Maple Leaf ⁽¹⁰⁾

The gold content of the Maple Leaf

Pure gold is very soft and neither scratch-resistant nor immune to abrasion. For this reason, alloying metals, such as copper, used to be added to gold coins. Since gold coins are no longer used for daily payments, but are usually carefully stored in a safe, alloying is no longer necessary. In 1982, the Royal Canadian Mint, based in Ottawa, was the first mint to mint a 24-carat gold bullion coin with a gold content of 99.9%. In 1983, the mint increased the gold value to 99.99%. This value (4 x 9) is considered the standard today.

Maple Leaf silver - Canadian silver coin

The Maple Leaf silver coin is a bullion coin from Canada. Originally, the Canadian Maple Leaf was only available in gold, but since 1988 the Royal Canadian Mint has also been minting the gold Maple Leaf coin as a silver coin in various denominations (from 1 gram to 1 ounce) and fine weights. In addition to the Vienna Philharmonic and the Silver Eagle, the Maple Leaf Silver is one of the best-selling silver coins.

The coin motif

The obverse of the Maple Leaf gold coin is adorned with a maple leaf, to which the coin owes its name. To be precise, it is the leaf of the sugar maple. As on the Canadian flag, it is not simplified on the coin, but detailed. On closer inspection, you can even see the veins of the leaf. The sugar maple is the national symbol of Canada and is widespread not only there, but also in large parts of North-East America. It provides valuable wood and maple syrup.

Above the coin's design is a reference to the country of minting, Canada. Below this is information about the fineness, fine weight and metal type in both English and French.
The reverse of the coin is adorned with the portrait of the reigning head of state of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, which is regularly and carefully updated. The Canadian face value and the year of minting can also be found on the reverse.

Special embossing of the Maple Leaf

While the gold Maple Leaf was initially (1979) only launched as a 1-ounce version, other coin sizes were also minted in the following years.

Most recently, the Royal Canadian Mint offered special editions with an extra mintmark (Privy Mark), as well as a proof version and special mintings for certain occasions, e.g. the Winter Olympics.
In 1988, the Maple Leaf was issued in silver and as a patron coin. Canada also minted a palladium Maple Leaf for the first time in 2005.

The largest gold coin in the world

The highlight in the history of the Maple Leaf gold coin to date is the 100 kg coin from 2007, whose face value amounts to an incredible 1 million Canadian dollars, i.e. around 750,000 euros. It is the world's largest gold coin. The record-breaking special edition has a slightly different design and a purity of 99.999%. Due to the great demand for 1-ounce gold coins with this extremely high degree of fineness, the 5 x 9 Maple Leaf, the "Super Maple", was reissued in 2008 and 2009 and most recently in 2012.

Buy gold, silver, platinum & palladium Maple Leaf

You are welcome to visit one of our branches in Vienna and let our experts advise you in detail on the Maple Leaf and precious metal investments. You can also buy the coins directly online here. The current price is fixed for you with just one click.