The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin is a beautiful, high quality, pure silver bullion coin that is highly sought after by collectors and investors around the world. The Maple Leaf coin was first produced in a gold bullion version in 1979 by The Royal Canadian Mint. The silver version was first minted in 1988. Unlike the Silver Eagle, its possible to purchase straight from the Canadian Mint.
Specifications:
- Each silver maple leaf coin contains one full ounce of pure silver.
- It has a certified purity of .999 fine silver.
- Its diameter measures 38.0 mm.
- It has a thickness of 3.29 mm.
- A sculpture of Britan’s Queen Elizabeth II is featured on the coin’s obverse.
- A maple leaf, which is Canada’s national symbol, is featured on the reverse.
- It has a face value of $5.00 Canadian dollars.
Interesting Facts about the Silver Maple Leaf:
- Three head images of Queen Elizabeth II were issued, ranging from a young to an older version of the Queen.
- In 1998, a 10 oz version was minted to honor the coin’s 10th anniversary.
- In 1999, in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the program, silver Maple Leafs were minted with a privy mark.
- A privy mark with fireworks was featured on the 2000 edition coin.
What’s Noteworthy?
The Royal Canadian Mint issued a very limited number of special edition Silver Maple Leaf coins in 1998. These $5 coins displayed a smallI ‘Titanic ship” Privy Mark. The Privy Mark was located on the reverse side of the coin, below the Maple Leaf design. The coins were issued to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. The worldwide mintage of the coin was limited to just 26,000 and most were purchased by a private collector.
There’s more than a few reasons to use the Maple Leaf as a silver investment over the silver eagle. The silver Maple Leaf has the highest purity of any government minted silver coin, including the silver eagle. Like the silver eagle, the Maple Leaf’s purity, weight, and content are certified by the Canadian government. Finally a collector’s treasure because the Maple Leaf is the lowest minted coin in North America. However, in spite of these advantages, usually the Silver Maple Leafs command higher premiums above the silver spot price. So, for investors, unless you can find lower pricing, stick with the silver eagle.
Titanic Silver Maple Leaf Coin
The Titanic is a 5 dollar silver coin originally minted in 1988 as a one ounce pure 99.99% silver.
Each Titanic Silver Maple Leaf coin contains one full troy ounce of silver and features the queen’s portrait on one side and the famous Canadian Maple Leaf design on the other. It also contains the special Titanic privy mark (shown in the picture).
As Silverprice.org notes, “Although it is believed 26,000 of these coins were minted, at the time they were all sold to one dealer. As a consequence they have been in short supply ever since. [It] is possible, however to locate dealers who come across a small supply and the price.”
5 Best Places to Buy Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins
The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf makes a fine addition to any collection or investment portfolio. Whether you’re in the market for a few or an entire lot, shopping around a little is the best way to find the most competitive prices and most superior quality. Still, a quick online search reveals tens of thousands of sources. Wading through them all is a challenge. Instead, do yourself a favor by beginning your search with one or more of the following five options. Chances are that at least one or more will suit your needs.
1. eBay
In many ways, eBay is a great place to start a search for Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins. Many of the world’s most respected dealers, distributors and brokers have stores on the site, so it is easy to contrast and compare a wide variety of options. All purchases are covered by eBay’s excellent buyer protection coverage, so you can even buy directly from other collectors and investors with confidence. Even if you don’t ultimately purchase silver Maple Leafs through the site, it’s a great resource for getting a feel for the current value of this popular coin.
2. APMEX.com
Even if you’ve only been collecting or investing in gold and silver bullion for a short period of time, you’re probably already familiar with this site. They have one of the most extensive selections of Silver Maple Leaf coins on the Internet, including NGC- and PCGS-certified options. Whether you are searching for something specific like a Silver Maple Leaf with privy marks or a commemorative version or if you simply want to purchase the most affordable options you can find, APMEX.com is a great source. All orders of $99 and higher ship for free too.
3. GoldSilver.com
If you plan to buy large quantities of Canadian Silver Maple Leafs, this is probably your best option. The main reason is because GoldSilver.com offers very competitive volume pricing, so you can save a bundle by ordering from them. Based out of Southern California and helmed by Mike Maloney, an industry expert and acclaimed author, GoldSilver.com is among the best-known and most reputable online precious metal dealers around. Because the site tends to focus on high-volume orders, they only offer free shipping on orders of $499 or more. Still, orders ship quickly, and the selection is outstanding.
4. JM Bullion
This well-known and highly regarded online dealer strictly deals with physical bullion, so they are a leading authority when it comes to Silver Canadian Maple Leaf coins. They work directly with mints and distributors, which is why they typically have some of the lowest prices for high-quality bullion coins like these. In addition to boasting affordable prices, the site offers free shipping on all orders–no minimum price is required. Therefore, it makes sense to order from JM Bullion whether you’re looking for one or two coins or for large quantities of them.
5. Royal Canadian Mint
For those who like going directly to the source, the Royal Canadian Mint’s online store is the ideal place to obtain Silver Maple Leafs. However, please note that the Mint’s prices generally aren’t very competitive. In exchange for paying a little more, though, you will be absolutely certain that the coins you receive are “hot off the press,” as it were. As can be expected, the Royal Canadian Mint tends to be the first to offer new versions of these and other coins. The site is fun to browse around too, and it’s a very educational resource for beginning collectors and investors and more experienced ones alike.
The five sources for Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins are among the most reputable and well-known in the industry, so they deserve to be near the top of your list. By sticking with dealers and distributors like these, you never have to worry about fraud or other issues. These sites use the latest security features to ensure safe online ordering, and most make a point of shipping orders within one or two business days. If you prefer seeing coins in person before buying them, use the Royal Canadian Mint’s authorized dealer locator to find a reputable dealer near you.
In the End…
The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin is a beautiful, yet affordable way to invest in silver bullion. These silver bullion coins would be a suburb addition to any silver investor’s portfolio. But be sure to watch the price above silver spot. Because the Maple Leaf has lower mintage numbers the premium can be much higher than silver eagles.