Introduced in 1979, the Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin is one of the most popular investment coins in the world. The fineness of the Maple Leaf is 999.9/1000, meaning it is made of pure 24 karat gold. The Maple Leaf gold coin is legal tender in Canada.

Weight & Size

The Maple Leaf comes in five different weights which leaves a wide range of options for interested buyers. The most popular size is of course the 1oz Maple Leaf because the premium is the lowest. 

Ounce         Nominal Value     Fine Weight             Diameter     Thickness        Since Year

1 oz         50 CAD                             31.103 g                     30.0 mm              2.80 mm                 1979

1/2 oz         20 CAD                             15.552 g                     25.0 mm              2.23 mm                 1986

1/4 oz         10 CAD                             7.776 g                     20.0 mm              1.78 mm                 1982

1/10 oz         5 CAD                             3.110 g                     16.0 mm              1.13 mm                 1982

1/20 oz         1 CAD                             1.555 g                     14.0 mm              0.92 mm                 1993

1 g                 0.5 CAD                             1.0 g                             0.8 mm

Alloy

The Maple Leaf is one of the highest quality and purest gold coins on the market. The fineness was exactly 999/1000 for mintage years 1979, 1980 and 1981. Starting in 1982, the purity of the Maple Leaf was increased to 999.9/1000. The advantage of a 24 karat alloy is that the total weight is equal to the fine weight. The disadvantage is a low scratch resistance because gold is a very soft metal. Variations in fineness of one thousandth are linked to the fact that it is technically almost impossible to mint gold coins and bars without the slightest contamination or watering.

Gold Bullion Coins with 24 Karat

Name                                 Country                         Mint

Australian Nugget         Australia                         Royal Perth Mint

Australian Kangaroo         Australia                         Royal Perth Mint

Lunar II                                 Australia                         Royal Perth Mint

Britannia from 2013         United Kingdom                 Royal Mint

American Buffalo                 USA                                 United States Mint

China Panda                         China                                 China Mint

Gold Euro                         Germany                         German Federal Ministry of Finance

Vienna Philharmonic         Austria                                 Austrian Mint AG

Gold Bullion Coins with 22 Karat

Name                                 Country                         Mint

Krugerrand                         South Africa                         Rand Refinery

Sovereign                         United Kingdom                 Royal Mint

American Eagle                 USA                                 United States Mint

Britannia until 2012         United Kingdom                 Royal Mint

Story

Maple Leaf gold coins have been minted by the Royal Canadian Mint since 1979 and are legal tender in Canada. The fineness was exactly 999/1000 in the first three years (1979, 1980 and 1981). Starting in 1982, Maple Leaf gold coins were minted with a fineness of 999.9/1000. The term is "four nine fine".

The Maple Leaf gold coins series is available in five different weights, which have been gradually introduced since 1979.

Year Ounce

1979 1 oz

1982 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz

1986 1/2 oz

1993 1/10 oz

2014 1 Gram

Special Edition

In 2007 a special edition Maple Leaf was produced with a purity of "five nine fine". This limited edition Maple Leaf had a mintage of only 30,848 coins. With a fineness of 999.99/1000 and a special design of the obverse, it shows three maple leaves instead of one.  

In the following two years of 2008 and 2009 the "five nine fine" Maple Leaf gold coin was also produced. In 2007, the Royal Canadian issued a 100 kg Maple Leaf gold coin. The total circulation is 5 pieces. One is owned by British Queen Elizabeth II.

Appearance & Name

The Maple Leaf coin is equipped with a rippled edge and edge bar. The edge of the coin has a specific purpose, which is to prevent counterfeiting. A manipulation can be identified quickly because the rippled edge and also the edge bar can’t be easily altered. Other benefits include increased stability and improved stackability when using an edge bar in the coinage process. Last but not least these features add a very beautiful look.

Front

The front (obverse) depicts a maple leaf motif. The Maple Leaf is an important national symbol in Canada, which is why it was chosen as the name of the gold coin series. Above the maple leaf, the word "Canada" is imprinted and in the middle to the right and the left of the motif the fineness 9999 can be seen. In circular text starting left below the maple leaf motif are the words "Fine Gold". Diagonally, right below the motif the fine weight is indicated. For example: "1 oz or pur" is depicted. All information on the coin is written in capitals. Since 2013, the 1 oz variant carries a security feature in the form of a small maple leaf, which is set below the big maple leaf slightly to the right. The security feature of the Maple Leaf is imprinted by laser and is not a mintmark.

Back

The reverse bears the motif of Queen Elizabeth II. Underneath the image of Queen Elizabeth II the denomination and the year of minting is stated as: "50 dollars 2015"

Benefits Maple Leaf

+ Globally recognised gold coin

+ Tradeable at most banks & precious metals dealerships

+ Consistent appearance

+ Available Worldwide

+ Storeable in small spaces

+ Even small amounts can be traded easily

+ Soft 24K alloy

Buy & Sell Maple Leaf Gold Coin

Maple Leaf gold coins can be purchased at most banks, and precious metal dealerships worldwide. With this gold coin series there is nothing special to consider as it is a 24 karat gold coins with a consistent look and name since 1979. Interested buyers have to think of only two things in advance:

1. Choosing between the 5 different weights.

2. Choosing a new or circulated coin.

Selling is as easy as buying. The coins are screened by the banks or bullion company and bought back at the daily gold price. With bullion companies the procedure is usually faster, which means the payout may happen in a very short period of time. 

With banks it may take up to two weeks for the agreed value to be paid. The reason is that gold coins need to be transported to the screening department and the bullion company usually has the screening equipment onsite.

The Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is the official Mint of Canada. The Mint was founded as a branch of the British Royal Mint in Ottawa on January 2nd 1908. In 1931 the Canadian Treasury took control and the Mint has acted as an independent Crown corporation since 1969. The Royal Canadian Mint also manufacturers the Canadian Dollar. Furthermore, it prints 72 foreign currencies, and also produces commemorative coins and other gold and silver coins.

Maple Leaf Silver Coins

Maple Leaf silver coins were introduced in 1988 with a fine weight of 1 oz. The nominal value is 5 CAD.

Taxation

The sale of Maple Leaf gold coins is VAT Exempt in all EU countries. The EU Directive 98/80 / EC1 states that bullion coins are considered as investment gold.

This exemption applies only under conditions as follows:

• The coin must have a fineness of at least 900/1000

• The gold coin has to be legal tender in the country of origin or have been

• It must have been coined after 1800

• The price of the gold coin may not exceed 80% of the open market value of the gold content

Details

Manufacturer: Royal Canadian Mint

Country of origin: Canada

First Year of Mintage: 1979

Karat: 24 K

Fineness: 999.9/1000 (since 1982)

Alloy: Gold

Fine Gold content: 99.9%

Scratch resistance: Poor