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This document is an attempt to bring various published sources together to present a timeline about Canadian Maple Leaf Bullion Coins.

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2015 May 11.

1977

August

  • At the Canadian Numismatic Association convention, the Mint Master Coin Shop debuts the “Beaver” one troy ounce 0.9999 fine gold piece, struck by Johnson Matthey Mint, for Inter-Gold Canada Corp. Ltd. Price is $250 for Proof specimens. (The Royal Canadian Mint was approached to produce this piece, and will later produce its own gold bullion coin.) [591.45]
September

  • The Mining Association of Canada approaches the Minister of Finance with the idea of Canada producing a gold bullion coin. The proposed name is the Beaver, and its purpose is to compete with South Africa’s Kruggerand coin in world gold sales. The idea is turned down. [270.B14] [274.29] [399.14] [590.1]

1978

July 20

  • Supply Minister Jean-pierre Goyer announces plans for the Royal Canadian Mint to strike gold bullion coins to compete with South Africa’s Kruggerand coin. [610.1]

1979

February

  • The Cabinet authorizes minting of gold bullion coins for sale on the world market commencing in September. [267.B16]
February 20

  • A proclamation amends the Currency and Exchange Act, authorizing the issue of $50 gold bullion coins, with diameter of 30mm, weight of 481.25 grains, and fineness 999.5, effective March 1, 1979. [108.1154]
February 23

  • The Supply Minister announces in the House of Commons that Canada will produce bullion gold pieces, called Maple Leaf coins, for a three-year trial period. The coins will contain one ounce of gold, and have a face value of $50. [62.2090] [172.252] [274.29] [331]
(month unknown)

  • Supply and Services Minister Pierre De Bane and the President of the Board of Economic Development Ministers, R.K. Andras, announce that a gold bullion coin would be produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. The Gold Maple Leaf would have a face value of $50, and contain one troy ounce of 0.999 fine gold. The gold bullion program is set for three years, with 1 million coins produced in the first year, to be officially launched in September. [19.1]
September 5

  • The Royal Canadian Mint launches the gold Maple Leaf bullion coin program. A 1-ounce coin with .999 purity and $50 face value goes on sale in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. [1] [8] [62.2195] [71.2] [152.19] [209.B1] [429.1] [637.1] [1020.38] [1053.56] [1126.42] (September 1 [258.28]) (September 6 [67.684] [169.853] [269.B11]) (September 9? [56])
December 13

  • A proclamation changes the weight of the $50 gold bullion coin to 480.71 grains, with fineness 999.9, effective January 1, 1980. [109.5]

1981

July

  • The government Minister of Supply and Services extends the Royal Canadian Mint’s gold bullion (Maple Leaf) program for another ten years. [256.2] [692.B12]
December 17

  • A proclamation allows the year on the $50 gold bullion coin to be the year of issue, effective January 1, 1982. [111.686]

1982

February 18

  • A proclamation changes the weight of the $20 gold bullion coin to 240.51 grains, with fineness 0.9999, and adds $5 and $10 gold bullion coins, of weights 48.32 and 120.34 grains, respectively. The inscriptions on the coins are 1/2 ounce ($20), 1/4 ounce ($10), and 1/10 ounce ($5). [113.1616]
June

  • At the Gold Institute’s symposium on gold in Washington, D.C., the Royal Canadian Mint unveils trial strikes of one-tenth ($5 face) and one-quarter ounce ($10) versions of the Maple Leaf gold bullion coin. [43.1]
September 21

  • A proclamation changes the fineness indicated on the $5, $10, $20, and $50 gold bullion coins to “9999”. [112.3298]
October 19

  • Mint Master Corkery announces 1/4 and 1/10 ounce gold Maple Leaf coins, to be on sale in early November. [681.1]
November

  • The Royal Canadian Mint introduces the 1/10 ounce Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin, with a face value of $5, and the 1/4 ounce coin with face value $10. The 0.9999 fine gold coins are a first in the world for the Mint. (The coins are needed in Japan, to avoid the 15% commodity tax on purchases over $370.) [157.1] [254.173] [319] [663.32] [661.160]

1985

September

  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins distribution of Maple Leaf gold bullion coins in Hong Kong. [215.B6] [271.B5]

1986

July

  • The Royal Canadian Mint introduces the 1/2 ounce Maple Leaf gold bullion coin, 0.9999 fine, with face value of $20. [254.173] [661.160] [726.1]

1988

July 11

  • The government announces that the Royal Canadian Mint will produce platinum and silver Maple Leaf bullion coins in 1989. [63.3847] [70.2] [381.25] (July 12 [67.561])
September 22

  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins production of a 0.9999 fine Silver Maple Leaf bullion coin, with face value of $5. [47] [70.2] [382.17] [748.1] [1057.40] [1082.56]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins production of 0.9995 fine Platinum Maple Leaf bullion coins, with the following weights and face values: 1 ounce ($50), 1/2 ounce ($20), 1/4 ounce ($10), 1/10 ounce ($5). [47] [70.2] [382.17] [748.1]
November 17

  • The Royal Canadian Mint officially launches the silver ($5) and platinum ($5, $10, $20, $50) Maple Leaf coins in six cities. (In the first six weeks, 1,062,000 troy ounces of silver and 64,200 troy ounces of platinum coins are sold.) [70.2] [226.B8] [254.175] [369.29] [752.1] [755.1]

1989

September 5

  • The Royal Canadian Mint issues a collector’s edition Gold Maple Leaf coin, commemorating the 10th anniversary of issuing the bullion coins. [71.2] [83.1] [152.19]
November 7

  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins selling the Maple Leaf gold bullion coin in Malaysia. [71.2] [48.21]

1993

July 29

  • The Royal Canadian Mint introduces a 1/20 troy ounce 0.9995 fine platinum Maple Leaf bullion coin, with face value of $1. [311] [157.1] (1991 [56])
  • The Royal Canadian Mint introduces a 1/20 troy ounce 0.9999 fine gold Maple Leaf bullion coin, with face value of $1. [311] [157.1] (1991 [56])

1994

September 9

  • The Royal Canadian Mint launches the 1/15 troy ounce gold Maple Leaf bullion coin, in Hong Kong. [56] [319]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint launches the 1/15 troy ounce platinum Maple Leaf bullion coin, in Hong Kong. [56] [319]

1996

January

  • The Royal Canadian Mint discontinues the 1/15-ounce gold and platinum maple leaf coins. [832.1]

1997

  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins producing Maple Leaf bullion coins with private business privy marks. [406.11]

1998

  • The Royal Canadian Mint issues a 10th anniversary silver Maple Leaf bullion coin, with a sterling silver certificate of authenticity. Face value is $50, and fineness is 0.9999. Mintage is limited to 25,000. Price is $199.99. [422.1]
October 16

  • A Royal proclamation authorizes the issuance of a $5 silver coin, dated 1998, showing a large maple leaf and the logo of the 90th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint. [508.2872]

1999

  • The Royal Canadian Mint issues a 1-ounce silver maple leaf bullion coin privy-marked for the 1999 Year of the Rabbit. Price is $26.95. [427.27]
February

  • The Royal Canadian Mint introduces the 1999 gold maple leaf bullion coins, with “20 YEARS / ANS” struck in a small oval under the leaf, marking the 20th anniversary of the maple leaf program. [429.1]
August

  • At the American Numismatic Association convention in Chicago, the Royal Canadian Mint unveils a new hologram Gold Maple Leaf coin to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Gold Maple Leaf program. Each coin includes a hologram maple leaf struck on to the coin, which is 0.9999 pure gold. Mintage is limited to 500 sets of five coins for $2000. [448.1]

2000

January 25

  • The Royal Canadian Mint releases a special design of the Gold Maple Leaf and Silver Maple Leaf coins, with 2000 commemorative mint mark on the reverse. [515.18]

2001

  • The Royal Canadian Mint introduces a 2001 one-ounce Maple Leaf silver bullion coin with a hologram image, and privy mark saying “auspicious maple” in Chinese. Price is $39.95. Mintage is limited to 30,000. [660.30]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint introduces a 2001 one-ounce Maple Leaf silver bullion coin with a colorized three-leaf maple leaf. Price is $34.95. Mintage is limited to 50,000. [660.30]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint releases the 1/4-ounce 2001 Gold Maple Leaf Hologram Coin. The coin is 0.9999 fine gold, with mintage limit of 15,000, and issue price of $195.95. [663.32]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint releases the 2001 Gold Maple Leaf Five-Coin Set. Each coin features a hologram design. Coin weights are 1/20, 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, and one ounce of 0.9999 gold. Mintage is limited to 600 sets. Issue price is $1995.95. [663.32]

2002

  • The Royal Canadian Mint releases a 0.9995 fine platinum 5-coin coin set, featuring hologram maple leaf designs. Coin sizes are 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce, and 1/20-ounce. Mintage is limited to 500 Proof sets, priced at $2895.95. [775.34]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint introduces the 2003 Good Fortune Hologram coin, a 0.9999 fine silver Maple Leaf coin. Mintage is limited to 30,000 coins, priced at $39.99. [775.34]

2003

  • The Royal Canadian Mint releases the 2003 colorized silver Maple Leaf bullion coin depicting the summer season. The coin contains one ounce of 0.9999 fine silver. [819.19]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint issues the “Good Fortune” hologram coin, a silver Maple Leaf bullion coin with privy mark with Chinese characters for good luck. [819.19]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint issues the 2003 Maple Leaf Proof Hologram five-coin set. Coins contain 1/20, 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 ounce of 0.9995 fine platinum. [819.19]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint unveils the five-coin Silver Maple Hologram Set, containing 0.999 fine silver coins of denominations and weights $5 (one ounce), $4 (1/2 ounce), $3 (1/4 ounce), $2 (1/10 ounce), $1 (1/20 ounce). Mintage limit is 30,000 sets, at $149.95 each. This set commemorates the 15th anniversary of the Silver Maple Leaf. This is the first time the Royal Canadian Mint has struck $3 and $4 coins. [823.1]

2004

  • The Royal Canadian Mint announces a 25th anniversary Gold Maple Leaf coin set, each coin being bi-metallic, with inner core 0.9999 gold, outer ring 0.9999 silver. Face values and weights are $50 (1 ounce), $20 (1/2 ounce), $10 (1/4 ounce), $5 (1/10 ounce), $1 (1/20 ounce), 50c (1/25 ounce). Mintage limited to 1500 sets. [835.9]
August 18

  • At the ANA’s World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, the Royal Canadian Mint unveils the 2004 25th anniversary Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin. The one-ounce 0.9999 fine coin is minted with a limit of 10,000 pieces. The design was created by Walter Ott. (All coins are sold within a day.) [843.1] [844.1]

2005

  • The Royal Canadian Mint unveils a colorized 0.9999 fine silver $5 Maple Leaf coin, depicting the bigleaf maple. The design was created by Stan Witten. Mintage is limited to 27,000; price is $39.95. [861.25]
August

  • The Royal Canadian Mint unveils two Proof 0.9999 fine $5 one-ounce Silver Maple Leaf coins, one with privy mark “VE-Day”, the other with privy mark “Victory SEP 2”. Mintage limit is 7000 each; price is $39.95 each. [861.1]
September

  • The Royal Canadian Mint announces the first palladium Maple Leaf coin. The 2005-dated one troy ounce 0.9995 fine coin has a $50 face value. [866.1]
(month unknown)

  • The Royal Canadian Mint sells 90 1-ounce 0.9995 fine Palladium Maple Leaf patterns to coin dealers, at $1299 each. [871.1]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint strikes 400 0.99999 fine pattern Maple Leaf one-ounce gold bullion coins as a test. The Mint sells all pieces to coin dealers, who sell them for over $1000, double the gold value. [865.1]
December 8

  • The Royal Canadian Mint sells a further 200 1-ounce 0.9995 fine Palladium Maple Leaf patterns to coin dealers, at $1299 each. Dealers receiving the pieces are selected by lottery. [871.1] [1098.62]

2006

September

  • The Royal Canadian Mint introduces the $5 2006 0.9999 silver Maple Leaf bullion coin, depicting yellow colored leaves of a silver maple tree. The design was created by Stan Witten. Mintage limit is 20,000. Price is $45.95. [893.20]

2007

May 3

  • The Royal Canadian Mint unveils a 2007 $1 million gold Maple Leaf bullion coin. The 100 kilogram coin is 0.99999 pure, with 50 cm diameter. Reverse design by Stan Witten. This is the world’s highest denomination gold coin. The coins are not struck, but cast and then machined. Price estimated at $2.5 – 3 million. Mintage limit not set yet. [909.16] [1009.72]
July 3

  • The Royal Canadian Mint announces a $5 one ounce Maple Leaf coin, 0.9999 silver, final in series of colored Silver Maple Leaf bullion coins. This coin depicts the leaf of a sugar maple, with orange-colored leaves. The design was created by Stan Witten. Mintage limit is 20,000 coins; price is $49.95. [912.32]
July 18

  • The Royal Canadian Mint issues the 2007 $5 Sugar Maple in Orange Silver Maple Leaf coin. The 0.9999 silver coin features a colored maple leaf. Mintage limit is 20,000 coins; price is $49.95. [916.23]
August 3

  • The Royal Canadian Mint announces an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, allowing the Mint to strike bullion coins with the emblem of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and the five-rings emblem of the Olympic movement. They will be silver and gold one ounce coins. [918.1]
August 9

  • At the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Royal Canadian Mint unveils designs of gold and silver Maple Leaf bullion coins for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter games program. [919.11]

2008

September

  • Krause Publications’ Coin of the Year nominating panel nominates Canada’s One Million Dollars 100kg Maple Leaf for People’s Choice Award. [949.1] [952.7]
(month unknown)

  • The Royal Canadian Mint releases a 20th anniversary $5 silver Maple Leaf coin with gold-plated leaf. The coin is 0.9999 silver, one ounce, 31.39 grams, 38mm diameter. Mintage limit is 10,000; price is $74.95. [953.11]

2009

February 6

  • At the 2009 World Money Fair in Berlin, Germany, the Royal Canadian Mint announces it has made a mintage of 50,000 Reverse Proof Maple Leaf silver $5 bullion coins with Brandenburg Gate privy mark, sold to a German institution for sale in the German market. [1044.59]

2010

June 25

  • A Canadian $1 million 100-kg gold Maple Leaf coin, the world’s largest gold coin, sells at auction in Austria for 3.27 million euros (CDN$4.18 million), the melt value of the gold. [1029] [1035.52] [1065.17]

2012

January

  • The Royal Canadian Mint issues the 2012 Gold Maple Leaf 5-coin proof set, one-ounce is 0.99999 gold, 1/4-ounce, 1/10-ounce, 1/20-ounce, and 1/25-ounce coins are 0.9999 gold. [1181.40]
November

  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins distribution of 2013-dated gold Maple Leaf coins, with laser engraved security mark, visible only under magnification. [1180.16] [1193.50]

A list of references to all source material is available.

Other web pages of interest: