WikiCoins:Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM, French: Monnaie royale canadienne) produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The mint also designs and manufactures: collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum (1989–1999) bullion coins; customized medals, tokens, trade dollar watches, and, for a brief time, high end  jewellery featuring coin designs. It further offers gold and silver refinery and  assay services.

The RCM is a Crown corporation that operates under the legislative basis of the Royal Canadian Mint Act. All monies in Canada are technically issued with the authority of the Canadian monarch; however, all operations are overseen by the President and CEO, or Master of the Mint, who is the senior executive officer of the  organization, reporting to a  Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

The mint has been at the forefront of currency innovation. Among the mint's technical innovations are its plating process, which consists of a multi-ply technology that allows electromagnetic signatures to be embedded in the coins, assuring readability in the coin-processing industries. Another innovation was the world's first coloured circulation coin, the 2004 Remembrance Day 25¢ piece, with a red  poppy on the reverse. Further innovation was achieved with the adaptation of the physical vapour deposition (PVD) technology to coat its dies, extending the life of the die beyond that of past chrome-coated dies.

In October 2008, the Royal Canadian Mint was named one of " Canada's Top 100 Employers" by Mediacorp Canada Inc., and was featured in  Maclean's newsmagazine.

Notable foreign coins

 * In 1997, the Royal Canadian Mint produced a commemorative gold coin, issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to mark the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on 1 July 1997. The gold coin bore the standard Bauhinia design on the obverse side, with a special commemorative design of the Hong Kong skyline on the reverse side. The gold coin is legal tender with HK$1,000 face value. The Royal Canadian Mint item number was 621307 and sold to Royal Canadian Mint customers for C$738.


 * Two years later, the Monetary and Foreign Exchange Authority of Macau commissioned the Royal Canadian Mint to create a commemorative coin to recognize the transfer of the Macau region to the People’s Republic of  China. The coin is sterling silver and featured a gold cameo. The face value is 100  patacas and had a diameter of 31.103 mm and a weight of 38 grams. The Royal Canadian Mint item number is 644309 and the issue price is $102. The coin features a Portuguese ship and a Chinese barque sharing coastal waters. The historic  Ma Gao Temple (Pagoda de Barra) appears in the cameo.

V nickel
World War II saw low mintages of most coins, as the metals (especially copper and  nickel) were needed for the war effort. The composition of the 5¢ coin was changed to tombac in 1942; and the design was changed to a V for Victory in 1943. The composition was changed again to nickel- chromium-plated steel in 1944.

The concept for the V design came from Winston Churchill's famous V sign, and the V denomination mark on the US 5¢ pieces of 1883–1912. A novel feature was an inscription of Morse code on the coin. This International Code message meant "We Win When We Work Willingly" and was placed along the rim on the reverse instead of denticles. The regular reverse and composition were resumed in 1946. Chromium-plated steel was again used for the 5¢ coin from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War, but the reverse was unchanged.

Centennial
In 1967, the mint introduced a series of commemorative coins in honour of the Canadian centennial. Designed by Alex Colville, every coin produced that year featured a creature that is native to Canada: a  rock dove on the 1¢ coin, a  rabbit on the 5¢ coin, a  mackerel on the 10¢ coin, a  lynx on the 25¢ coin, a howling  wolf on the 50¢ coin, and a  Canada goose on the dollar. A commemorative gold $20 coin was also struck for collectors' sets, with a coat of arms on the reverse. It is worth noting that the Royal Canadian Mint actually wanted to commemorate Canada's 60th anniversary in 1927 with variant coin designs.

RCMP
For 1973, the usual 25¢ coin reverse depicting a caribou was replaced with a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer astride a horse, to celebrate the centennial of the founding of the North-West Mounted Police (now the RCMP).

