Canadian Silver Maple Leaf facts for kids
| Canada | |
| Value | 5.00 CAD (face value) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 31.11 g (1.00 troy oz) |
| Diameter | 37.97 mm (1.4948 in) |
| Thickness | 3.29 mm (0.1295 in) |
| Edge | Serrated (Reeded edge) |
| Composition | 99.99% Ag |
| Years of minting | 1988–present |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Elizabeth II |
| Designer | Susanna Blunt |
| Design date | 2003 |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Maple Leaf |
| Designer | RCM engravers |
| Design date | 1988 (2014) |
The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf is a special silver bullion coin made every year by the Government of Canada since 1988. It is created by the Royal Canadian Mint, which is like Canada's official coin factory.
This coin is considered legal tender, which means it can be used to pay for things, just like regular money. Its official value, called its face value, is 5 Canadian dollars. However, the actual value of the silver in the coin, known as its market value, changes with the price of silver. The coin is made of 99.99% pure silver, making it one of the purest official silver coins in the world! A standard Silver Maple Leaf coin weighs 1 troy ounce, which is about 31.10 grams.
On the front side, called the obverse, the coin shows a picture of Queen Elizabeth II. On the back side, called the reverse, it features the famous Canadian Maple Leaf. In 2014, new safety features were added to the coin, like tiny lines and a special laser mark, to help prevent fake coins.
Contents
About the Silver Maple Leaf Coin
The Silver Maple Leaf coin is released every year by the Canadian Government. The Royal Canadian Mint first started making these coins in 1988. Since then, there have been three main versions of the coin and many special editions.
The Queen's Portrait on the Coin
The front side of the Silver Maple Leaf coin always shows a picture of Queen Elizabeth II. Over the years, the Queen's portrait has been updated three times:
- 1988–1989: The first portrait was designed by Arnold Machin.
- 1990–2003: A new portrait was created by Dora de Pédery-Hunt.
- Since 2004: The current portrait is by Susanna Blunt.
The Maple Leaf Design
The back side of the coin features the well-known Canadian Maple Leaf. This design has stayed the same since 1988. However, in 2014, new security features were added to the coin. These include tiny radial lines that spread out from the center and a small laser-engraved mark. These features were added to both the front and back of the coin to make it harder to copy.
The words CANADA and FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR (which means "pure silver" in French) are always on the coin.
Coin Value and Purity
Even though the Silver Maple Leaf coin has an official face value of 5 Canadian dollars, its real value is usually much higher. This is because its market value depends on the changing price of silver. Most Silver Maple Leaf coins weigh 1 troy ounce (about 31.10 grams). They are known for being incredibly pure, with 99.99% silver content, making them some of the purest official coins in the world.
Sometimes, these coins can get small milky-white spots, called "milk spots." This can happen if cleaning chemicals are left on the coin during its making. To fix this, the Royal Canadian Mint started using a special surface protection called "MINTSHIELD" in 2018 to prevent these spots.
How the Coins are Packaged
Originally, Silver Maple Leaf coins were packaged in a material called Mylar. Since 2009, because more people wanted them, they are now packaged in clear tubes with a yellow lid that has the Royal Canadian Mint logo. Some special editions come in tubes with different colored lids like orange, red, blue, or grey. Each tube holds 25 coins. These tubes are then packed into larger boxes that can hold 20 tubes each.
How Many Coins Are Made (Mintage)
The table below shows how many standard Silver Maple Leaf coins have been made each year. These numbers are for coins that were not meant for regular use but for collecting or investing.
