The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf (GML; ) is a gold bullion coin that is issued annually by the Government of Canada. It is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.
The Gold Maple Leaf is legal tender with a face value of 50 Canadian dollars. The market value of the metal varies, depending on the spot price of gold. Having a .9999 millesimal fineness (24 karats), in some cases .99999, the coin is among the purest official bullion coins worldwide. The standard version has a weight of minimum 1 troy ounce (31.1 grams). Other sizes and denominations include: 1 gram, ($0.50), ($1), ($5), ($10) and ($20).
History The coin was introduced in 1979. At the time the only competing bullion coins being minted were the Krugerrand (which was not widely available because of the economic boycott of apartheid-era South Africa) and the Austrian 100 Corona. Coins minted between 1979 and 1982 have a fineness of .999.
On 3 May 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a Gold Maple Leaf coin with a nominal face value of $1 million and a metal value of over $3.5 million, referred to as a Big Maple Leaf. It measures in diameter by thick and has a mass of , with a purity of 99.999%. On 26 March 2017, one of the six pieces was stolen from the Berlin Bode Museum;"Massive $1M gold coin from Canadian Mint stolen in Berlin" The Associated Press. March 27, 2017 it has not been found as of 2021. It is assumed that it has been melted down for the gold.faz.net: Goldmünzen-Diebstahl aus Bode-Museum: Haftstrafen für drei Männer, access-date November 8, 2020
The Gold Maple Leaf's obverse displays the profile of the Monarch of Canada while the reverse displays a maple leaf. In 2013 and 2015, new security features were introduced. In 2013, a laser-micro-engraved textured maple leaf was added on a small area of the reverse (Maple Leaf) side of the coin. In the centre of this mark is the numeral denoting the coin's year of issue, which is only visible under magnification. In 2015, the radial lines on the coin's background on both sides of the coin were added.
Specifications Years Denominations Purity ObverseReverse 1979–1982 .999 Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II aged 39 facing rightMaple leaf on a flat surface November 1982 – 1985 , , .9999 1986–1989 , , , 1990–1992 Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II aged 64 facing right 1993 , , , , 1994 , , , , , 1995–2004 , , , , 2005–2012 Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II aged 79 facing right2013Maple leaf on a flat surface and micro-engraved maple leaf hologram2014, , , , , 1 gram.2015–2023 Maple leaf with radial lines and micro-engraved maple leaf hologram2024–PresentPortrait of King Charles III facing left
For .99999 ("Five Nines") Pure Gold Maple Leafs, see Special issues below.
The .9999 1982 Gold Maple Leafs began minting in November. Thus, most of the 1982 Gold Maple Leafs are .999 fine.
Some dealers have complained about the production quality of the Gold Maples.
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. In 1999, the mint celebrated twenty years of the $100 Maple Leaf coin by issuing coins with a hologram, struck directly onto the coin's surface, rather than as a separate step.
Year Theme Artist Mintage Issue Price Special Notes Image2005Fifty Dollar CoinN/Aat first 600 left 396N/A1 troy ounce coin; .99999 oz pure gold - experimental issue2007Two Hundred Dollar CoinStanley Witten500$1,899.95test bullion coin, 1 troy ounce coin; .99999 oz pure gold, privy t/e - test coin, comes encapsulated and presented in a maroon flock-lined clamshell case, available to collectors who enter draw-to-buy30,848N/A1 troy ounce coin; .99999 oz pure gold, packaged in assay cardOne Million Dollar Coin5Nicknamed the Big Maple Leaf, this coin has a mass of (which is 3,215 troy ounces). A set of five coins were minted; one was stolen from Berlin's Bode Museum on March 27, 2017.Solid gold coin worth $4m stolen from Berlin museum BBC (www.bbc.com). Retrieved on 2017-03-27.2008Two Hundred Dollar Coin1,700$1,394.64Special Limited Edition First Strike27,476N/A1 troy ounce coin; .99999 oz pure gold, packaged in assay card2009Stanley Witten13,7652011Ago Aarand8,408Canadian Mountie Maple Leaf; 1 troy ounce coin; .99999 fine gold 1 oz or pur, packaged in assay card2012Stanley WittenN/A1 troy ounce coin; .99999 fine gold 1 oz or pur, the picture of the maple leaf on the reverse is the same as on the coin from 2007, but moved right nearly 90 degrees - as on the 100 kg coin, packaged in assay cardFive Hundred Dollar Coin5 ounce 9999 gold maple leaf forever, mintage of 2002014Two Hundred Dollar CoinPierre LeducN/AN/A1 troy ounce coin; .99999 fine gold 1 oz or pur, Gold Howling Wolf, packaged in assay card2,000CAD2,799.951 troy ounce coin; .99999 fine gold 1 oz or pur, Gold Howling Wolf, proof version comes encapsulated and presented in a maroon flock-lined clamshell case2015N/AN/A1 troy ounce coin; .99999 fine gold 1 oz or pur, Gold Growling Cougar, packaged in assay card250CAD2,799.951 troy ounce coin; .99999 fine gold 1 oz or pur, Gold Growling Cougar, proof version comes encapsulated and presented in a maroon flock-lined clamshell case2016N/AN/A1 troy ounce coin; .99999 fine gold 1 oz or pur, Gold Roaring Grizzly, third and last of series, packaged in assay card250CAD2,799.951 troy ounce coin; .99999 fine gold 1 oz or pur, Gold Roaring Grizzly, proof version comes encapsulated and presented in a maroon flock-lined clamshell case
Coloured Gold Maple Leaf Year Theme Artist Mintage Issue Price Special Notes199920th Anniversary of the GML - fractional 5 coinsWalter Ott, RCM Engravers13,025N/AThese are the first coloured coins that the Royal Canadian Mint has ever producedCharlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, p.4402010Gold Maple Leaf Vancouver Olympics 3 x 31.15 g (1 oz)Susanna Blunt200These are 3 coins of olympic series, but with red painted maple leafs on reverse - all in the wooden box
Hologram Gold Maple Leaf Year Theme Artist Mintage Issue Price Special Notes1999$1, $5, $10, $20, $50 GML Hologram SetWalter Ott, RCM Engravers500$1,995First Coins for RCM to feature a hologram2001600The only difference was the issue date on the coin; 2001 instead of former 1999$10 GML Hologram14,614$195-oz2009$1, $5, $10, $50 Hologram Set, 30th Anniversary of Gold Maple LeafN/A750N/A oz, oz, oz, 1 oz - all packaged in a wooden box
Olympic Maple Leaf The Royal Canadian Mint and the International Olympic Committee reached an agreement on Olympic Gold and Silver Maple Leaf coins on August 3, 2007, and the agreement allowed the RCM to strike bullion coins with the emblems of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics."Maples will sport Olympic Rings", Bret Evans, Canadian Coin News, September 4 to September 17, 2007 The issue consists of two coins – one Gold Maple Leaf coin and a Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin; both coins feature the date of 2008. The RCM sold Olympic coins through all of its major business lines – bullion, circulation and numismatics.
