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Money that Almost Was

May 1, 2025 until the end of April 2026
An exhibit of proposed bank note designs from 1935 to 1999.

The Greatest Stories Ever Told

May 1, 2025 until the end of April 2026
Artworks by Canadian artist Ho Tam, inspired by the symbols found on money.

Sensory Sundays

On select Sundays throughout 2025.
We’re turning down the lights and the volume for our sensory-sensitive visitors—explore the Museum using more than eyes and ears.

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Blog

August 21, 2025

Whatever happened to the penny? A history of our one-cent coin.

By: Graham Iddon


The idea of the penny as the basic denomination of an entire currency system has been with Canadians for as long as there has been a Canada. But the one-cent piece itself has been gone since 2012.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): History
August 5, 2025

Good as gold? A simple explanation of the gold standard

By: Graham Iddon


In an ideal gold standard monetary system, every piece of paper currency represents an amount of gold held by an authority. But in practice, the gold standard system’s rules were extremely and repeatedly bent in the face of economic realities.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Business, Economics, Financial literacy, History Grade level(s): Grade 03, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
May 22, 2025

Speculating on the piggy bank

By: Graham Iddon


Ever since the first currencies allowed us to store value, we’ve needed a special place to store those shekels, drachmae and pennies. And the piggy bank—whether in pig form or not—has nearly always been there.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Arts, Business, Economics, English language arts, Financial literacy, Geography, Health, History, Math, Science Grade level(s): Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5

More Info

Plan your visit

Here's what you need to know, how to make the most of your visit and where to find us.

Visit

Find out when and how to visit us in person.

Explore

We recognize that you can’t all get out to see us personally. But, you’re almost here — virtually speaking of course.

Learn

Discover free, Canadian curriculum–linked resources to teach financial literacy, money math and the economy with confidence.