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The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf is a silver bullion coin issued annually by the government of Canada. The coin has been minted by the Royal Canadian Mint (RMC) since 1988.
The face value of the 1 oz coin is 5 Canadian Dollars, the highest among international silver bullion coins. During the month of February 2008, the market value of the coin was approximately 20 Canadian dollars. The purity of the coin is 99.99% silver, also the highest among other bullion issues which have a 99.90% standard.
The coin generally always features a maple leaf and generally consists of 1 troy ounce of silver. Annual variations for the coin in past have included proof releases (1989 only), privy marks, a coloured maple leaf (with a design different from the regular maple leaf), holographic enhancements and several differing designs, such as a 2009 issue commemorating the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The one universal element in all silver maple leaf coins is the phrase "Fine Silver 1 oz Argent Pur" along the bottom of the obverse of the coin.
Several notable issues have been released over the life of the series. A single-issue 10 oz version was produced in 1998 to mark the 10th anniversary of the coin series. In 1999, all Silver Maple Leaf coins that were issued came with a privy mark to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the RCM Maple Leaf Program. The following year, the coins featured a Privy Mark with Fireworks and the number 2000. Another Silver Maple Leaf was issued to commemorate the Millennium. The coins were double dated 1999 and 2000.[1]
Silver Maple Leafs differ from their Canadian Gold and Platinum Maple Leaf counterparts in that collector demand generates prices well above and beyond bullion value. In particular, the 1996 and 1997 versions fetched very high prices due to limited mintages (for example, in 1997 just under 101,000 Maple Leafs were minteded, in comparison with more than 1.2 million minted in 1999)[1].
Some of the privy marked Maple Leafs were available only in Europe.[citation needed] For the first time in 2009, the Silver Maple Leaf coins were not packaged in Mylar by the Royal Canadian Mint. Due to the high demand, the Silver Maple Leaf was packaged in tubes of 25.[2]
The obverse of a 1989 Canadian Silver Maple Leaf with the young Queen Elizabeth.
Obverse: The effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. There are three different versions, a young head version, an old head version, and an older head version. The year of issue and the face value of 5 dollars is also displayed on this side.
Reverse: Picture of a maple leaf. On some variations there are also a small privy mark on the lower half of the coin or colour enhancement.
[edit] Bulk Uncirculated Bullion Coins
[edit] Silver Maple Leaf
| Year |
Mintage |
| 1988 |
1,062,000 |
| 1989 |
3,332,200 |
| 1990 |
1,708,800 |
| 1991 |
644,300 |
| 1992 |
343,800 |
| 1993 |
1,133,900 |
| 1994 |
889,946 |
| 1995 |
326,244 |
| 1996 |
250,445 |
| 1997 |
100,970 |
| 1998 |
591,359 |
| 1999 |
1,229,442 |
| 1999-2000 dual date |
included in 1999 figure |
| 2000 |
403,652 |
| 2001 |
398,563 |
| 2002 |
576,196 |
| 2003 |
684,750 |
| 2004 |
680,925 |
| 2005 |
955,694 |
| 2006 |
2,464,727 |
| 2007 |
3,526,052 |
| 2008 |
N/A |
| 2009 |
N/A |
[edit] Special Edition Coins
[edit] Silver Maple Leaf
[edit] Coloured Silver Maple Leaf
| Year |
Description |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
| 2001 |
Autumn (Autumn Red) [3] |
Debbie Adams |
49,709 |
$34.95 |
| 2002 |
Spring (Summer Green) [3] |
N/A |
29,509 |
$34.95 |
| 2003 |
Summer (Sugar Maple) [3] |
Stan Witten |
29,416 |
$34.95 |
| 2004 |
Winter (Red Maple) [3] |
Stan Witten |
26,848 |
$39.95 |
| 2005 |
Bigleaf Maple |
Stan Witten |
27,000 |
$39.95 |
| 2006 |
Silver Maple |
Stan Witten |
20,000 |
$45.95 |
| 2007 |
Sugar Maple |
Stan Witten |
20,000 |
$49.95 |
[edit] Hologram Silver Maple Leaf
| Year |
Theme |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
| 2001 |
Maple of Good Fortune [4] |
N/A |
29,817 |
$59.99 |
| 2003 |
Maple of Good Fortune [4] |
N/A |
29,731 |
$39.99 |
| 2005 |
Maple of Hope [4] |
Toan Nguyen |
25,000 |
$39.95 |
[edit] Olympic Maple Leaf
| Year |
Theme |
Mintage |
| 2008 |
Inukshuk |
N/A |
| 2009 |
Thunderbird |
N/A |
| 2010 |
Ice Hockey |
N/A |
[edit] Privy Mark Silver Maple Leaf
[edit] Privy Mark Sets
| Year |
Privy Mark |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Special Notes |
| 1998 |
90th Anniversary of the RCM [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
13,025 |
N/A |
Sold by RCM |
| 1998 |
RCMP [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
25,000 |
N/A |
Made for Canada Post |
| 1998 |
Year of the Tiger [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
25,000 |
N/A |
1st coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 1998 |
Titanic [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
26,000 |
$29.95 |
Made for Dillon Gage |
| 1999 |
Year of the Rabbit [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
25,000 |
N/A |
2nd coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2000 |
Expo Hanover [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
15,000 |
N/A |
Only released in Europe |
| 2000 |
Year of the Dragon [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
25,000 |
N/A |
3rd coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2001 |
Year of the Snake [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
25,000 |
N/A |
4th coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2002 |
Year of the Horse [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
25,000 |
N/A |
5th coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2003 |
Year of the Sheep [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
25,000 |
N/A |
6th coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2004 |
Alphonse Desjardins [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
15,000 |
$39.95 |
Sold by La Caisse Desjardins |
| 2004 |
D-Day [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
12,485 |
$39.95 |
Included Certificate of Authenticity |
| 2004 |
Year of the Monkey [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
25,000 |
N/A |
7th coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2005 |
Liberation of the Netherlands [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
3,500 |
$45.95 Euros |
Made for Royal Dutch Mint |
| 2005 |
VE Day |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
7,000 |
$39.95 |
Sold in US by Jerry Morgan |
| 2005 |
Victory in Japan |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
7,000 |
$39.95 |
Sold in US by Jerry Morgan |
| 2005 |
Year of the Rooster [5] |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
15,000 |
N/A |
8th coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2006 |
Year of the Dog |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
10,000 |
N/A |
9th coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2007 |
Year of the Pig |
Walter Ott, RCM Engravers |
8,000 |
N/A |
10th coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2008 |
Year of the Rat |
N/A |
8000 |
N/A |
11th coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2009 |
Year of the Ox |
N/A |
8000 |
N/A |
12th coin in Chinese Zodiac series |
| 2009 |
London's Tower Bridge |
N/A |
75000 |
N/A |
Only released in Europe |
| 2009 |
Brandenburg Gate |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Only released in Europe |
|
| Year |
Description |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Description |
| 2004 |
Privy Mark Set |
RCM Staff |
13,859 |
$99.95 |
5 Coin Set – 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz, 1/20 oz |
| 2004 |
Zodiac Set |
RCM Staff |
5,000 |
$368.88 |
12 coin set - each coin in the set carries one of the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Commissioned by Universal Coins from Ottawa,Canada. |
[edit] Anniversary Maple Leafs
| Year |
Description |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Description |
| 1998 |
10th Anniversary, Silver Maple Leaf |
Royal Canadian Mint Engravers |
13,533 |
$200.00 |
10 ounce coin |
| 2008 |
20th Anniversary, Silver Maple Leaf |
Royal Canadian Mint Engravers |
10,000 |
$74.95 |
Features a gold plated Maple Leaf |
[edit] Silver Maple Leaf Special Issues
| Year |
Description |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Description |
| 2003 |
15th Anniversary of the Silver Maple Leaf |
RCM Staff |
28,947 |
$149.95 |
5 Coin Set – 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/20 oz |
| 2004 |
Arctic Foxes |
Claude D'Angelo |
13,694 |
$89.95 |
4 Coin Set – 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz |
| 2005 |
Lynx |
Michael Dumas |
7,942 |
$89.95 |
4 Coin Set – 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz |
[edit] Other Silver Maple Leaf Coins
| Year |
Description |
Artist |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
Description |
| 2002 |
15th Anniversary of the One Dollar Loon |
Royal Canadian Mint Staff |
29,970 |
$39.95 |
$5 Loon |
| 2004 |
Sambro Island Lighthouse |
Hedly Doty and William Woodruff |
18,476 |
$69.95 |
N/A |
| 2005 |
Toronto Island Lighthouse |
Brian Hughes and William Woodruff |
13,812 |
$69.95 |
N/A |
| 2006 |
Silver Timber Wolf |
William Woodruff |
106,800 |
Bullion value |
1/2 oz coin |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Charlton Standard of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, p.434, W.K. Cross, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
- ^ Canadian Coin News, Volume 47, Number 12, p. 1, Sept 29 to October 12, 2009
- ^ a b c d Charlton Standard of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, p.454, W.K. Cross, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
- ^ a b c Charlton Standard of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, p.455, W.K. Cross, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, p. 451, W.K. Cross, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
[edit] External links
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