Although the Prime Minister can designate any Minister to be responsible for the Mint, ithas been the Minister of Finance that has been given the assignment for a number ofyears.

My inquisitive mind wondered if one of the qualifications for the appointment to some ofthe top positions at the RCM is that you must be a coin collector?

I think I have a sure fire way to prove which highly placed gurus are coin collectors andwhich ones are not.

Pictures don't lie!

For example, during the striking of the Last Cent, the then Finance Minister, JimFlaherty, wore a full hand glove.

And that was just to press a button on the outside of the minting press that houses thestriking chamber containing the blank, as can be seen in Figure 1.

Further, after the cent was retrieved from the minting press. Flaherty held it up for aphoto opportunity with his gloved hand, as can be seen in Figure 2.

These photos were taken at the Winnipeg Plant by a CBC photographer on May 4, 2012.

As can be seen, no greasy paws touched this treasure!

Conclusion: Jim Flaherty is a true coin collector!

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE U.S. MINTS ITS FINAL CENTS(https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n46a12.html)
MORE ON THE DEATH OF THE CENT(https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n46a13.html)