A Heritage of Quality

The Royal Canadian Mint operates one of the most technically advanced and respected gold and silver refineries in the world, producing bars, wafers and custom products. The Royal Canadian Mint refines gold and silver from a variety of sources including primary producers, industry, recyclers and financial institutions. Factors contributing to our success include:

The Royal Canadian Mint Refinery's Responsible Precious Metals Program

The Royal Canadian Mint is aware of allegations of illegal precious metals mining occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other internationally recognized conflict areas, and that profits thereof may be fuelling human rights violations.

The Mint opposes all activities that deny human rights and is firmly opposed to all activities that finance or contribute to abuses of human rights. In response to these concerns, the Mint's refinery has introduced the Responsible Precious Metals Program, aimed at identifying and validating the chain of custody of incoming gold-bearing refining deposits.

The Mint is committed to meeting its social responsibilities, and encourages its refining customers to do their part in ensuring that their materials are not sourced from illegitimate mining operations in either the DRC or other internationally recognized conflict areas, by participating in the Mint's Responsible Precious Metals Program.

Pushing the boundaries of purity

The Royal Canadian Mint began refining gold to .9999 fine purity in the mid-1960s. In 1982, we became the world's first mint to produce .9999 bullion coins, an achievement surpassed in 1998 when we reached "five nines" purity levels. Today, we are even able to produce granulated gold that is .99999 fine.

To ensure that each coin contains no less than the guaranteed weight, each coin is weighed multiple times during production. Silver coins are weighed twice, and gold coins are weighed three times: once as a blank, once after striking, and once more in packaging. The weight and purity of our bullion coins is guaranteed by the Government of Canada.