The Royal Canadian Mint’s Winnipeg facility, where billions of coins are produced every year for Canada and countries around the world is celebrating 50 years in the city.

The Winnipeg facility, since opening in 1976 to meet the growing demand for coins across the country, has become a global hub for circulation coin production, now serving more than 80 countries.

“We actually produce more coins for international customers than we do for the domestic market,” said Alex Reeves, senior manager of public affairs, Royal Canadian Mint. “So, it’s a very important facility in Winnipeg and it’s a very important institution for Canada.”

From raw metal to finished currency, the process here is all about speed and precision.

The facility can produce up to 20 million coins a day, with individual presses striking hundreds per minute.

“We have integrated both a plating and a coining facility. Multiply plated steel basically takes a steel core and plates it with alternating layers of nickel and copper. Although they’re microns thin, they create a super strong lattice that’s even more wear resistant than alloy, actually, and costs far less,” Reeves explained.

Royal Canadian Mint’s Winnipeg facility has released new set of coins to celebrate its 50 years in the city (Mitchell Ringos, CityNews)

To mark its 50 years, the Mint is releasing a special anniversary coin set, celebrating both its history and its connection to Winnipeg, including one of the CN tower that even glows in the dark.

“People are always attracted to coins, and we find a lot of new collectors who are, grown adults with disposable incomes,” Reeves said. “People collect for all sorts of reasons, but it’s very much alive and well in Canada”

 While digital payments continue to grow, the Mint says coins are still in demand, with many Canadians still wanting the option to use cash.

“We know also that from our surveys that there are certain demographics that are highly cash dependent,” Reeves said.

And it’s not just coins. A new exhibit added just weeks ago, lets visitors actually hold a gold bar worth over $2.7 million.

Royal Canadian Mint’s Winnipeg facility celebrates its 50 years in the city. The Mint produces coins for over 80 countries (Mitchell Ringos, CityNews)