"Loonie" and "toonie"
The major change to Canadian coinage in the 1980s was the introduction of a circulating $1 coin, widely known as the loonie because of the common loon gracing its reverse. A voyageur canoe had been planned initially, but the master reverse die was lost in shipment between Ottawa and Winnipeg, so a new design was necessary. This coin was introduced in 1987, replacing the $1 banknote completely beginning in February 1989. In 1996, a $2 circulating coin (known widely as the toonie) was introduced, featuring a polar bear on the reverse, and the $2 banknote withdrawn. The $2 coin was also a first for the mint in that it used a bi-metallic structure – the centre of the coin is bronze-coloured and the circumference is nickel-coloured.

Plating
In 1999 the mint developed a new multi-ply plating process, and began producing circulation coins using the new process in 2001. As of 2001, all circulation coins (excluding the 1¢ piece) have a mint mark with a P on the obverse of the coin. The plating process is acid based and electroplates a thin coating of nickel, then copper, then nickel again on to a steel core.

Millennium
In the late 1990s the mint held a contest, soliciting designs for a set of commemorative 25¢ pieces. Twenty-four winners were selected. Twelve coins were issued in 1999 and again twelve in 2000. All winners had their initials appear somewhere on the coin.

The coins for 1999 represented Canadian achievements and milestones, while the coins released in 2000 featured Canadians' vision of their culture and their hopes for the future. Demand for issues was high.

Commemoratives in the 2000s
The mint issued more commemorative circulating coins since 2000, including a commemorative 10¢ coin in 2001 and a commemorative 60th anniversary Victory nickel in 2005.

In 2004, the Royal Canadian Mint made numismatic history by issuing the world's first coloured circulation coin. The coins were produced at the Royal Canadian Mint's Winnipeg plant. The technology involved the utilization of a high-speed, computer-controlled and precision inkjet process. Approximately 30,000,000 coins went into circulation in October 2004, with Tim Hortons doughnut chain assisting with the distribution.

In 2006, the Royal Canadian Mint issued the $50 Four Seasons 5 ounce 0.9999 silver coin. This was the first 5oz pure silver coin issued by the mint, and had a limited mintage of only 2,000 coins worldwide. Demand for the coin has been unprecedented, and it is currently the lowest mintage 0.9999 silver coin ever produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.

On October 19, 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint issued ten new collector coins, including a 25¢ coin minted to commemorate the 60th wedding anniversary of Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; and a $15 sterling silver coin bearing the effigy of Victoria, the first from the series of five coins illustrating the effigies of the previous Canadian monarchs.

Vancouver Olympics
In 2006, a partnership was reached with the Vancouver Olympic Committee, in which the RCM will produce commemoratives for the event. The non-circulating, legal-tender commemorative coins will have a face value of $25, a Canadian first.

Regarding the circulation coins, one of the novelties is that D.G. Regina (dei gratia regina, or "by the grace of God queen") will be removed from the Queen's effigy, making the 25¢ coins the first "godless circulating coins" since the 2001 International Year of the Volunteer 10¢ piece. On the 1911 issue of King George V, the inscription was accidentally left off. The first circulating $1 coin will be dated 2008 but the obverse will be the standard effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt with the wording "ELIZABETH II" and "D.G. REGINA" with the Circle M privy mark.

In conjunction with Petro-Canada and the  Royal Bank of Canada, commemorative Olympic 25¢ coins will be distributed from 2007 to 2009. The first and second coins for general circulation featured a curling and ice hockey motif. The third coin was made to commemorate the 2010 Winter Paralympics. The reverse featured wheelchair curling.

Award-winning coins

 * 1985 Coin of the Year, Presented by World Coin News, Coin: 1988 Olympic $20 coin, Downhill Skier (Note: Olympic coins in Canada are usually produced three years prior to the event)


 * 1986 Coin of the Year, Presented by World Coin News, Best Gold Coin, Theme: 450th Anniversary, Jacques Cartier Voyage of Discovery


 * 1988 Coin of the Year, Presented by World Coin News, Best Silver Coin, Theme: 400th Anniversary, Davis Passage


 * 1989 Coin of the Year, Presented by World Coin News, Best Silver Coin, Theme: Bicentennial Voyage of Mackenzie River


