifications were made to the south guardhouse to equip it as a visitor reception area. Source: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Minutes, November 1979.

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements which relate to the heritage value of the Royal Canadian Mint include: its historic function as a refinery and mint; its Tudor Gothic style, evident in its horizontality, its rough-stone walls, its heavy, simple detailing, the use of a combination of rectangular and low pointed-arch windows; and its central entrance bay topped by octagonal turrets; the use of a strong, central projecting entrance bay to showcase Tudor Gothic detailing at the roof level, including elaborately decorated turrets, roof-line balustrades decorated with quatrefoils, and stone shields; the quality of its masonry; the organization of the building, with a dramatic and prestigious office building at the front serving as a screen for the utilitarian buildings behind; its prominent location on Sussex Drive, a street purposely intended to serve as a grand avenue to showcase federal buildings at the beginning of the 20th century.

10 Things to Do at the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg, Canada

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Royal Canadien Mint

Plan a visit that will help you appreciate the technology and innovation of the Royal Canadian Mint. The Interactive Museum describes the fascinating coin production process. You will even have the chance to hold a $250,000 gold brick in your hands. The Winnipeg factory produces all of the coins used daily in Canada and has stamped over 55 billion coins for over 60 countries all over the world.

The boutique offers unique collectable coins, clothing and a wide selection of souvenirs.

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The Royal Canadian Mint at 520 Lagimodiere Boulevard (photo by William Au)

The price is right at The Royal Canadian Mint  

Save on family tours and come celebrate one of canada’s most-famous artists at upcoming coin exchange.

While you’ll see thousands of artistic five and 10-cent pieces at the Royal Canadian Mint, you’ll never be nickel-and-dimed.   

Tours of the Mint remain one the best bang for your buck experiences in the city – which is fitting as they sure do bang out plenty of bucks (ahem, loonies) – as this state-of-the-art facility is sure to both impress and captivate your whole family.     

And now, the Royal Canadian Mint is making it even more affordable to do so, with family tours (2 adults, 2 children) only $30!     

As you can read on TripAdvisor , the Royal Canadian Mint’s signature 45-minute tour is a  4.5-star experience that combines technology, culture, history and adventure, unveiling how millions of coins are produced annually right here at the centre of Canada for countries around the world. Tours are available in English and French, and the tour guides do such a fine job of combining the technical details with many interesting tidbits that will delight visitors.      

On top of the above deal, you can also purchase passes for the Royal Canadian Mint as part of the  Winnipeg Attractions Pass , which will save you up to 30 per cent on five of the city’s top attractions.     

Here’s just a few reasons why to book    

It’s a worldly experience: As the flags you pass as you enter indicate, it’s not just Canadian currency that is produced here in Winnipeg. More than 75 countries have used the Mint to mint its coinage, making it a great spot to test your geography skills.     

There are so many fascinating facts for technology buffs: You’ll learn each phase of the coining process –– from the design to how the 50-ton coin pressing machine works to shipping to trade secrets that will impress both young and old alike.     

Architecture buffs will relish learning about Étienne Gaboury’s famed building: It shines with its all-glass exterior while acting like a small mountain sticking out on the prairies. (One fun fact you might not learn is that the Mint’s façade  played the role of the evil pharmaceutical company in a very brief shot near the end of Fernando Meirelles’ international thriller, The Constant Gardener .)    

The boutique(!): Collectors will love all there is to purchase at the Mint, as they have everything from collector’s coins to Canadian memorabilia and souvenirs.     

So many fun photo opportunities: Along with fun cutouts that you can put your head in, you can also take some snaps of the medals that were made here for the Vancouver Winter Olympics – including the gold of course – while silver fans won’t feel like second place when they get to hold a real silver bar!     

To book a tour  click here or phone 204-984-1144 or toll free at 1-877-WPG-MINT (974-6468).     

New coin exchange celebrating one of Canada’s most famous painters    

The Mint is constantly hosting new coin exchanges that are very popular.      

This week, from October 26 to 28, they will be releasing a commemorative coin featuring one of Quebec's – and indeed Canada's – most celebrated artists.     

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (while coins last, limit of one per person and quantities are limited) in the Boutique. Cash transactions only, with no admission charge for the coin exchange.     

Find the  full artist details here .     

The Royal Canadian Mint is located at 520 Lagimodière Boulevard and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last tours of the day begin at 4 p.m.

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• Postzegel en Munthandel Den Besterd, Besterdring 54, 5014 HL Tilburg
• On the Nieuwezijdse Voorburgwal in Amsterdam there are some stands as well who sell coins.

Quote: "CassTaylor" ​ South America/Amérique du Sud ​ ​ Argentina/Argentine ​ ​Numismática Chivilcoy ​Maipú 484 - Local 17 CP.: 1006 Buenos Aires ​ ​ <Needs Expanding> ​

Quote: "MonaSeaclaid" ​There are a few already on the Canada list that I would have suggested. ​ ​Is there a place to list coin shops to avoid? I'd have an entry for that one for sure.

