Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins
Many people are curious why Gold Maple Leaf coins are so popular among precious metal investors and collectors.
Undoubtedly, Canadian Maple Leaf coins are one of the world’s most recognizable pure gold precious metals bullion. The Canadian government even guaranteed the Gold Maple Leaf coins’ quality.
2019 was a distinctive year for Gold Maple Leaf. It was the year when this one of the most prestigious gold coins has celebrated its 40th anniversary. These and sought-after assets are Canada’s official bullion gold coins.
When looking for the world’s one of the purest gold bullion coins, many people think of Canada’s gold maple leaf coins. After all, these gold coins have a .9999 millesimal fineness purity level. This means that each gold coin does not contain any base metal, only gold per legislative mandate.
The Maple Leaf gained in popularity in no time. Keep reading to get to know more about them!
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Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins Highlights
- Used for Gold RSP or Gold IRA investments
- Serves as a private investment that anyone can wholly-owned outside the world of the financial system
- Canadian legal tender with a .9999 fine gold purity
- Some of the purest gold bullion coins in the precious metals industry
- Comes in five different sizes: 1 ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce, 1/10 ounce, and 1/20 ounce denominations
- Stays consistently valuable despite economic decline
- Has a pleasing design and flawless planchets
- Obverse side: issue date, denomination, and likeness of Queen Elizabeth II
- Reverse side: the iconic maple leaf, Canada’s national symbol, depicting both the gold purity level and the country’s name listed in both French and English
- Traded worldwide and internationally recognized
- The Canadian government guarantees the fine gold coin’s legal tender value, weight, and purity
- Provides diversification of bond and stock portfolio
History, Introduction, and Development
The Canadian government designated the Canadian Maple Leaf as an international symbol of purity. In 1979, the world markets had the first glimpse of the Gold Maple Leafs.
At that time, South African Krugerrand bullion coins are the only viable alternative. However, they gained no popularity because of the South African policy of Apartheid, which resulted in a global shortage of pure gold bullion. This conflict created an opportunity for Canadian Gold Maple Leaf.
The Royal Canadian Mint produced all gold Maple Leaf coin, with its main branch in Winnipeg. These Canadian gold coins, like all bullion, contain a face value and are considered legal tender. In other words, they are also intended for transactional use.
The first-ever Canadian Maple Leaf coin comes with .999 fineness (gold purity of 999 parts per 1,000), which made it qualified for a 24-karat designation. In 1982, all of these coins were improved to gold purity of 9999 parts per 1,000 (.9999 fineness).
The Royal Mint was the world’s first national mint to produce .9999 coins for commercial use. Coins containing virtually no base metals and available in .9999 fineness are considered pure gold.
The Canadian government has announced the release of their $1 million Gold Maple Leaf coin in 2007, which caught the attention of many coin collectors and investors. The coin’s face value was listed at $1 million, but its actual gold content value was double that figure. The name behind the special Gold Maple Leaf coins design minted at .99999 fineness was artist Stanley Witten.
Physical Characteristics
The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf comes with various finishes. One of the most popular is the bullion finish due to its brilliant finish against the parallel lines background, refracting light uniquely. The Royal Canadian Mint has a version of gold coin with notably radial lines that emanates from the center and editions with holograms, color, and laser frosting.
Gold Coins Design
The gold coin’s obverse face displays the image of Queen Elizabeth II. It is a requirement for all countries under the British Commonwealth to depict the reigning monarch’s effigy. Most British Commonwealth countries offer coins, but the Royal Mint offered coins having a unique feature. There are three different Queen Elizabeth II versions: young, old, and older.
The image of the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coin is the British monarch’s profile, wearing a pearl earring and necklace. Underneath the majesty’s profile, the face value and year of issue are listed, while the top boundary is where the name ELIZABETH II is stretched. The person behind this design was Walter Ott.
The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coin initially displayed the younger Queen Elizabeth II. In 1990, the design was changed, showing the more mature version.
The gold coin’s reverse face contains the Maple Leaf, Canada’s official national symbol and one of the bullion world’s most recognizable images. Both sides of the Leaf have the number 9999, while the name CANADA is lined on the top of the rear side. Under the symbol, the weight denomination and the words FINE GOLD are featured.
The Royal Canadian Mint decided to add increased detail and texture to the gold coin, which happened in 2013 as additional security measures. The company also added the iconic Canadian Maple Leaf small image underneath the larger Maple Leaf, which is micro engraved.
Gold Coins Specifications
Throughout its history, the Canadian Maple Leaf has been offered in seven different denominations, including the $1 million special issues. However, this gold coin is usually traded in 1 ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce, 1/10 ounce, and 1/20 ounce denominations. All gold coin weights are in troy ounces.
The Canadian Maple Leaf coins’ .9999 fineness increases their value. On the other hand, some people complain about coins containing little base metals. Remember that gold is known for its incredible malleability, but a pure-gold coin is subject to handling and wear if not packaged and appropriately delivered.
