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Bank of Canada Currency Museum
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
245 Sparks StOttawa, ON K1A 0G9
(613) 782-8914
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 10:30 am - 5 pm
Sun 1 pm - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for Bank of Canada Currency Museum
3 reviews in English
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Review from Chris Y.
7/23/2011 4 photos
I hate to start a review like this, but there's not a better way to describe this museum... "It's not bad." Allow me to explain:
-- It's FREE. So if nothing else, it's a good value. (Suck it, Canadian War Museum!)
-- It's very *informative* ... which means it's well put-together, but can also be interpreted as dry and boring.
-- You can plan to spend maybe an hour there.
It's organized chronologically, from the earliest, ancient coins, on up to the modern notes and coins used in Canada today. The ancient coins didn't really mean much to me, but it was interesting to learn what the pictures on the $5-100 bills represented, plus seeing all the anti-counterfeiting techniques used today. There's also a ... library(?) ... section with hundreds of coins from nearly every country in the world.
Also, I just have to say... early paper money is really odd to look at! Which makes you think about the concept of paper money, which is actually very weird! No section about credit cards, though, or web-billpay... hahaha ... yet? -
Review from Darren M.
Ottawa, ON
12/7/2010 2 photos
Unless you're a money fanatic who loves and collects coins and bills, I'd probably advise skipping this tour in favour of many of Ottawa's other great tours.
The building is decent and has a unique tropical garden display as you walk in. It's climate controlled with rare plants and flowers and a shallow fountain that takes up much of the ground floor.
For me that was the highlight of the tour and the building. The rest of the place is sort of dry and didn't hold my interest for very long. I've been to other currency museums and toured the Mint in Winnipeg which I found more fascinating.
The tour guide was bilingual and pleasant but again their approach to the tour and guests didn't really excite myself or too many others who were tagging along.
There are other great free historical tours worth checking out in Ottawa. -
Review from Azim A.
Ottawa, ON
10/8/2008
For money lovers or anyone with an interest on how currency works and is made, this museum is worth a thorough scope.
The Bank of Canada Musuem has the most complete collection of Canadian bank notes, coins and tokens in the world. You can learn about the history of currency and see how it is printed and distributed today.
Perhaps the coolest thing however is the eye-popping Yap stone, a mysterious piece originating from the island of Yap in the South Pacifac. It is on display in the Garden Court and is in the shape of a flattened doughnut, more than two meters in diameter and weighs about three tons. Stones shaped like this one, though much smaller in size, were used as money until recently at Yap. This was also showcased on Ripley's 'Believe it or Not' Museum.
Overall, a very cool place that is more interesting than it sounds, even if currency isn't your thing.