Quote: "Raider" ​My local shop in Delaware, USA is: ​ ​First State Coins ​53 Greentree Dr., ​Dover, DE 19904 ​ http://www.firststatecoins.com ​ ​Excellent shop, by the way. Online sales as well.

Quote: "William Jacobs" ​I've got one for New Zealand: ​ ​R+E Collectibles ​339 Albert Street, ​Palmerston North, 4410 ​No website ​ ​Cheers! ​William ​

Quote: "William Jacobs" ​I've got one for New Zealand: ​ ​R+E Collectibles ​339 Albert Street, ​Palmerston North, 4410 ​No website

Quote: "ashlobo" ​This is pretty great! I haven't looked at this in a while. I'm heading to Atlanta this weekend and I'll look around for some coin stores. ​ ​As outings admin, I've been adding shops as and when someone submits them, but I haven't proactively kept an eye out for posts. I've added a couple coin shops in the last few days. If you want, I can always drop a message whenever there is a new addition so you can add it here ​

Quote: "CassTaylor" ​ ​​Of course, that sounds awesome! Juts post them in this thread if you want and I can add them up in the relevant section. : ) ​ ​I think as the Outings administrator you could start taking entries from here that don't already have an outings page, and use the list as a reference? For many smaller shops without websites I have linked to their Numista Outings pages instead.

Quote: "ashlobo" ​ Quote: "CassTaylor" ​ ​​​Of course, that sounds awesome! Juts post them in this thread if you want and I can add them up in the relevant section. : ) ​​ ​​I think as the Outings administrator you could start taking entries from here that don't already have an outings page, and use the list as a reference? For many smaller shops without websites I have linked to their Numista Outings pages instead. ​ ​

Quote: "Jarcek" ​Are we adding these to Outings regularly? I just added several czech shops there (not yet validated) but I did not thought of writing them here to be honest.

Quote: "Jarcek" ​My question was rather directed to you. I thought I would work on adding these to Outings, and once all are added there, we can add any future ones reported here.

Quote: "Jarcek" ​I know, I started checking them against Outings we have, and adding those we dont have there.

Quote: "Jarcek" ​May I know what you added? I ended at Poland, and I will resume adding these to Outings today.

Quote: "Jarcek" ​I cannot really keep up. Outings will have to wait.

Quote: "SquareRootLolly" ​ Currency World (Strand Coins) ​452 Oxford Street ​Paddington NSW 2021 ​Australia ​ ​Website: http://www.currency-world.com/ ​ ​

Quote: "CassTaylor" ​ Quote: "SquareRootLolly" ​ Currency World (Strand Coins) ​​452 Oxford Street ​​Paddington NSW 2021 ​​Australia ​​ ​​Website: http://www.currency-world.com/ ​​ ​​

Quote: "SquareRootLolly" ​ Antiqua Trading AG ​Mönchhof 1 ​8617 Mönchaltorf ​Switzerland ​ ​ John Eccles Coins and Banknotes ​1st Floor, AMI Plaza ​342 Lambton Quay ​Wellington 6011

Quote: "CassTaylor" ​ Quote: "SquareRootLolly" ​ Antiqua Trading AG ​​Mönchhof 1 ​​8617 Mönchaltorf ​​Switzerland ​​ ​​ John Eccles Coins and Banknotes ​​1st Floor, AMI Plaza ​​342 Lambton Quay ​​Wellington 6011

Quote: "guter_riecher" ​Münzhandlung Knopek ​Alter Markt 55, 50667 Köln ​ http://www.muenzhandel.de/ ​+49 221 2705670

Quote: "elijah1608" ​Could you add this too? ​ ​India: ​ ​ https://en.numista.com/outings/hobbies-centrale-chennai-1056.html

Quote: "darcyrmt" ​ Very sadly, we must delete Northgate Coins from the list in Edmonton, Canada.. As a result of at least three robberies this year, my favourite coin store in the city (and so accessible, only 10 minutes from my job) has shut its doors permanently. They are keeping the Southside store open (listed separately). ​ ​ https://canadiancoinnews.com/armed-robbery-at-edmonton-coin-shop/

Quote: "CassTaylor" ​Added and updated. ​ ​Thanks @Dan, really appreciate additions from countries not already represented here.

