Maple Leaf 1 oz silver coin

The silver Maple Leaf has been struck by the Royal Canadian Mint since 1988. The design is as simple as it gets: a single sugar maple leaf on the reverse, the monarch’s portrait on the obverse, and a face value of five Canadian dollars.

Purity

The Maple Leaf is struck in 999.9 fine silver, one of the highest purities among bullion coins. In practice that changes nothing to the amount of silver you own (it is one troy ounce either way), but it does make the coin slightly softer and more prone to marks, so handle it by the edge.

Security features

Modern Maple Leafs carry radial lines across the field and a small micro-engraved maple leaf that serve as anti-counterfeiting marks. They make the coin harder to copy and easier for a dealer to check when you sell.

Who it suits

Buyers of bullion coins often hold Maple Leafs alongside Britannias and Philharmonics, simply to spread their silver over several well-known designs. The price follows the silver market, with a premium that varies with demand.