The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf () is a silver bullion coin that is issued annually by the Government of Canada since 1988. It is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.
The Silver Maple Leaf is legal tender. The face value is 5 Canadian dollars. The market value of the metal varies, depending on the spot price of silver. The standard version has a weight of 1 troy ounce (31.1 grams).
The Silver Maple Leaf's obverse and reverse display, respectively, the profile of Charles III and the Canadian Maple Leaf. In 2014, new security features were introduced: radial lines and a micro-engraved laser mark.
History The Silver Maple Leaf is issued annually by the Government of Canada. Introduced in 1988 by the Royal Canadian Mint, there have been four subsequent standard editions and several special editions.
The Silver Maple Leaf's obverse displayed the profile of Elizabeth II up until 2023. There have been three subsequent versions of the Queen's profile:
1988–1989: Portrait by Arnold Machin. 1990–2003: Portrait by Dora de Pédery-Hunt. 2004–2023: Portrait by Susanna Blunt.
Canadian coins released to the public starting in 2024 now bear a new obverse of her successor King Charles III.
2024–Present: Portrait by Steven Rosati.
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.
Granted a face value of 5 Canadian dollars, the Silver Maple Leaf has status as legal tender. It has also a market value that depends on the spot price of silver and that normally exceeds the nominal face value. With few exceptions and alike similar international bullion coins, the Silver Maple Leaf has a weight of 1 troy ounce (31.1 grams). The 99.99% silver content makes the coin among the finest official bullion coins worldwide.
Samples of the Silver Maple Leaf often carry 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. This issue was addressed in 2018 with the RCM introduction of "MINTSHIELD" surface protection technology to prevent milk spots.
The Silver Maple Leaf was originally packaged in boPET. 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.Canadian Coin News Volume 47, number 12, pagina 1. 20 September–12 October 2009. Furthermore, there exist boxes that contain 20 tubes each.
Specifications YearsDenominationsPurityObverseReverse1988-19891 oz, 1⁄2 oz, 1⁄4 oz, 1⁄10 oz.9999Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II aged 39 facing rightMaple leaf on a flat surface1990-1992Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II aged 64 facing right1993-20031 oz, 1⁄2 oz, 1⁄4 oz, 1⁄10 oz, 1⁄20 oz2004-2013Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II aged 79 facing right2014-2017Maple leaf with radial lines and micro-engraved maple leaf hologram2018-2023Maple leaf with radial lines and micro-engraved maple leaf hologram + Mintshield surface2023-PresentPortrait of King Charles III facing left
Mintage (main series) YearMintageRef.YearMintageRef.YearMintageRef.19881,155,9311998591,35920087,909,16119893,332,20019991,229,44220099,727,59219901,708,8002000403,652 201017,799,9921991644,3002001398,563201123,129,9661992343,8002002576,196201218,132,29719931,133,9002003684,7502013 28,222,0611994889,9462004680,9252014 29,245,0001995326,2442005955,6942015 N/A1996250,44520062,464,72720161997100,97020073,526,0522017 The issue from the year 2000 was sold as an uncirculated bulk coin yet bears the Fireworks privy mark on it.
It is re-listed in the special privy mark section below but is still essentially part of the standard bullion series.
Commemoratives Anniversaries Year Mintage Artist (reverse) Artist (obverse) Description FV Set 1998 RCM engravers Dora de Pedery-Hunt 10th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf 10-ounce coin in reverse proof, with COA made of sterling silver, in a black leather-box. 2003 RCM engraversRCM engravers 15th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf 5-coin set: 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/10, and 1/20 oz. Hologram maple leaf. 2008 20th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf Gold-plated maple leaf.2013 Arnold Nogy Susanna Blunt 25th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf 5-coin set: 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/10 and 1/20 oz. Walter Ott (RCM) Susanna Blunt 25th Anniversary Canadian Maple Leaf 1-ounce coin. Jean-Louis Sirois Susanna Blunt 25th Anniversary Silver Piedfort Jean-Louis Sirois Arnold Machin25th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf 1-ounce matte proof coin with selective gold plating on the reverse 5-ounce matte proof coin with selective gold plating on the reverse, in red lacquer-box Arnold Nogy Arnold Machin 5-ounce coin reverse proof, in red lacquer-box2018 RCM engravers Susanna Blunt 30th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf 2 x 1-ounce coin, modified reverse proof and modified matte proof (both w. laser-engraved pattern) 2-ounce coin, modified matte proof (w. laser-engraved pattern), both s. Gold-plated Pierre Leduc Susanna Blunt 30th Anniversary Maple Leaf Quartet 4 square coins, reverse proof, both s. rose Gold-plated, all 4 coins together display a big maple leaf RCM engravers Susanna Blunt 30th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf 1-ounce coin2023 RCM engravers Susanna Blunt 35th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf 5-coin set: 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/10, and 1/20 oz. with rose gold trim, double-dated 1988-2023 5-ounce coin with selective gold plating on a modified reverse RCM engravers Susanna Blunt 35th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf 5kg coin on a modified reverse
Editions with special privy marks In 1999, many Silver Maple Leaf coins were issued with a privy mark to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the RCM Maple Leaf Program. In the following year, the coins featured a privy mark with fireworks and the number 2000. Another Silver Maple Leaf version was issued to commemorate the millennium. The coins were double-dated 1999 and 2000.Charlton Standard of Canadian Coins, 60th Edition, p.434, W.K. Cross,
Anniversaries and commemorations