The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is the official bullion gold coin of Canada, and is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. The brainchild of Walter Ott, it is one of the purest gold regular-issue coins in the world with a gold content of .9999 millesimal fineness (24 carats), with some special issues .99999 fine. That is, it contains virtually no base metals at all—only gold, from mines in Canada.
The coin was introduced in 1979. At the time the only bullion coin was the Krugerrand, which was not widely available because of the economic boycott of apartheid-era South Africa. Coins minted between 1979 and 1982 have a gold content of .999.
The coin is offered in 1⁄20 oz., 1⁄10 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄2 oz., and 1 oz. denominations and is guaranteed to contain the stated amount (in troy ounces) of .9999 fine gold (24- carat). The coins have legal tender status in Canada for their face values ($1, $5, $10, $20 and $50), subject to the Canadian Currency Act and the Royal Canadian Mint Act. Although categorized as "non-circulating bullion coins" in the Mint Act, these coins are still legal tender under the Currency Act.
The 1⁄20, 1⁄10, 1⁄4, and 1⁄2 troy ounce coins are identical in design to the one-troy-ounce coin, except for markings on the obverse and reverse sides indicating the weight and face value of the coin. In 1994, 1⁄15 oz. ($2.00 face value) gold and platinum coins were issued, possibly for use in jewellery. They were not very popular, and 1994 remains the only year in which 1⁄15 oz gold and platinum bullion coins were produced.
Starting in 1988 Maple Leaf coins have also been struck in .9995-fine platinum, having the same weights and face values as the gold coins. Since 1988, a one-ounce .9999-fine silver Maple Leaf has also been struck, with a face value of $5. In 2005, a .9995-fine palladium Maple Leaf 1 oz coin was introduced, with a face value of $50. This palladium coin is subject to the federal Goods and Services Tax in Canada.
On May 3, 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a Gold Maple Leaf coin with a face value of $1 million,[1] though the gold content was worth over $2 million at the time. It measures 50 cm in diameter by 3 cm thick and has a mass of 100 kg, with a purity of 99.999%. The artist is Stanley Witten. The coin is mainly a promotional product, to give the mint a higher international profile.[1] The hundred-kilogram coin was conceived as a one-off showpiece to promote the mint's new line of 99.999-percent-pure one-ounce Gold Maple Leaf bullion coins,[1] but after several interested buyers came forward the mint announced it would manufacture them as ordered and sell them for between $2.5 and $3 million. As of May 3, 2007[update] there were five confirmed orders.[2]
All weights are in troy ounces.
Contents |
| Years | Denominations | Purity | Obverse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–1982 | 1 oz. | .999 | |
| November 1982 – 1985 | 1 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz. | .9999 | |
| 1986–1989 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz. | .9999 | |
| 1990–1992 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz. | .9999 | |
| 1993 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz., 1⁄20 oz. | .9999 | |
| 1994 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz., 1⁄15 oz., 1⁄20 oz. | .9999 | |
| 1995–2004 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz., 1⁄20 oz. | .9999 | |
| 2005–present | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz., 1⁄20 oz. | .9999 |
For .99999 ("Five Nines") Pure Gold Maple Leafs, see Special issues below.
The .9999 1982 Gold Maple Leafs began minting in November. Thus, most of the 1982 Gold Maple Leafs are .999 fine.
Some dealers have complained about the production quality of the Gold Maples.[3][4][5] The softness of 24 karat gold combined with the Gold Maples' milled edge, clear field around the Queen and the tube storage supplied, means that the coins easily show handling marks. This is a standard problem with pure gold.
| Years | Denominations | Purity | Obverse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–1989 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz. | .9995 | 39-year-old Queen |
| 1990–1992 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz. | .9995 | 64-year-old Queen |
| 1993 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz., 1⁄20 oz. | .9995 | |
| 1994 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz., 1⁄15 oz., 1⁄20 oz. | .9995 | |
| 1995–1999 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz., 1⁄20 oz. | .9995 | |
| 2002 | 1 oz., 1⁄2 oz., 1⁄4 oz., 1⁄10 oz., 1⁄20 oz. | .9995 | |
| 2009 | 1 oz. | .9995 | 79-year-old Queen |
No platinum Maple Leafs were minted between 2002 and 2009, when the 1 oz platinum Maple Leaf was reintroduced. Only 500 sets of hologram platinum Maple Leaf coins (including all five denominations) were minted in 2002.[6]
| Years | Denominations | Purity | Obverse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–1989 | 1 oz | .9999 | 39-year-old Queen |
| 1990–2004 | 1 oz | .9999 | 64-year-old Queen |
| 2005–present | 1 oz | .9999 | 79-year-old Queen |
Available in a one-ounce format, the palladium coin presented an alternative to the Platinum Maple Leaf (which had been discontinued in 1999).