1 oz (31.110 g): 30 mm in diameter; .9999 fineness; $CAD 50 face value
1/2 oz (15.554 g): 25.0 mm in diameter; .9999 fineness; $CAD 20 face value
1/4 oz (7.777 g): 20.0 mm in diameter; .9999 fineness; $CAD 10 face value
1/10 oz (3.111 g): 16.0 mm in diameter; .9999 fineness; $CAD 5 face value
1/20 oz (1.556 g): 14.1 mm in diameter; .9999 fineness; $CAD 1 face value
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins Pricing
In Canada, the Maple Leaf coins gold version is considered legal tender. The face value listed on every weight denomination reflects the transactional value; however, the bullion coins were never used for any transactional purpose. That is because the face value is often smaller compared to the coin’s intrinsic value or the coin’s market value as a commodity.
A Canadian Gold Maple Leaf’s market price is significantly determined by the current market price of gold. With this price, the value inside the investment portfolio is quickly determined. The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf gold investments value fluctuates daily as the gold prices also fluctuate daily. That is why most investors check the major newspapers’ daily gold price reports to monitor the value.
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins IRA Investing
As with the IRA investing, the Canadian Maple Leaf gold version is considered as one of the authorized bullion forms. These assets provide investors with portfolio diversification.
This diversification involves stock fluctuations or bonds independence through physical and real gold placement within the IRA. Based on the IRAs requirements, any official Canadian gold coin should meet at least the minimum purity level.
The Internal Revenue Services (IRS) allows specific Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) types to carry investments in the physical precious metals portfolio. Palladium, platinum, silver, and gold coins and bars are the qualifying precious metals. All precious metals IRAs only contain IRS-approved bullion. They are also self-directed.
Account owners or investors who want to build a precious metal IRA should make at least $5,000 initial qualifying bullion. Following that initial investment, they are free to purchase a minimum of $1,000.
After the Gold Maple Leaf coins procurement, investors and account owners should keep the assets in IRS-required qualifying depository. All depositories must have the specialization in housing, protecting, and maintaining valuable precious metals. For additional funds, investors can roll over or transfer their capitals into the precious metals IRA.
The Royal Canadian Mint allows the direct purchase of gold Canadian Maple Leaf coins. Alternatively, interested investors or coin collectors alike can buy these coins through coins dealers, like American Precious Metals Index (APMEX).
Top Interesting Things About Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins
Here are some interesting things about Canadian Maple Leaf coins that every coin collector and investor should know:
One of the Best-Selling Gold Bullion Coins in History
The Royal Canadian Mint’s Gold Maple Leaf coins are considered among the widely recognized and best-selling bullion coins in the world. These Canadian gold coins are especially popular not just in the Canadian market but also in the U.S., British Commonwealth, and other markets in the world.
The gold Maple Leaf coins quickly became popular in the precious metals industry and soon competed with other modern gold bullion coins. As a result, Canada has expanded the coins’ range of sizes and was minted in. These coins also have special version issues for collectors.
Made of Purer Gold than Other Bullion Coins
While the gold Canadian Maple Leaf coins started with .999 fineness in 1979, they became the first .9999 pure gold coins in the world in 1982. These assets are one of the bullion coins that offer the highest purity.
Each coin contains a full troy ounce of gold with no alloys and is usually sold for lower premiums compared to other bullion coins or gold bullion bars. These characteristics make the fine gold coins the favorites of coin collectors or investors in updating their investment portfolio.
All Sizes and Shapes
Canadian Maple Leaf gold started as a 1 oz gold bullion coin. However, in 40 years, these coins were issued in all manner of varying sizes and shapes, including the 2016 first gold Maple Leaf-shaped coin.
When it comes to size, the gold Canadian Maple Leaf ranges from 11 mm 0.5 g to 100 kg; known as Big Maple Leaf, launched in 2007, weighing 200,000 times. This Big Maple Leaf measured 53 cm and 3 cm thick and was certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest gold coin in the world.
Highest Level of Security
In 2013, the Royal Canadian Mint added security features to prevent the possibility of counterfeiting. Initially, the company added a bullion finish that comes with radial lines. These lines were set at a particular pitch and width, radiating from the background’s center.
Later on, the Royal Canadian Mint decided to add a micro engraved laser mark, which is a small textured maple leaf alongside a two-digit number marking the year of issue.
Special 40th Anniversary Release
The Royal Canadian Mint authorized only 500 of their flagship 1/4 ounce coin to be released individually for celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first-ever Canadian Maple Leaf gold.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, gold Canadian Maple Leaf coins were recognized globally for their beauty, refinement, and purity. They are convenient in size, making them suitable for investors looking for physical investment and can diversify their investment purposes and portfolios.
About Arthur Karter
Hi, I’m Arthur, and nobody wants to wake up in their 50s like me that they are in serious debt with minimal assets. This wake-up call forced me to reevaluate everything. After going through the school of Hard Knocks, I’m ready to help you by sharing the best retirement choices and how they differ from all the same-old, same-old options that financial advisors sell. These alternatives will help you build and protect your wealth.
