The Ottawa branch of the Royal Canadian Mint produced all of Canada's circulation coins from 1908 until 1975, and now makes collector and ceremonial coins — including the official coins issued for the Olympics and royal occasions. The building itself is an impressive Château-style limestone structure on Sussex Drive, a few minutes' walk from the National Gallery.
Guided tours run throughout the day and give a surprisingly absorbing look at the minting process: blank metal discs are fed into enormous presses that strike thousands of coins per minute, and the precision required to produce an acceptable coin — perfectly centred, correctly weighted, with a flawless die strike — becomes clear when you see the quality control process. The gift shop sells uncirculated coin sets, limited editions and bullion coins. The tour is particularly good for children, and the shop is one of the better souvenir options in Ottawa for something genuinely Canadian.