During the testing process for the palladium coin, coins were tested on two different palladium blanks. These blanks were known as lots "A" and "B". From these blanks, 290 test coins were struck. These coins were struck with a mint mark, attesting to their authenticity. All test coins struck from lot A were identified with an "A" mint mark, and all coins struck from lot B were given a "B" mint mark. These coins were available for purchase through a drawing held by the Royal Canadian Mint. Their face value was $50 each, and the issue price for both coins was $1,299.95.
| Year | Denomination | Purity | Obverse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2007, 2009 | 1 oz | .9995 palladium | 79-year-old Queen |
As a way of commemorating 25 years as an industry leader in bullion coins, the Royal Canadian Mint created a unique six-coin set. It was a new bimetallic maple leaf, set in bullion finish (a brilliant relief against a parallel lined background). The six-coin set was the first to include the 1⁄25 oz Maple Leaf denomination. Each coin included a double-date of 1979–2004, and the 1 oz coin featured a commemorative privy mark. All coins were packaged in a black leather presentation case with a black velour insert, along with a certificate of authenticity.[7]
| Year | Theme | Face Value | Size | Composition | Weight | Diameter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring | Core | ||||||
| 2004 | 25th Anniversary, Gold Maple Leaf | ||||||
| $0.50 | 1⁄25 oz | .9999 silver | .9999 gold | 1.270 | 16.00 | ||
| $1.00 | 1⁄20 oz | 1.581 | 18.03 | ||||
| $5.00 | 1⁄10 oz | 3.136 | 20.00 | ||||
| $10.00 | 1⁄4 oz | 7.802 | 25.00 | ||||
| $20.00 | 1⁄2 oz | 15.589 | 30.00 | ||||
| $50.00 | 1 oz | 31.650 | 36.07 | ||||
Other Details
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 25th Anniversary, Gold Maple Leaf | RCM Engravers | 801 | $2,495.95 | Bullion |
The gold Maple Leaf coin was .999 pure until 1982, when its purity was raised to .9999. Some coins are issued at a purity of .99999; this standard does not replace the Mint's .9999 Gold Maple Leaf coins, but is instead reserved for special editions.
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Special Notes | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Two Hundred Dollar Coin | Stanley Witten | 30,848 | N/A | 1 troy ounce coin; .99999 oz pure gold | ||
| 2007 | One Million Dollar Coin | Stanley Witten | 5 (As of May 3, 2007[update]) | N/A | The coin has a mass of 100 kg (which is 3215 troy ounces) | ||
| 2008 | Two Hundred Dollar Coin | 1,700 | $1,394.64 | Special Limited Edition First Strike | |||
| 2008 | Two Hundred Dollar Coin | 27,476 | N/A | 1 troy ounce coin; .99999 oz pure gold | |||
| 2009 | Two Hundred Dollar Coin | Stanley Witten | 13,765 | N/A | 1 troy ounce coin; .99999 oz pure gold | ||
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 20th Anniversary of the GML | Walter Ott, RCM Engravers | 13,025 | N/A | These are the first coloured coins that the Royal Canadian Mint has ever produced [8] |
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | GML Hologram Set | Walter Ott, RCM Engravers | 500 | $1,995.00 | First Coins for RCM to feature a hologram |
| 2001 | GML Hologram Set | Walter Ott, RCM Engravers | 600 | $1,995.00 | N/A |
| 2001 | $10 GML Hologram | Walter Ott, RCM Engravers | 14,614 | $195.00 | 1⁄4-oz |
The Royal Canadian Mint and the International Olympic Committee have reached an agreement on Olympic Gold and Silver Maple Leaf coins. The announcement was made on August 3, 2007, and the agreement allows the RCM to strike bullion coins with the emblems of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.[9] The issue will consist of two coins – one Gold Maple Leaf coin and a Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin; both coins feature the date of 2008. The new agreement means that the RCM is now selling Olympic coins through all of its major business lines – bullion, circulation and numismatics.[9]
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 10th Anniversary Coin | Walter Ott | 6,817 | Bullion Value | Packaged in a wooden box |
| 1997 | 125th Anniversary of the RCMP | Ago Aarand | 12,913 | US$310.00 | Guaranteed value of US$310 until January 1, 2000 |
| 2004 | 25th Anniversary of Gold Maple Leaf | Walter Ott | 10,000 | Bullion Value | Introduced at ANA World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh |
| 2007 | Gold Maple Leaf Test Bullion Coin 99.999% Pure | Stan Witten | 500 | $1,899.95 | Available to collectors who enter draw-to-buy |
| Year | Privy Mark | Denomination | Size | Mintage | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Family | Five Dollars | 1⁄10 oz | 100,730 | Made for Dillon Gage |
| 1998 | Eagles | Five Dollars | 1⁄10-oz | 51,440}} | Made for Dillon Gage |
| 2000 | Expo Hanover | Ten Dollars | 1⁄4-oz | 1,000 | N/A |
| 2001 | Basle Coin Fair | Ten Dollars | 1⁄4-oz | 750 | N/A |
| 2001 | Viking | N/A | 1 oz, 1⁄2-oz, 1⁄4-oz, 1⁄10-oz, 1⁄20-oz | 850 | Issued as a five coin set |
| 2005 | Liberation | Ten Dollars | 1⁄4 oz | 1,000 | Made for Royal Dutch Mint |
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