Silver Maple Specifications, Information & History

The Silver Maple Leaf is the official bullion Silver coin of Canada and was introduced in 1988 and is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint in pure, or .9999 Silver. Gold, Platinum and Palladium versions of the Maple are also minted (Palladium replacing the Platinum versions in 1999).

The Silver Maple Leaf coins are only regularly available in 1 ounce versions, unlike the Gold Maple and Platinum Maple coins which were regularly produced in fractional sizes too. Although a 10 ounce single issue version was produced to mark the tenth anniversary of the coin series in 1998

The face value of the Silver Maple 1 oz coin is 5 Canadian dollars, the highest among international silver bullion coins. The coin is instantly recognisable bearing the design which gives it its name – the iconic Canadian Maple Leaf - on the reverse side of the coin. It also includes the inscription CANADA above the Maple Leaf image and FINE SILVER 1OZ ARGENT PUR below the image.

As legal tender of Canada, the coins feature a portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. The image of the Queen has changed over the life of the coin, as it has been updated to reflect the age of the Queen. Inscriptions are also included indicating her name, the face value of the coin and the year of minting.

Annual variations for the coin in past have included proof coin releases, Privy mark, a coloured Maple Leaf, holographic enhancements and several differing designs, such as a 2009 issue commemorating the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Several notable issues have been released over the life of the series. For example, a single-issue 10 oz version was produced in 1998 to mark the 10th anniversary of the silver coin series. In 1999, all Silver Maple Leaf coins that were issued came with a privy mark to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint Maple Leaf coin programme.

Silver Maple Technical Specifications


Size	Face Value C$	Total Weight (g)	Fineness /1.000	Silver Content (T oz)	Silver Content (g)	Diameter (mm)
Full	C$5	31.104	.9999	1.0000	?	?

Collector demand for Silver Maple Leafs differ means that prices can go well above and beyond bullion value. For example, the 1996 and 1997 versions fetched very high prices due to limited mintages.

As the Silver Maple has a brushed finish, they can often appear more scratched, than other Silver Bullion Coins such as Eagles.