Quote: "William Jacobs" ​I have discovered one in Woodville (New Zealand). ​ ​ Village Traders ​69 Vogel Street, Woodville ​Phone: 06 376 4446 ​ ​ ​They are a great store, great service, they have some coins scattered all over the shop, just ask them where. Plenty of old coins and silver coins for some reasonable and not so reasonable prices. ​ ​William

Quote: "Lol omggggg" ​ Quote: "William Jacobs" ​I have discovered one in Woodville (New Zealand). ​​ ​​ Village Traders ​​69 Vogel Street, Woodville ​​Phone: 06 376 4446 ​​ ​​ ​​They are a great store, great service, they have some coins scattered all over the shop, just ask them where. Plenty of old coins and silver coins for some reasonable and not so reasonable prices. ​​ ​​William

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U.S. Mint at Philadelphia Tour

All tours are free and self-guided and take approximately 45 minutes to complete. No reservations are necessary. Spring and summer-month visitors may experience a brief line to enter. Please be aware that coin production schedules vary. Coins may not be in production during your visit. For complete tour information, please call 215-408-0112, 24-hours a day.

General Tour Hours

Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entrance closes at 4:15 p.m. Closed on federal holidays.

Summer Tour Hours (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)

Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entrance closes at 4:15 p.m. Closed on federal holidays.

Tour Highlights

Download our brochure, A Handbook to the Self-Guided Tour of the United States Mint (PDF, 3.30MB) as a guide for your tour. On the tour you will:

• View the coining operations from 40 feet above the factory floor.
• See the first coining press, used to strike our nation’s first coins in 1792, and other historic artifacts.
• Marvel at the seven glass mosaics created by Tiffany of New York to celebrate the opening of the Third Mint building in 1901. These five foot treasures highlight the coining processes in ancient Rome.
• Meet Peter the Mint Eagle, a real Bald Eagle who made the First United States Mint his home. Today’s Mint artists still study Peter when working on new eagle designs.

Safety and Security

If the Department of Homeland Security level is elevated to CODE ORANGE, the United States Mint at Philadelphia will be CLOSED to the public unless otherwise noted. The United States Mint reserves the right to deny access to anyone at any time; in addition, members of the general public wishing to tour the facility may be subject to search by the United States Mint Police.

Photography, smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, weapons and large packages. All visitors are required to enter through a metal detector.

Special Needs

The United States Mint public tour and store are completely accessible to visitors with special needs. Wheelchairs are also available with no reservation necessary.

We look forward to your visit. Please call 215-408-0110 with additional questions.

Located in the main lobby of the building, the gift shop has United States Mint Coin Sets, commemorative coins, numismatic collectibles, books, games, and United States Mint souvenirs.

The telephone number for the gift shop is 215-408-0230.

Parking and Directions

The United States Mint is located at 151 N. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA   19106  (on 5th Street between Arch Street and Race Street). The United States Mint does not provide parking.

From the South: Take I-95 North to Exit 22 for “Central Phila/I-676”. Follow signs for Phila/Independence Hall/Callowhill Streets. Keep right at the fork in the ramp. Stay straight on Callowhill Street and turn left onto 4th Street. Take 4th Street to Arch Street and turn right. Turn right at 5th Street.

From the North: Take I-95 South to Exit 22 for “Central Phila/I-676”. Follow signs for Phila/Independence Hall/Callowhill Streets and make a right at the light at the bottom of the ramp. Stay straight on Callowhill Street and turn left onto 4th Street. Take 4th street to Arch Street and turn right. Turn right onto 5th Street.

From the West: Take I-76 (PA Turnpike) to Exit 326 for “Valley Forge”. Follow signs for Philadelphia I-76 East. Remain on I-76 East for about 25 miles until you see signs for Exit 344 “Central Phila” and take 676 East to the 6th Street exit. Make a left onto Market Street and proceed one block to 5th Street and take a left.

From the East: Take the NJ Turnpike to Exit 4. Take Rt. 73 North to Rt. 38 West to US 30 and continue on US 30 West over the Ben Franklin Bridge (Rt. 676), crossing into Philadelphia. Stay in the left lane and go straight through the light following the sign for “8th Street South/Chinatown”. Take a left onto 8th Street, and proceed to Market Street. Take a left onto Market Street and go three blocks. Take a left onto 5th Street.

Public Transportation

SEPTA (Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) —Subway, trolley, and bus service throughout the city and area. The Market-Frankford subway line stops one block from the United States Mint at 5th and Market Streets. Multiple bus routes run along Market Street as well. For more information, call (215) 580-7800 or visit www.septa.org .

PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation) Speedline —Travel into Center City Philadelphia. The closest PATCO stop is at 8th and Market Streets. For more information, call (856) 772-6900 or visit www.ridepatco.org .

AMTRAK —Service to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station at 30th and Market Streets. For more information call 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com .

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The World Cup is upon us, but you could argue that it’s already a relic from another era, a time when Putin was looking for peaceable engagement with the West, before he annexed Crimea and unleashed his trolls on the world. But if ordinary Russians are supposed to play the part of pariah, they haven’t been told. It has been a long time since Moscow was this pleasant to visit. The city center is safe, sanitized, ready for your visit. Yes, the calm is a sign of an increasingly efficient autocracy. But we’ve known Moscow through many iterations, and for the casual visitor, this is one of the best yet. (Visit our St. Petersburg guide here.)

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