After successful field trials of a novel device which helps protect buyers and sellers of Gold and Silver Maple Leaf (GML, SML) bullion from coin counterfeiting, the Royal Canadian Mint has announced the commercial launch of its Bullion DNA Anti-Counterfeiting Technology.
The Bullion DNA counter-top device which now allows genuine GML and SML bullion coins to be identified in-store was unveiled before a gathering of North American bullion dealers and distributors attending the American Numismatic Association’s 2015 World’s Fair of Money in Chicago, Illinois. North American dealers and distributors can now purchase this anti-counterfeiting technology by registering for the Royal Canadian Mint Bullion DNA Program.
“The Royal Canadian Mint is committed to assuring its customers that our family of bullion products stands for unrivaled quality, purity and security by being a continuous bullion industry innovator,” said Sandra L. Hanington, president and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The addition of Bullion DNA Anti-Counterfeiting Technology to our growing list of bullion security solutions is a game-changer for Royal Canadian Mint bullion dealers and distributors as they and their customers can now certify that new GML and SML coins are genuine, in-store and at the very moment of a transaction.”
According to a Mint press release, the Bullion DNA device works by reading a micro-engraved security mark appearing on the reverse of every GML bullion dated 2014 and later, as well as every SML coin dated 2015 and beyond. The mark, consisting of a textured maple leaf and the last two numerals of the coin’s production year, visible only under magnification, is laser-engraved on the dies which are used to strike these coins. Each die is registered in a secure database after a microscopic view of the mark is captured and converted into a complex, encrypted digital code using the Mint’s digital non-destructive activation (DNA) technology, developed in partnership with SignopticTM.
The press release states that when a genuine GML or SML coin is placed in the Bullion DNA device, it can read the security mark like a fingerprint and match it to a registered Royal Canadian Mint die.
To find out more about Bullion DNA Anti-Counterfeiting Technology or enroll in the Bullion Dealer Program, visit www.mint.ca/bulliondna.