Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin Description
Due to its 99.99% gold purity, the Royal
Canadian Mint markets its Gold Maple Leaf coin as 'the international symbol
of purity'. The Gold Maple Leaf has been produced since 1979 (it was
minted with 0.999 fine gold for the first four years before switching
to 0.9999 fine in 1983). Gold Maple Leafs should be handled carefully.
Due to their ultra-high purity, they may scratch or mar more easily
than other 1-oz. gold coins of lesser purity.
Design of the Canadian Maple Leaf
The front, or "obverse", of the Gold Maple Leaf
features a bust of Queen Elizabeth II. Originally, the bust used
depicted the Queen in her younger days. The bust design changed in 1990
to feature a more mature portrait. In both versions, her name
"ELIZABETH II" appears at top; the denomination and date of issue rest
underneath the bust.
The back, or "reverse" depicts a Maple Leaf, the national symbol
of Canada for which the coin derives its name. The Gold Maple Leaf's
reverse also lists the name of the country and the amount and purity of
the gold - in both English and French, the national languages of
Canada.
Canadian Maple Leaf Coin Minting Information
The Royal Canadian Mint, the nation's
official mint, was the first mint in the world to commercially produce
99.99% pure gold in gold coin form. More recently, it also became the
first mint to produce 99.999% gold. The Ottawa branch of the Mint has
been in operation since 1908. The main branch for production today is
Winnipeg.
Government Guarantee
The government of Canada guarantees
the purity, weight, and legal tender value of each Gold Maple Leaf
coin. For this reason, Gold Maple Leafs have been internationally
recognized since their introduction in 1979.
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