The Bank of Canada Museum announced on May 7 the opening of a new exhibition, “Montréal 1976: The legacy of the Olympic coins,” which explores how special collector coins helped fund the Montréal 1976 Olympics and became symbols of national ambition. The exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of Canada’s first Olympic Games and highlights one of the largest commemorative coin programs ever created.
The initiative is significant as it showcases how Canadians contributed to funding the Games by purchasing specially designed silver and gold coins between 1973 and 1976, raising $108 million. According to Curator David Bergeron, “The Olympic Coin Program was novel in several ways. Not only was it the first coin program created to support a major national project in Canada, but the coins themselves were the first ever struck in a large format to feature the spectacular designs from several Canadian artists.”
The exhibition features objects displayed for the first time, interactive storytelling, and hands-on experiences that reveal how public enthusiasm for sports translated into financial support for a national event. Highlights include complete sets from the Montréal Olympic Coin Program—gold coins, production materials, and public design submissions—as well as an interactive station where visitors can create their own coin designs.
“Montréal 1976: The legacy of the Olympic coins” will be open at the Bank of Canada Museum until March 22, 2027. Admission is free throughout its run at its location at 30 Bank Street in Ottawa.
The Bank of Canada strives to maintain price stability and foster economic growth by overseeing monetary policy and financial systems, according to the official website. Macklem has served as governor since June 2020. The institution also manages currency operations—including digital payments—and regulates retail payment systems while collaborating with university students through initiatives like monetary policy simulations.
