2022 Gold Canadian Maple Leaf 1oz 9999 Fine Gold (9 now avail)

One of the most important bullion gold coins available for purchase is the Royal Canadian Mint’s Maple Leaf. Similar to the American Eagles from the United States Mint, these coins are the official bullion coinage of Canada. The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is noteworthy within the precious metals market for its historic debut and its utilization of 24-karat gold.

Introduction of the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins

The Gold Maple Leaf was introduced by the Royal Canadian Mint when coin investors and collectors had only one choice: the South African Gold Krugerrand. It was in 1967 that the Krugerrand was introduced by the South African Mint as the first gold bullion coin for the private investor market. A bull market for gold saw the Royal Canadian Mint produce the second ever gold bullion coin. However, it wasn’t only a bull market for gold that motivated the introduction of the Gold Maple Leaf.

The apartheid system in South Africa resulted in economic sanctions placed on the country by Western powers. Among the results of those sanctions was that South African Gold Krugerrands were no longer available throughout North America and Europe. Thus, the Royal Canadian Mint introduced just the second-ever gold bullion coin aimed at the private investor and collector.

The Royal Canadian Mint at 320 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, where the Gold Maple Leaf coins are produced. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Background on the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins

It was in 1979 that the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf was first struck and issued by the Royal Canadian Mint. These coins became the first-ever .9999 pure gold (24-karat) coins in the world when the mint increased the gold purity in November of 1982. Even now, few other gold bullion coins are produced with 24-karat gold. From that point forward, the coins have maintained the same level of purity.

Design of the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins

The coin offered by AUCM presents Susanna Blunt’s fourth-generation design. It marked the second bust of the late Elizabeth II by a Canadian artist and the first of the Queen’s reign to present her without her crown. Blunt’s design appeared on the Gold Maple Leaf from 2004 to 2023.

The reverse of Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins presents the sugar maple leaf. Canada’s official emblem, the sugar maple leaf has been used to symbolize the nation and its people since the mid-18^th century. Therefore, it predates nationhood. The maple leaf motif was created by Walter Ott in 1979 and is surrounded by engravings of “Canada,” “9999,” “Fine Gold” and “Or Pur,” as well as the 1 ounce weight of the coin.