The Royal Canadian Mint is internationally renowned for producing some of the world's most beautiful and sought after precious metal coins.  Like the Perth Mint of Australia, the Royal Canadian Mint originated as a branch of the British Royal Mint.  Indeed, all Canadian circulating coins were struck in Britain until the Ottawa mint opened in 1908, which became independent of The Royal Mint in 1931 and re-established itself as the Royal Canadian Mint.

Since 1976 Canada's circulating currency has been minted at a modern production facility in Winnipeg that can produce 20 millions coins a day.  The historic Ottawa site remains however and is where the Royal Canadian Mint today conducts its research and development, assaying, precious metal refining as well as production of its famous commemorative and collector's precious metal coins - including the iconic Maple Leaf gold coins since 1979.