Individual releases YearThemeArtistMintageIssue priceComment198910th Anniversary CoinWalter Ott6,817Bullion ValueThe only proof version, packaged in a wooden box separately or together with , and oz coins1997125th Anniversary of the RCMPAgo Aarand12,913310Guaranteed value of US$310, until January 1, 2000199920th Anniversary CoinN/AN/ABullion valueprivy mark "20 years " on the reverse200425th Anniversary of Gold Maple LeafWalter Ott10,000Introduced at ANA World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh2014Bullion ReplicaN/A2,000CAD2,699.95Specimen version of Maple Leaf comes encapsulated and presented in a maroon flock-lined clamshell case and accompanied by a serialized certificate2015 oz Gold Maple Theory of Relativity PrivyN/AN/AFrosted background version of Maple Leaf oz with privy mark on the leftAllied Gold/Joel Kimmel1,500$649.95 oz. Flight of the Norwegian National Treasury (part of Operation Fish, that brought British, French and Norwegian gold to Canada).Mint: oz. Pure Gold Coin - Allied Gold - Mintage: 1,500 (2015) The maple leaf of Canada is impaled with a Norwegian maple leaf.
Privy-marked Gold Maple Leaf YearPrivy MarkDenominationSizeMintageIssue priceSpecial Notes1997FamilyFive Dollars100,730Made for Dillon Gage1998Eagles51,4402000Expo HanoverTen Dollars1,000N/A2001Basle Coin Fair750Viking50, 20, 10, 5, 1, , , , 850Issued as a five coin set2005LiberationTen Dollars500Made for Royal Dutch Mint2024First Strikes: Polar Bear Privy MarkFive Dollars5,000359.95 CADFirst gold bullion strikes featuring His Majesty King Charles III, sold directly from the Royal Canadian Mint. Encapsulated in a premium card.
Maple Leaf "Privy M7" YearDenominationSizeMintageSpecial Notes2004Ten Dollars10This is a test coin struck in a proof or specimen finish. Distributed privately in Europe.2005600 (other source: 1,300?)reverse background of the coin is a "bricks" motive, instead of standard parallel lines bullion finishing as on the obverse; M7 privy mark is on the standard right position20061,093 (other source: 1,100?)reverse upper half of the background of the coin has standard parallel lines bullion finishing as on the obverse, and the lower half has frosted finishing; M7 privy mark is on the standard right position20071,000 - other sourcereverse upper half of the background of the coin is frosted, lower half - with curved "sun rays" motive, partly frosted on the parallel standard bullion finishing; on the obverse, standard parallel lines bullion finishing; M7 privy mark is on the standard right position
Other fractional Gold Maple Leaf YearDescriptionDenominationSizeMintageIssue PriceSpecial Notes2011Maple Leaf variations - standard leaf50, 10, 5, 1, , , 750CAD3,739.95Issued as a four coin set in a wooden box plus a gold plated silver medallion - A centennial of world-class refining, all coins double dated 1911–2011, additionally on 1 oz coin privy mark "100 years/ans" 2012Maple Leaf variations - three leaves50, 20, 10, 5, 1, , , , CAD3,999.95Issued as a five coin set in a wooden box - 5th Anniversary of the Million Dollar Coin2013Maple Leaf variations - two leaves50, 10, 5, 1, , , 600CAD3,899.95Issued as a four coin set in a wooden box - 25th Anniversary Fractional Set2014Maple Leaf variations - three leavesCAD3,999.95Issued as a four coin set in a wooden box2015Maple Leaf variations - one leafIssued as a four coin set in a wooden box, every 1 oz coin is numbered, different maple leaf on every coin2016Maple Leaf variations - one leaf with crown and lettersIssued as a four coin set in a wooden box, every 1 oz coin is numbered, obverse with crowned 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. mint.ca 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 Maple Leaf denomination. Each coin included a double-date of 1979–2004, and the 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.Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, p. 442 It was issued at a price of $2,495.95 and with a mintage of 839 sets.
+Coin Specifications Year Theme Face Value Size Composition Au Weight Ag Weight (Total - Au) Total Weight of the coin Total DiameterRingCore 2004 25th Anniversary, Gold Maple Leaf$0.5 .9999 silver .9999 gold1.270.7692.03916$11.5810.7912.37218.03$53.1361.334.46620$107.8023.09810.925$2015.5894.48620.07530$5031.657.9639.6136.07
See also American Buffalo (coin) American Gold Eagle Britannia (coin) Bullion Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf