Canadian Maple Leaf Silver Coin
Table of Contents
The Canadian Maple Leaf is a silver coin that was first issued by the government of Canada in 1998. It features the Canadian maple leaf on one side, and Queen Elizabeth II on the other. It can be used as legal tender, and carries a value of five Canadian dollars. However, because it is made with 1 troy ounce (31.11 grams) of pure (.999) silver, it carries a much higher value to a silver merchant or a collector, as the price of silver has been fluctuating between $24 and $30 per troy ounce for some time.
Versions
Since 1988, there have been changes to the coin, and many special versions have been introduced. In 1988, over 1.1 million were minted, and that number fluctuated from year to year. The smallest strike was for just under 101,000 in 1997. The number has increased almost each year since then. In 2014, the issue was 29MM silver coins.
In addition to the standard version, there have been a number of special issues over the years. These can be broken down into five main subcategories, which are:
- Commemorative editions
- Editions with special privy marks
- Fractional editions
- Editions with nature-related themes
- Coloured and hologram editions
The commemorative editions include the 10-year anniversary Silver Maple Leaf, the millennial edition, the Liberation of the Netherlands edition, and Legacy of Liberty edition. Another limited edition printing known as the “Maple leaf Forever” edition has versions of different sizes, in silver and gold. There are issues commemorating the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th anniversaries of the Silver Maple Leaf.
Wildlife versions include four different varieties of bald eagle, four kinds of whitetail deer, four bison, four grizzly bears, and a number of different fish. Another run called the “Seven Sacred Teachings” also features wildlife on each of its seven printings. There are also two Chinese Zodiac series, one ran from 1998-2009, and another started in 2012 and continues through present day.
Other Silver Maple Leaf editions commemorate a wide variety of events and subjects. Here are some of the highlights:
- Royal Canadian Mint, 90th Anniversary
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Titanic
- Fireworks
- Expo Hanover
- Alphonse Desjardins
- D-Day
- Liberation of the Netherlands
- Victory in Europe
- Victory in Japan
- London’s Tower Bridge
- Brandenburg Gate
- Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Titanic (100th Anniversary)
- World Money Fair in Berlin
- Heart
- Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity
- Yin and Yang
- Panda
- Shamrock/Four-Leaf Clover
- Bigfoot
- Light Bulb
- Phonograph
Most of these coins were printed in only one year. Many were issued directly from the Royal Canadian Mint, although some were made available through trusted merchants. Some of the coins with European subjects were only made available in Europe.
Grading System
In some cases, a numismatist or merchant will employ the services of a coin grading service to score the appearance of a collectible coin. Using a method of grading developed by Dr. William Herbert Sheldon in 1948, professional evaluators score each coin on the basis of five metrics: strike, preservation, luster, color, and attractiveness. Occasionally, the score also considers the country of origin. This process will yield a score from 1 to 70. A coin’s grade has a profound effect on its secondary market value; collectors tend to favor those rare coins with no flaws. Services that perform these evaluations include the Professional Coin Grading Service, as well as the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.
Value
At Crown Gold Exchange, we focus primarily on the quantity of silver in the coin. Our expertise and equipment enable us to determine exactly how much silver is present in your coin so that we can make you an offer based on the spot price of silver. If the coin has a certain specific interest or appeal to numismatists, that demand will show in the secondary market price as well.
Because these coins come from the Royal Canadian Mint, they should contain pure (i.e. 99.9%) silver. But even if they do not, we will usually make an offer, as we are always looking for precious metals. We always assess the quantity of silver in the items we purchase, so that we can value each item accurately. This means we will offer this service free of charge.
Customer Testimonial
Market for Canadian Maple Leaf Coins
If you’re not familiar with the secondary coin market, you might have trouble learning where you can get the most value for your merchandise. Most people who come into our store are not collectors; they simply came to be in possession of some silver that they don’t need. The professionals at Crown Gold Exchange are always willing to pay you a fair value.
If you have silver coins and you’re not sure how much they are worth, bring them into our store. Whether you are looking to sell or not, we are always happy to talk to you. In most cases, our customers are grateful to learn more about their property. And if we like the property and you’re willing to sell, you can walk out with some easy cash.
Choose Crown Gold Exchange for Selling Canadian Maple Leaf Coins
At Crown Gold Exchange, customer service is our number one priority. We always greet you with a smile, and when we examine your item, we never take it out of your sight. If we need to use special tools to assess the quality of your item, we have them on hand. Once your item is weighed, we will check the spot price of silver, and make you a one-time, no nonsense offer. We won’t haggle or pressure you, because we want you to walk away from our offer at peace with your decision. If you choose to walk away, we’ll be just fine. If you sell, we will pay you in a form that is convenient for you. Our approach works for our customers. They always tell us how comfortable we make them feel, and many are pleasantly surprised at the value they are getting for their item. Our hope is that because of your positive experience, you will tell your friends about us, and they will also do business with us.BUYING YOUR GOLD, SILVER, DIAMONDS AND COINS SINCE 2010
She explained everything to me and it made me feel very comfortable.
Sloane
Crown Gold Exchange Customer