Canada Maple Leaf

The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf is a silver bullion coin that is issued annually by the Government of Canada. It is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. It is legal tender and has a face value of 5 Canadian dollars. The market value of the metal varies, depending on the spot price of silver. The 99.99% silver content makes the coin among the finest official bullion coins worldwide. The standard version has a weight of 1 troy ounce (31.10 grams).

The Silver Maple Leaf's obverse and reverse display, respectively, the profile of Elizabeth II and the Canadian Maple Leaf. In 2014, new security features were introduced: radial lines and a micro-engraved laser mark. It is issued annually by the Government of Canada and was introduced in 1988. Throughout the series there have been three variations of the obverse and several special editions.

The Silver Maple Leaf's obverse displays the profile of Elizabeth II. Three versions of the Queen's profile have been used throughout the series. The portrait by Arnold Machin was used from 1988 to 1989. From 1990 to 2003 the RCM used a portrait by Dora de Pédery-Hunt. Since 2004, a portrait by Susanna Blunt has graced the obverse.

The Silver Maple Leaf's reverse displays the Canadian Maple Leaf. This design has remained unchanged since 1988. In 2014, however, new security features were introduced: radial lines and a micro-engraved laser mark. Also the obverse was affected by this. The phrases CANADA and FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR are universal elements.

Samples of the Silver Maple Leaf can have a blemish that has a milky-white appearance, called a milk spot. This happens when a cleaning detergent is left on the coin when it goes into the annealing furnace. Maple Leafs were originally packaged in Mylar. Since 2009, due to increasing demand, it is packaged in semi-transparent tubes with a yellow lid bearing the RCM logo. Some special editions have tubes with an orange, red, blue, dark blue or grey lid. Each tube contains 25 coins and it is sold in boxes which contain 20 tubes each.

Silver Bullion Mintage

Design

Obverse: The obverse side of the Canadian Silver bullion coin displays the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by various designers. Inscribed across the top of the Silver Maple Leaf bullion coin is "ELIZABETH II." Along the bottom of the coin is its Face Value of "5 DOLLARS." The coin's year of Issue is also inscribed along the bottom of the each of the Canadian silver bullion coins.

Reverse: The reverse side of the Canadian Silver bullion coins features the national symbol of Canada, the Maple Leaf. Inscribed along the top of the silver bullion coin is "CANADA." Inscribed at the bottom of the silver bullion coin is "FINE SILVER, 1 OZ, ARGENT PUR" the coin's Fineness and Weight in both the English and French languages. The coins' purity, in mathematical terms of "9999" is inscribed on both sides of the maple leaf.