The Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin is the official bullion gold coin of Canada, and is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. The brainchild of Walter Ott, it is one of the purest gold regular-issue coins in the world with a gold content of .9999 fineness (24 karat). That is, it contains virtually no base metals at all—only gold, from mines in Canada. The coin was introduced in 1979. At the time the only bullion coin was the Krugerrand, which was not widely available because of the economic boycott of apartheid-era South Africa.
The Gold Canadian Maple Leaf Bullion Coin is IRA Eligible
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The Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint, which produces the gold Canadian Maple Leaf bullion coin, was officially opened on January 2, 1908, with the minting of a single fifty cent piece as an extension of Britain’s Royal Mint. A few years later in the fall of 1911, the gold refinery was complete and helped supply much of Britain’s debtors with gold bars as form of payment. The Royal Canadian Mint officially changed hands in 1931, with the passage of the Heritage building on Sussex Drive, the surrounding land and the entire minting process, making it a solely Canadian operation. Today, under sole Canadian direction, the Royal Canadian Mint is a for profit corporation with sole responsibility of producing a fair return on investment for the corporations only shareholder, the Government of Canada.
The Gold Canadian Maple Leaf Bullion Coin
When the Gold Canadian Maple Leaf was first introduced, the South African Krugerrand was the only pure bullion coin available. However as a result of a boycott of apartheid South Africa, it became very difficult to buy Gold Krugerrands. Consequently, due to the demand for gold bullion coins, and lack of Gold Krugerrands for sale, in 1979 the Royal Canadian Mint produced its first gold bullion coin, the Canadian Maple Leaf. Originally struck in .999 purity for the first four years of production the Canadian Mint has continued to reinvent it refining practices. In 1983 the mint became the first to produce gold bullion coins in .9999 purity and then again set a new standard in 1999 with the minting of the world’s first .99999 fine bullion coin.
Obverse/Front
The obverse side of the half oz. Canadian Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin displays the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Susanna Blunt. Across the top of the gold bullion coin "ELIZABETH II" is inscribed. The face value of the 1/4 oz. gold bullion coin is "10 DOLLARS," it is inscribed along the bottom of the coin with the year the coin was issued.
Reverse/Back
The reverse side of the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin features the Canadian Maple Leaf, Canada's National Symbol. "CANADA" is inscribed across the top of the bullion coin over the Maple Leaf. Displayed across the bottom of the gold bullion coin are the words "FINE GOLD 1/4 OZ OR PUR.” Further "9999" representing the coins' purity in gold, is inscribed on both sides of the golden maple leaf.
Packaging
The Canadian Maple leaf comes in a variety of sizes that include 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz and 1/20oz varieties.
Internationally Recognized
Because of the Canadian Mints commitment to continual improvement in refining techniques it most often likes to refer to its Maple Leafs as the International Symbol of Purity and for such reasons have been internationally recognized since 1979.
Weight/Dimensions/Face Value
- IRA Eligible: Yes
- Year: 2012
- Grade: Brilliant Uncirculated
- Denomination: $10 CAN
- Composition: 24-Karat (99.99% Gold)
- Gold Content: .25 Troy Oz.
- Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
- Weight: 7.785 g
- Diameter: 20 mm
- Thickness: 1.67 mm