Canadian Royal Mint Achieves Global Recognition with Two Prestigious Awards

In an outstanding display of excellence and innovation, the Canadian Royal Mint has recently garnered global acclaim at the 2025 Coin Directors' Conference by winning two prestigious awards: the Best Commemorative Silver Coin and the Best Collaboration in the global minting industry.

The accolades were largely attributed to their remarkable $50 pure silver coin from 2024 celebrating the Year of the Dragon, which features an innovative relief design that elevates the depiction of the Wood Dragon to an impressive height of 4.7 mm on the reverse side. This unique design not only presents an exquisite visualization of the dragon but also showcases similar detailed relief on the obverse side of the coin, adding to its artistic value.

Additionally, the Mint's partnership with McGill University's chemistry department has produced a more eco-friendly gold refining process, earning them the Best Collaboration award during the conference. This partnership aims to refine gold with significantly reduced environmental impact, marking a significant step towards sustainable practices in coin production.

Marie Lemay, President of the Canadian Royal Mint, expressed her enthusiasm about the achievements: “At the Canadian Royal Mint, we have a genuine passion for innovation, as it allows us to continue producing coins renowned for their excellence and artistic quality while enhancing the sustainability of our processes.”

The Coin Awards ceremony at the 2025 Coin Directors' Conference recognized the remarkable accomplishments within the coin design, production, packaging, and distribution sectors on a global scale.

Details of the Award-Winning Coin

The award-winning 2024 Silver Coin celebrates the Year of the Wood Dragon with a stunning relief design created by Canadian artist Simon Ng. The coin portrays the fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac with the dragon soaring through a night sky accentuated by clouds and a glowing moon, its tail artistically curling to form the auspicious number eight. On the obverse side, the Queen Elizabeth II effigy by Susanna Blunt is complemented by a unique representation of four pearls and a dual date, symbolizing the four different portraits of the Queen featured on Canadian coins throughout her reign.

The collaboration with McGill University aims to transform the traditional refining process of gold. Previously, the Miller process employed gaseous chlorine to separate impurities from molten gold. The new method not only eliminates the need for chlorine but uses an innovative mechanochemical technique to catalyze reactions with a gentle reagent, resulting in a safer and more eco-friendly solution. This method produces pure gold in a soluble form and dramatically reduces energy consumption and toxicity, marking a significant advancement in the refining landscape.

This initiative follows the Mint's earlier efforts in 2019, which sought to lessen chlorine in gold refining processes. By launching acid-free separation technology, they successfully reduced gaseous chlorine consumption by more than 50% at their Ottawa refinery.

For those interested in viewing images and videos of the award-winning 2024 Silver Coin - Year of the Dragon, they can be found on the Mint's website.

About the Canadian Royal Mint

The Canadian Royal Mint is a Crown corporation responsible for the production and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. It is recognized as one of the world's leading and most versatile minting establishments, established for producing award-winning collectible coins, premium investment products, and prestigious medals for military and civilian honors in Canada. As a certified 'good delivery' refiner by LBMA and COMEX, the Mint also provides a full range of high-quality gold and silver refining services. They are dedicated to caring for the environment, promoting safe and inclusive workplaces, and positively impacting the communities where they operate, integrating environmental, social, and governance practices into all aspects of their operations.

For more information about the Mint and its products and services, you can visit www.mint.ca. You can also follow them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.