27-29 April 2025
Cape Town, South Africa
Minting Tomorrow’s Treasures, Today
Join your hosts, the South African Mint, together with 300 delegates from the minting and related industries, to discuss key questions around collector coins, circulation coins, and bullion, against the stunning backdrop of Cape Town.
The MDC (Mint Directors Conference), held every two years, is the pre-eminent international event where mint directors, suppliers, dealers/retailers and other stakeholders come together to exchange information and debate the development in and future of coins.
Through plenary papers, keynote addresses, panel discussions, smaller dual-track sessions and interactive workshops, the MDC will explore a range of key topics falling into the broad categories of: the future of cash and mints, circulating coins, collector coins, bullion, technology, and security.
Topics such as:
z Everyone assumes cash/coins are dying. But are they really? Let’s separate fact from fiction
z Ensuring a voice for coins – where to start?
z How can we maintain demand, interest and profitability in a declining market? How is this being done in particular countries?
z How can mints play a part in the payment ecosystem of the future?
z What are the new trends in numismatics that could reverse flat revenues and the decline in traditional dealerships?
z How can we engage with the younger generation? How can we interest them in coin buying? In fact, let’s ask younger mint employees to join us at the conference to tell us
z The bullion market. Making an investment case for gold
z Discuss and agree on the bullion/collectible coin boundary
z As an industry, where we will be in 10 years’ time… and more importantly is this where we want to be?
SUNDAY 27 APRIL
PM
Technical Committee – Members Only
Chair: Manfred Matziner-Leopold
Mint Directors Association – Members Only
Chair: Mark Cartwright
EVENING
Welcome Reception
LIFE GRAND CAFÉ V&A WATERFRONT
MONDAY 28 APRIL
AM
Welcome to MDC and Opening Address by the South African Reserve Bank
Welcome Address
South African Reserve Bank / South African Mint
Plenary Session: Set the Scene
Chair of the Mint Directors’ Association (MDA), Marie Lemay
Plenary Session: Future World
Presentation: Create Tomorrow Together (Technology Innovation Acceleration)
Keynote Speaker, Doug Vining
Plenary Session: State of Industry
Hosted by the MDA and facilitated by Mark Cartwright
Survey Says: Global Attitudes and Behaviours
Towards Cash and Coin Use – Mint Perspectives
We will explore opportunities to leverage insights gathered by mints around the world to contribute to a global perspective.
PM
Breakout Track 1 – IMD Technical Committee Presentations
Chair: Manfred Matzinger-Leopold
Automated Coin and Blank Inspection
Polish Mint, Siemowit Kalukiewicz
Three Component Coins
Monnaie de Paris, Pascal Rencker
Laser Applications
US Mint, TBC
Coin Design Handbook and Sensor
Sensitivity for Plated Coins
CPI, Mathew Phillips
Breakout Track 2: The collector of the future – What does it
mean for our industry
Chair: Mark Cartwright
Panel Session: Treading Lightly: Carbon
Footprint Reduction in the Mint Industry
Closing Remarks
EVENING
Dinner: GOLD RESTAURANT – AFRICAN THEME
TUESDAY 29 APRIL
AM
Plenary Session: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Opportunity to Showcase Local Talent
South African Mint and South African Reserve Bank
Breakout Session 3: IMD Technical Committee Presentations
Chair: Mike Gradwell
Benchmarking in the Minting Industry with integrated Automation Best Practise
Bavarian State Mint, Reinhard Riffel and Royal Australian Mint, Sharon Tran
Burnishing Guideline Update
Spaleck, Ingo Löken
Quality Guideline Update
Schuler, Dieter Merkle
Coin Anti-counterfeiting and Genuineness
Austrian Mint / Royal Canadian Mint / US Mint, Xianyao Li
Breakout Session 4: Precious Metal
Supply Chain from Refining to Customer
Chair: Michael Jackson
Refinery View & Insights
Rand Refinery, Peter Bouwer
Mint/Brand View & Insights
Prestige Bullion, Richard Collocott
Plenary Session: Artificial Intelligence –Current and Future use in our Industry
PM
Plenary Session: Industry insights –Take Aways from the Conference
Panel discussion of the main insights from the conference sessions
Closing Remarks
Bus Departs for Gala Dinner
EVENING
Gala Dinner – CAPE POINT VINEYARDS
Please visit southafrica.mintdirectorsconference.com for a full list of speakers
Sunday 27th April 2025
The Life Grand Café, housed in a former Post Office dating back to 1902, offers a light-filled, stylish space that harmonises modern design with the building’s historical charm. The ambiance is chic yet comfortable, inviting guests to linger over a Mediterranean-inspired menu filled with classic dishes, each crafted with a creative twist. Food is prepared simply, using fresh ingredients, with a woodburning oven adding a warm touch to many dishes.
The café boasts a tree-shaded terrace that overlooks the bustling harbour, making it the perfect opportunity to meet colleagues from across the minting industry and beyond in a relaxed setting before the conference officially opens. The dress code for the evening is casual.
Monday 28th April 2025
Located in Cape Town, GOLD Restaurant provides an authentic African experience that goes beyond dining.
A night here is an immersive journey through African culture, featuring a 14-dish “taste safari” paired with traditional Mali puppets and vibrant entertainment. The African Experience at GOLD will begin with cocktails on arrival and then embark on an immersive journey through African flavors and culture. The entertainment, featuring storytelling, singing, and dancing, unfolds throughout the evening creating an evening of African celebration curated by GOLDs Pan-African team. The dress code for the evening is casual.
Tuesday 29th April 2025 – Gala Dinner
Kindly Sponsored by Poongsan
=Nestled between the tranquil Atlantic Ocean and the majestic silhouette of Table Mountain, Cape Point Vineyards is one of South Africa’s most beautiful wine estates, located just beyond the lively pulse of Cape Town. This scenic jewel offers an exceptional blend of award-winning wines and exquisite cuisine in a setting of breathtaking natural beauty. Here, fine wine and fine dining come together, framed by panoramic views that create an unforgettable experience. The dress code for the evening is business casual.
The tour of the South African Mint Company will take place on Thursday 1 May 2025 in Centurion, Gauteng. If you would like to attend the official tour, please make travel arrangements to depart Cape Town on 30 April or the morning of 1 May 2025 to Johannesburg. The tour will start at 10.00
To reserve your place on the tour and for further details please contact: Belinda Greyson – Belinda.Greyson@samint.co.za
The winners will be announced at the MDC Gala Dinner on Tuesday 28th April 2025 at Cape Point Vineyards
The six categories are:
z Best Commemorative Gold Coin
z Best Commemorative Silver Coin
z Best Circulating Coin or Coin Series
z Best Sustainability Initiative
z Best Packaging (of a collectible coin)
z Best Collaboration Project new category
Cape Town, known as the adventure capital of South Africa. Home to iconic mountain ranges, stunning natural wonders, thrilling landscapes, and ocean vistas. The city is known for its harbour, its natural setting in the Cape Floristic Region, and for landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point.