| Year | Number Made | Ref. | Year | Number Made | Ref. | Year | Number Made | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 1,155,931 | 1998 | 591,359 | 2008 | 7,909,161 | |||
| 1989 | 3,332,200 | 1999 | 1,229,442 | 2009 | 9,727,592 | |||
| 1990 | 1,708,800 | 2000 | 403,652 | 2010 | 17,799,992 | |||
| 1991 | 644,300 | 2001 | 398,563 | 2011 | 23,129,966 | |||
| 1992 | 343,800 | 2002 | 576,196 | 2012 | 18,132,297 | |||
| 1993 | 1,133,900 | 2003 | 684,750 | 2013 | 28,222,061 | |||
| 1994 | 889,946 | 2004 | 680,925 | 2014 | 29,245,000 | |||
| 1995 | 326,244 | 2005 | 955,694 | 2015 | N/A | |||
| 1996 | 250,445 | 2006 | 2,464,727 | 2016 | N/A | |||
| 1997 | 100,970 | 2007 | 3,526,052 | 2017 | N/A |
The coin from the year 2000 was sold as a regular coin but has a special "Fireworks" mark on it. It's listed again in the special marks section, but it's still part of the main coin series.
Special Editions of the Silver Maple Leaf
Besides the regular Silver Maple Leaf coins, many special editions have been made. These can be grouped into different types:
- Coins made to celebrate important events (Commemorative editions)
- Coins with small, unique symbols (privy marks)
- Coins that are smaller or larger than the standard 1-ounce size (Fractional editions)
- Coins with designs of animals or nature
- Coins with colors or hologram effects
In 1998, for the 10th anniversary of the Silver Maple Leaf series, a special 10-ounce coin was made. This was unusual because most Silver Maple Leaf coins are 1 ounce. Not all of these larger coins were sold, and many were melted down later.
In 1999 and 2000, many Silver Maple Leaf coins had special privy marks to celebrate anniversaries. Some of these special coins were only sold in Europe. For example, in 2005, a very rare coin was made for the Royal Dutch Mint to celebrate the Liberation of the Netherlands.
There are also special coins in the 'Maple Leaf Forever' series, which show three maple leaves on the back. The Royal Canadian Mint has also made many other coins featuring maple leaf symbols, including different sizes and designs.
Commemorative Editions: Anniversaries
The Royal Canadian Mint often creates special Silver Maple Leaf coins to celebrate important anniversaries. These coins often have unique designs or features.
| Year | Description | Artist (back, front) | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 10th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf | RCM engravers, Dora de Pedery-Hunt | 13,533 | $200.00 | A large 10-ounce coin, $50 value, with a special "reverse proof" finish. It came in a black leather box. |
| 2003 | 15th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf | RCM engravers | 28,947 | $149.95 | A set of 5 coins: 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/10, and 1/20 ounce sizes. It had a hologram maple leaf. |
| 2008 | 20th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf | RCM engravers | 10,000 | $74.95 | The maple leaf design was partly covered in gold. |
| 2013 | 25th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf | Arnold Nogy, Susanna Blunt | 9,999 | $199.95 | Another set of 5 coins in different sizes. |
| 2013 | 25th Anniversary Canadian Maple Leaf | Walter Ott (RCM), Susanna Blunt | 1,000,000 | bullion value | A 1-ounce coin sold at the price of silver. |
| 2013 | 25th Anniversary Silver Piedfort | Jean-Louis Sirois, Susanna Blunt | 10,000 | $99.95 | A thicker 1-ounce coin. |
| 2018 | 30th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf | RCM engravers, Susanna Blunt | 5,000 | $189.95 | A set of two 1-ounce coins with special finishes and laser patterns. |
| 2018 | 30th Anniversary Maple Leaf Quartet | Pierre Leduc, Susanna Blunt | 6,500 | $204.95 | Four square coins that together form a big maple leaf design. They were partly rose gold-plated. |
Editions with Special Privy Marks
Many Silver Maple Leaf coins have small, unique symbols called "privy marks" added to them. These marks often celebrate events or themes.
