We’ve already seen how money came to rule the world, but how is it actually, physically made? This fascinating vintage silent film from 1920 traces the journey of gold and silver bars, through oil-burning furnaces and heavy rollers and friction-drive presses, to finished coins in the Royal Mint of Canada, “where the metal becomes converted into ‘coin of the realm.'” Bonus points for the endearing attempts at comic relief in the title cards.

In this treasure house of gold and silver they open the doors with a plain iron key.”

Meanwhile, the Royal Mint of Canada has just gotten some beautiful new coins by designer Gary Taxali.