Canadian Gold Maple Leaf

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is one of the world's most renowned and widely traded gold bullion coins. It is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint and is known for its high purity and iconic design.

- Obverse (Front):

1. The obverse of the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This design has been updated over the years to reflect the Queen's age, with three main versions: a younger portrait (1979-1989), a more mature portrait (1990-2004), and an elder portrait (2005-present).
2. The inscriptions include the Queen's name “ELIZABETH II,” the coin's face value (e.g., “50 DOLLARS”), and the year of minting.

- Reverse (Back):

1. The reverse features the iconic image of a single maple leaf, which is the national symbol of Canada. The design is simple yet elegant, emphasizing the detailed veins and structure of the leaf.
2. The inscriptions include “CANADA” at the top, with the gold purity marked on either side of the leaf (e.g., “9999” for 99.99% pure gold). Below the leaf, the weight of the coin is indicated, typically as “FINE GOLD 1 OZ OR PUR.”

: - Material: 99.99% pure gold (24 karats), though earlier editions from 1979-1982 had a purity of 99.9%. - Weight: 1 troy ounce (31.1035 grams) for the standard coin, though fractional denominations (e.g., 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz) are also available. - Diameter: 30 mm (1.181 inches) for the 1 oz coin. - Thickness: 2.87 mm (0.113 inches) for the 1 oz coin. - Face Value: $50 CAD for the 1 oz coin (though its market value is determined by the current price of gold).

- In recent years, the Royal Canadian Mint has introduced advanced security features to the Gold Maple Leaf to prevent counterfeiting:

1. Radial Lines: The background of the coin features fine radial lines, which create a unique light-diffracting pattern.
2. Micro-Engraved Laser Mark: A small maple leaf, containing the last two digits of the minting year, is laser-engraved on the reverse side.
3. Bullion DNA Technology: This allows coins to be authenticated using a special device that reads a unique digital code embedded in each coin.

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is highly regarded both as a collector's item and an investment vehicle. Its high purity, coupled with the mint's reputation for quality, makes it a preferred choice for those looking to invest in physical gold. Special editions, such as proof coins, privy-marked coins, and anniversary editions, are also sought after by collectors.