Anniversaries and Celebrations (1 oz CAD$5 coins)
| Year | Privy Mark | Artist | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 90th Anniversary Royal Canadian Mint | Walter Ott, RCM engravers | 13,025 | N/A | Sold by the Royal Canadian Mint. |
| 1998 | Titanic | Walter Ott, RCM engravers | 26,000 | $29.95 | Made for Dillon Gage. |
| 1999–2000 | Fireworks | Walter Ott, RCM engravers | 298,775 | bullion value | These coins had two dates and a fireworks mark without a year inside. |
| 2000 | Fireworks | Walter Ott, RCM engravers | 403,652 | bullion value | These coins had the year "2000" inside the fireworks mark. |
| 2005 | Dutch Tulip Liberation of the Netherlands 60th anniversary | Walter Ott, RCM engravers | 3,500 | EUR45.95 | A very rare coin made for the Royal Dutch Mint. |
| 2012 | Titanic 100th anniversary | RCM engravers | 25,000 | N/A | This privy mark showed smoke from the ship's stacks, unlike the 1998 version. |
| 2015 | Heart (Fisher House Foundation) | RCM engravers | 25,000 | $32.00 | This coin had radial lines and a small maple leaf security mark. |
| 2016 | Yin and Yang | RCM engravers | 50,000 | $25.00 | Released before Chinese New Year 2016. |
| 2016 | Bigfoot | RCM engravers | 50,000 | $23.89 | Inspired by the famous Bigfoot film. |
Zodiac Series (1998–2009)
The Royal Canadian Mint created a series of Silver Maple Leaf coins with privy marks for each animal of the Chinese zodiac.
| Year | Privy Mark | Artist | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Year of the Tiger | Walter Ott, RCM Engravers | 25,000 | N/A | The first coin in this series. |
| 1999 | Year of the Rabbit | Walter Ott, RCM Engravers | 25,000 | N/A | The second coin in this series. |
| 2000 | Year of the Dragon | Walter Ott, RCM Engravers | 25,000 | N/A | The third coin in this series. |
| 2005 | Year of the Rooster | Walter Ott, RCM Engravers | 15,000 | N/A | The eighth coin in this series. |
| 2009 | Year of the Ox | N/A | 8,000 | N/A | The twelfth and final coin in this first Zodiac series. |
Zodiac Series (2012–Present)
A new series of Zodiac-themed Silver Maple Leaf coins began in 2012.
| Year | Privy Mark | Artist | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Year of the Dragon | N/A | 25,000 | N/A | Released by APMEX.com. |
| 2014 | Year of the Horse | N/A | 85,000 | N/A | These coins had a "reverse proof" finish. |
| 2017 | Year of the Rooster | Aries Cheung | N/A | $30.89 | These coins had a "reverse proof" finish. |
| 2023 | Year of the Rabbit | N/A | N/A | N/A | These coins had a "reverse proof" finish. |
Sets of Silver Maple Leaf Coins
The Royal Canadian Mint also releases Silver Maple Leaf coins in special sets, often with multiple coins of different sizes or themes.
| Year | Description | Artist | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Hologram set | Dora de Pedery-Hunt | 30,000 | N/A | A set of 5 coins (1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/20 oz) with hologram features. |
| 2004 | Zodiac Set | RCM Staff | 5,000 | $368.88 | A set of 12 coins, each with one of the twelve Zodiac signs. |
| 2013 | Fine Silver Maple Leaf - 25th Anniversary Fractional Set | Arnold Nogy | 9,999 | $199.95 CAD | A set of 5 coins celebrating the 25th anniversary, in different sizes. |
| 2017 | Fine Silver 4-Coin Fractional Set - Maple Leaf Tribute | Stan Witten senior engraver at RCM | 5,500 | $199.95 | A set of 4 coins (1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz). |
Editions with Nature Themes
Many Silver Maple Leaf coins feature beautiful designs of Canadian wildlife and nature.
Canadian Wildlife Series
This popular series features different Canadian animals on the 1-ounce Silver Maple Leaf coins.
| Year | Description | Artist | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Silver Timber Wolf | William Woodruff | 1,000,000 | Bullion value | A 1-ounce coin featuring a timber wolf. |
| 2011 | Silver Grizzly | William Woodruff | 1,000,000 | Bullion value | A 1-ounce coin featuring a grizzly bear. |
| 2012 | Silver Cougar | William Woodruff | 1,000,000 | Bullion value | A 1-ounce coin featuring a cougar. |
| 2013 | Silver Wood Bison | Emily S. Damstra | 1,000,000 | Bullion value | A 1-ounce coin featuring a wood bison. |
Birds of Prey Series
This series showcases different birds of prey found in Canada.
