- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
-
Reverse of a 100 kg Gold Canadian Maple Leaf bullion coin.
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[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
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.[clarification needed]
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
Gold Maple Leaf
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.[citation needed] Thus, most of the 1982 Gold Maple Leafs are .999 fine.
Production problems
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.
Platinum Maple Leaf
Main article: Canadian Platinum Maple LeafYears 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]
Silver Maple Leaf
Main article: Canadian Silver Maple LeafYears 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 Palladium Maple Leaf
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 Bimetallic Maple Leaf
As a way of commemorating 25 years as an industry leader in bullion coins, the Royal Canadian Mint created a unique six-coin set.[citation needed] 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]
Coin Specifications 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 Special issues
99.999% Gold Maple Leaf
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 Coloured Gold Maple Leaf
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] Hologram Gold Maple Leaf
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 Olympic Maple Leaf
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]
Individual releases
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 Privy-marked GML
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 Definition of finishes
- Bullion
- Brilliant relief against a parallel lined background.
- Proof
- Frosted relief against a mirror background
- Specimen
- Brilliant relief on a satin background.
See also
- Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
- Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf
- Eagle (U.S. coin)
- Britannia coin
- Australian Gold Nugget
- Krugerrand
- Gold as an investment
References
- ^ a b c "Royal Canadian Mint introduces world's first 100-kilogram pure gold coin". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 3, 2007. http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/923762/royal_canadian_mint_introduces_worlds_first_100kilogram_pure_gold_coin/index.html. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
- ^ "Finally! A 100-kg Canadian gold coin". CBC News. May 3, 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2007/05/03/goldcoin.html.
- ^ The Problem with Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins
- ^ "The finish on normal bullion maples is, in our opinion, rather disappointing, with striation marks visible where either the blanks or the dies, possibly both, have been polished prior to striking. These striation marks look like scratches, especially when trying to capture high quality photographic images."
- ^ "we don't like the production quality of them (Gold Maples), preferring nuggets or Britannias"
- ^ http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/mapleleaf/platinum.htm
- ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, p. 442
- ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, p.440
- ^ a b “Maples will sport Olympic Rings”, Bret Evans, Canadian Coin News, September 4 to September 17, 2007
External links
- Royal Canadian Mint's official website
- Maple Leafs Get New Packaging
- Maple Leaf Bullion Coin
- Royal Canadian Mint Act
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