Different Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins

Posted by jackkrichner on June 15th, 2013

The Canadian 5 dollar silver coin has been a staple of Canadian coinage since 1988. The Royal Canadian Mint annually produces variations of this silver bullion coin. Different versions exhibit patriotic Canadian symbols that commemorate anniversaries and events. The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf has the highest face value (five dollars) and purity (99.99%) of any other silver bullion coin in the world. All Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins consist of one troy ounce of silver, feature a maple leaf, and have the phrase “Fine Silver 1 oz Argent Pur” embossed along the bottom of the reverse side. It is common for the coins to have a “milk spot”, a blemish formed when a chemical is baked into the surface. Silver Maple Leafs have the reputation of selling way above their bullion value, a distinction that separates them form Canadian Gold and Platinum Maple Leafs.

On the obverse side of Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins is the likeness of Queen Elizabeth II in profile and the date the coin was minted. The queen’s face is shown as either young, mature, or senior. The reverse side prominently features the maple leaf, sometimes along with a privy mark or color enhancement.

There have been a number of special edition silver maple leaf coins since their inception, including:

Coloured Silver Maple Leaf, 2001-2007. The leaves are available in different shades of green, yellow and red to render the changing of the seasons from 2001-2004 and the last three years depict different types of maple such as the Bigleaf, Silver, and Sugar maple.

Hologram Silver Maple Leaf, 2001, 2003, 2005. The reverse of the 2001 coin features a holograph maple leaf over a sunburst holograph design. The 2003 coin features a multicolored holographic maple leaf.

Olympic Maple Leaf, 2008-2010. The Inukshuk, Thunderbird and Ice hockey editions. Privy Mark Silver Maple Leafs, 1998-2012. Everything from Chinese zodiacs to fireworks. Anniversary Maple Leafs, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013. The tenth anniversary ten-ounce coin, the fifteenth anniversary five-coin holograph set, the twentieth anniversary gold-plated maple leaf and the twenty-fifth anniversary five-coin set.

Silver Maple Leaf Special Issue, 2004, 2005. The Arctic Fox and Lynx four-coin sets, respectively.

Canadian Wildlife Series, 2011-2013. Timber Wolf, Grizzly, Cougar, Moose, Pronghorn Antelope, and Wood Bison (two per year).

Other:

15th Anniversary of the One Dollar Loon,2002

Sambro Island Lighthouse, 2004

Toronto Island Lighthouse, 2005

Silver Timber Wolf, 2006

Silver Piedfort, 2010

Silver Polar Bear, 2013