Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa Ontario Tours Daily

In this post I’ll tell you about my tour of the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. Tours are offered daily starting at 10 am with the last tour at 4 pm. Allow 45 minutes for the tour.

On my recent solo trip to Ottawa I visited the Parliament buildings and wandered around the ByWard Market then headed over to the Royal Canadian Mint. This is where collectible coins and investment grade coins are created.

As I arrived at Ottawa’s Royal Canadian Mint a tour was just about to start. I  paid the $7 (now $8) admittance fee and joined the tour waiting to begin in the boutique where I noticed a big gold bar.

 

 

You can purchase all sorts of commemorative coins and beautiful birthstone jewelry made with pure silver and Swarovski Crystal.

Ranging in price as well as design, some coins feature super heroes while others designed specifically as wedding gifts.

 

 

There was a small crowd of people around the gold bar and a guard, of course.

 

 

We started on the tour and enjoyed a bird’s eye-view of the production facilities at the Royal Canadian Mint.

It was fascinating watching the machinery in action with rolls of silver and hundreds of silver and gold blanks being weighed, sorted and inspected.

 

Million dollar coin

We also learned about how the Royal Canadian Mint made the world’s purest and largest gold bullion coin.

Here are some quick facts about the world’s biggest coin.

1. Value: $1,000.000
2. Weight in Troy ounces: 3,215
3. Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)
4. Composition: 99999 fine gold (that is 99.999% pure gold)
5. Guinness World Records for World’s Largest Coin in 2007

You can purchase one of the million dollar coins for your own collection. According to the Royal Canadian Mint website only 5 people have purchased one of the coins as of April 2019.

Originally meant as a showpiece to promote the new line of 99999 pure 1 oz Gold Maple Leaf bullion coins. But when investors asked to purchase the coin the mint decided to create a very limited number for sale.

If that’s out of your price range there is also the much more affordable 10 kilo coin (22 lbs) for $100.000. The Spirit of Haida Gwaii is the world’s first 99.999% pure gold coin in it’s weight class. Limited edition of 15 coins.

I don’t have any photos as there is a no photo policy on the tours. You’ll have to go visit the mint to see for yourself.

 

 

I had my chance to grab the glittering gold bar, alas there is a chain holding it firmly in place so I couldn’t make a getaway with the gold!

Just so you know, yes it’s heavy!

A 24K gold bar weighs 28 lbs (12.7 kg) so that’s a decent paper weight or door stop.

The Royal Mint is housed in a beautiful stone building.

 

 

I enjoyed my visit to the Royal Canadian Mint, it was fun and informative.

Do you enjoy taking tours while traveling or around your home town? What type of tours do you like to experience?

 

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Visiting the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa

Address

320 Sussex Drive, Ottawa

Phone Number

+1-(613)-993-8990

Hours

Boutique open daily 9 am – 6 pm

Admission Cost

• Adults $8
• Children (5 – 17) $4.50
• Seniors (65+) $7
• Kids under age 4 FREE
• Family (2 adults/2 children) $20

Tours of the Royal Canadian Mint

• 45-minute guided tours with first tour at 10 am and last tour 4 pm
• Tours offered in both English and French
• Recommended to reserve in advance by calling +1-(613)-993-8990 or +1-800-276-7714 (toll-free) TTY line for the hearing impaired: 613-949-7731

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