Location, Hours and Inquiries
The Currency Museum is located within the Bank of Canada buildings in downtown Ottawa. These buildings take up the entire block between Kent and Bank, and Wellington and Sparks. For directions to our location, just steps from Parliament Hill and the Sparks Street Mall, consult the map below. Both the West and East Towers of the Bank of Canada lead you into a tropical indoor Garden Court—the Museum entrance is within the court, facing Sparks Street. Admission to the Museum is free.
The Currency Museum is open to the public year-round.
Tuesday to Saturday: 10:30 to 17:00
Note: The Museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. We are also closed on Good Friday and Thanksgiving Day.
The Currency Museum is wheelchair-accessible from our Sparks Street entrance.
If you are coming by bus, check these links to plan your route:
While the Currency Museum does not offer any parking, there are many parking options in the downtown core.
Links:
http://www.ottawakiosk.com/parking.html
http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/transportation-and-parking/parking/city-parking-lots
The Currency Museum has resources available for the self-guided and hands-on visitor; nevertheless Museum’s guides will be happy to talk to your group and suggest suitable activities if you wish.
Complete your visit with a souvenir from our boutique; we offer souvenir and gift items a range of tastes and budgets. To find out more, contact museum-musee@bankofcanada.ca
Inquiries
Consult our site for the answers to many questions. Museum staff are also happy to answer any question we can, as quickly as we can. You can help us by making your questions as specific as possible. Note, however, that in cases where a specialist must be contacted, responses may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
Due to concerns over possible conflict of interest, we do not offer appraisals of private pieces and will therefore not follow up on such requests. However, you may consult the following publications.
For Canadian Currency
The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Government Paper Money. Toronto: The Charlton Press.
The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Bank Notes. Toronto: The Charlton Press.
The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins. Toronto: The Charlton Press.
The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Colonial Tokens. Toronto: The Charlton Press.
Catalogue des monnaies du Canada. Toronto: The Unitrade Press.
For World Currencies
Standard Catalogue of World Coins. Wisconsin: Krause Publications.
Standard Catalogue of World Paper Money. Wisconsin: Krause Publications.
These publications, which come in several volumes, may help you obtain an estimate for the value of your coins, bank notes, or tokens. They are available in most public libraries or can be ordered through book stores.