 * 1993 Coin of the Year, Presented by World Coin News, Best Gold Coin, Theme: Antique Autos


 * 1994 Coin of the Year, Presented by Munchen Magazin, Best Coin, Theme: Anne of Green Gables


 * 1996 Coin of the Year, Presented by Munchen Magazin, Best Coin, Theme: 100th Anniversary of Gold found in Klondike


 * 1997 Coin of the Singapore International Coin Show, Best Coin, Theme: Haida Contemporative Art


 * 1998 Coin of the Year, Presented by World Coin News, Best Gold Coin, Theme: Alexander Graham Bell


 * 1998 Most Popular Coin, Presented by World Coin News, Most Popular, Theme: Two-dollar coin with Polar Bear Design


 * 1999 International Hologram Manufacturers Association and Holography, Category: Excellence in Holographic Production, Theme: 20th Anniversary Gold Bullion Maple Leaf coin


 * 2000 Most Popular Coin, Presented by World Coin News, Most Popular, Theme: 125th Anniversary of RCMP


 * 2000 Most Technologically Advanced Coin, World Mint Directors Conference 2000, Theme: $20 coin featuring Hologram cameo on the Transportation Series


 * 2000 Coin of the Year, Presented by World Coin News, Best Gold, Theme: Mother and Child


 * 2002 Coin of the Year, Asia Money Fair, Theme: Asian Symbols Five Blessings Commemorative Set


 * 2006 Most Innovative Coin of the Year, World Mint Directors Conference 2006, Theme: Coloured 25¢ Poppy Coin


 * 2007 Best New Coin Award, Awards for Excellence in Currency: Presented by the International Association of Currency Affairs
 * Category: Best Coin 25-cent coloured circulation coin
 * Theme: Creating a Future Without Breast Cancer


 * 2007 2007 Coin of the Year Award and 2007 Most Innovative Coin Award, Presented at the 2008 World Money Fair, presented by Krause Publications
 * Category:Coin of the Year and Most Innovative Coin Coin: Big and Little Bear Constellations coins
 * Theme: Constellation


 * 2007 2007 Most Inspirational Coin Award, Presented at the 2008 World Money Fair, presented by Krause Publications
 * Category: Most Inspirational Coin
 * Coin: Pink Ribbon coin Theme: Ribbon of Hope

Coin markings, including mint marks and privy marks

 * A – Used on 2005 palladium test coin to signify the coins were struck from Lot A.


 * B – Used on 2005 palladium test coin to signify the coins were struck from Lot B.


 * C – Placed on sovereigns produced at the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint, between 1908 and 1919.


 * Dot – In December 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in favour of his brother, who became King George VI. The problem was that the Royal Mint had been designing the effigy of King Edward VIII, and now a new effigy had to be created. The 1¢, 10¢ and 25¢ pieces in 1937 were struck from dies with a 1936 date on the reverse. To distinguish that these coins were issued in 1937, a Dot Mint Mark was placed on the 1936 dies, beneath the year. These coins fulfilled demand for coins until new coinage tools with the effigy of King George VI were ready. While the 10¢ and 25¢ coins are more common, the 1¢ coins are rare, with about a half-dozen known to exist. The dot after the date on the 1937 5¢ coin is a mint error caused by a chip in the master dies.


 * H – Used to identify coins that were struck for Canada by the Birmingham Mint, also known as the Heaton Mint, until 1907.


 * Innukshuk – All circulation coins for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics have the Innukshuk Mint Mark on the obverse of the coin.


 * International Polar Year – The obverse of the 2007 International Polar Year $20 numismatic coin has the logo for the International Polar Year on the obverse of the coin.


 * Maple Leaf – All coins with a Maple Leaf Mint Mark were struck in 1948 due to an emergency with coin toolage. The granting of India’s independence resulted in the removal of IND:IMP (meaning Emperor of India) from King George VI’s effigy. Due to the demand for circulation coins in 1948, coins for 1948 could not be struck until the new tools were received. The new tools would have the IND:IMP removed from them. In the meanwhile, coins were produced in 1948 with a year of 1947 on them. A small Maple Leaf Mint Mark was struck beside 1947 on the reverse of all coins to signify the year of production.