| Year | Description | Artist | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Silver Peregrine Falcon (bullion) | Emily S. Damstra | 1,000,000 | Bullion value | A regular 1-ounce coin featuring a peregrine falcon. |
| 2014 | Silver Bald Eagle (bullion) | Emily S. Damstra | 1,000,000 | Bullion value | A regular 1-ounce coin featuring a bald eagle. |
| 2015 | Silver Great Horned Owl (bullion) | Emily S. Damstra | 1,000,000 | Bullion value | A regular 1-ounce coin featuring a great horned owl. |
Predator Series
This series highlights different predators found in Canadian wilderness.
| Year | Description | Artist | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Silver Cougar | Emily S. Damstra | 1,000,000 | Bullion Value | A 1-ounce coin featuring a cougar. |
| 2017 | Silver Lynx | Emily S. Damstra | 500,000 | Bullion Value | A 1-ounce coin featuring a lynx. |
| 2018 | Silver Wolf | Emily S. Damstra | 300,000 | Bullion Value | A 1-ounce coin featuring a wolf. |
| 2019 | Silver Grizzly | Emily S. Damstra | 500,000 | Bullion Value | A 1-ounce coin featuring a grizzly bear. |
Canadian Arctic Series (1½ oz)
This series features animals from the Canadian Arctic and are often 1.5 ounces in weight.
| Year | Description | Artist | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Silver Polar Bear (bullion) | Germaine Arnaktauyok | 500,000 | Bullion value | A 1.5-ounce coin featuring a polar bear. |
| 2014 | Silver Arctic Fox (bullion) | Maurice Gervais | 500,000 | Bullion value | A 1.5-ounce coin featuring an arctic fox. |
| 2015 | Silver Polar Bear and Cub (bullion) | Susanna Blunt | 500,000 | Bullion value | A 1.5-ounce coin featuring a polar bear and its cub. |
Other Special Silver Maple Leaf Coins
The Royal Canadian Mint has made many other unique Silver Maple Leaf coins with different designs, sizes, and features.
| Year | Description | Artist (back, front) | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Silver Piedfort | Royal Canadian Mint Engravers, Susanna Blunt | 9,000 | $79.95 CAD | The first-ever pure silver "piedfort" coin (a thicker coin) with the Maple Leaf design. |
| 2011 | Maple Leaf Forever | Debbie Adams, Susanna Blunt | 999 | $2,195.95 | A very large 1-kilogram (2.2 pounds) coin with a $250 face value. |
| 2016 | Superman Silver Bullion Coin | N/A | 1,000,000 | Bullion value | This coin featured Superman's "S-Shield" instead of the maple leaf on the back. |
| 2020 | Kraken | RCM engravers,Susanna Blunt | Unlimited, unknown at this time | 1 Ounce coin/ $10 CAD | Part of the "Creatures of the North" series. |
Hologram Silver Maple Leaf Coins
Some Silver Maple Leaf coins have special hologram effects, which make parts of the design appear to move or change color when viewed from different angles.
| Year | Theme | Artist | Number Made | Original Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Maple of Good Fortune | N/A | 29,817 | $59.99 | The first coin in a series with Chinese-themed holograms. |
| 2003 | 15th Anniversary of the Silver Maple Leaf | RCM Staff | 28,947 | $149.95 | A set of 5 coins with hologram maple leaves. |
| 2011 | Maple of Happiness | Simon example | 8888 | $98.88 | A 1-ounce pure silver coin with a hologram. |
| 2014 | Maple of Longevity | Simon example | 8888 | $98.88 | A 1-ounce pure silver coin with a $15 face value. |
Olympic Maple Leaf Coins
Special Silver Maple Leaf coins were also made to celebrate the Olympic Games.
| Year | Theme | Number Made |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Inukshuk | 937,839 |
| 2009 | Thunderbird | 569,048 |
| 2010 | Ice Hockey | 79,278 |
| 2010 | Set of 3 coins, partly gold plated in box | 4,000 |
See also
- American Silver Eagle
- Australian Silver Kangaroo
- Silver Britannia
- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
- Silver as an investment