 * P – From 2001 to 2006, most 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, and 50¢ coins issued for circulation were struck with a P Mint Mark to represent the Royal Canadian Mint’s plating process.


 * Paralympic Logo – All circulation coins for the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games have the Paralympic Games logo on the obverse of the coin.


 * RCM Logo – At the CNA Convention in July 2006, the RCM unveiled its new privy mark to be used on all circulation and numismatic coinage. The agenda behind the implementation of this new privy mark was to help increase the RCM’s image as a brand. The aim of the logo is to educate coin users and coin collectors, respectively, that the RCM is minting Canada’s coins. The first circulation coin to have this new mint mark is the 10th anniversary $2 coin. The first numismatic coin to have this new marking is the Snowbirds coin and stamp set.


 * T/É – In an effort to push the standard of quality higher, the RCM started to experiment with a gold bullion coin that would have a purity of 99.999%. The result was a gold maple leaf test bullion coin with the mint mark of T/É (to signify test/épreuve). The date on the obverse of the coin was 2007 and it had a mintage of 500.


 * Teddy bear – When the RCM released its Baby Lullabies and CD Set, a sterling silver $1 coin was included in the set. The $1 coin included a privy mark of a teddy bear.


 * W – Used occasionally on specimen sets produced in Winnipeg, starting in 1998.


 * W/P – Used on the special edition uncirculated set of 2003. The W mint mark indicates that the coin was produced in Winnipeg and the P indicates that the coins are plated.

Notable medallions

 * In 1983, the RCM issued a medallion to commemorate Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The composition of the medal is 50% pure silver and has a diameter of 36 mm. The coin had a production limit of 100,000 and its issue price was $24.50.


 * The RCM created a medallion to honour Elvis Presley. The medal features the word  Graceland (above an image of the mansion and its gates) and an actual denomination of $10. The reverse of the medal features an engraving of Elvis, along with the words The Man/The Music/The Legend. The medallion itself is undated, but as the medal is 10 ounces, one would assume that it was made for the 10th anniversary of the singer's death. Additional information can be found in the certificate of authenticity which states that this Elvis Presley medal was authorized by Legendary Coins and struck by the Royal Canadian Mint. The packaging bears a copyright date of 1987, and states that the medal is for commemorative purposes only and is not legal tender.


 * Medallions honouring hockey legends have been created. To commemorate Mario Lemieux's induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, a special set honouring all the inductees was issued in 1997. In 1999, a nickel medallion was issued to honour  Wayne Gretzky's retirement. The issue price was $9.99 with a mintage of 50,000.

Notable firsts

 * 1st colour 1999 20th anniversary GML: 5-coin set


 * 1st hologram 1999: GML hologram set – 5-coin set


 * 1st irregular shaped coin 2006: square sterling silver beaver


 * 1st 5 ounce 0.9999 silver coin 2006: Four Seasons $50 commemorative coin


 * 1st coloured coin using plasma technology: commemorative $20 plasma coin for the International Polar Year


 * 1st million-dollar face-value coin: 100 kg 99.999% pure gold

Million-dollar coin
On May 3, 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a Gold Maple Leaf coin by artist Stanley Witten, with a face value of $1 million Canadian dollar. The weight of the coin is 100 kilograms, and measures 50 cm in diameter by 3 cm thick. The coin is mainly a promotional product to give the RCM a higher international profile. The 100-kilogram coin was conceived as a showpiece to promote the RCM's new line of 99.999 per cent pure, one-ounce gold maple leaf bullion coins. The coin is made only to order and so far five have been produced as of September 2007.

It is not 'struck' like a conventional coin, but is instead cast then machined to the right size and shape. The coin drew many comparisons with an oversized coin from Austria, a €100,000 gold coin, worth about C$153,000. The Austrian coin is 37 centimetres across and weighs 31 kilograms.