Owner Comments:
Early portrait of the youthful Queen Elizabeth II. Canada was one of the "last of the first" to produce government issued silver bullion coins. This idea seemingly traveled north with Mexico being the first to fine silver bullion coins in 1983. The United States followed in 1986. Canada would not issue its first Silver Maple Leaf until 1988. Even so, the Maple Leaf preceded the silver Britannia by almost 10 years and the New Zealand Kiwi by over 15 years.
Canada was not completely outdone however. Mexico, the United States, and almost all the other government mints to issue 1 oz silver coins have struck them with a purity of 0.9990, the standard for "fine silver." The Royal Canadian Mint produced its new Maple Leaf coins with a purity standard of 0.9999 and has bragged about it as the "purest of the bullion coins" for 20 years.
The Maple Leaf also claims the highest face value of any current silver bullion issue. Most other countries set the face value of the coins very low. The United States and Australia both went with $1. China chose 10 Yuan. Mexico took the high road and simply denominated the coin in ounces. These values were generally chosen to guarantee that the coin's melt or bullion value never dropped below the face value. Canada chose a denomination of $5. Given the typical value of silver vs the Canadian dollar, the coin has never been at much risk of circulating. Even so, this is still an interesting feature for the coin to claim.
Like many parts of the former British empire Canada still places the official portrait of the English monarch on its coins today. The official portrait has been changed twice since the series began, once around 1990 and in 2004. Each time the coin changed to depict a more mature portrait of the aging Queen Elizabeth II. The first portrait shows the queen to be fairly young.
Some might wonder, why a maple leaf? Some believe that the maple has been a Canadian symbol in one form or another since the 1700's. There are 10 species of maple native to Canada and at least one of them grows in every province. Over the centuries it has evolved into a symbol of national unity in a country constantly struggling with internal cultural divides. It was popular among French-Canadians of the 18th century. Alexander Muir composed "The Maple Leaf Forever" in 1867 and it became an unofficial anthem for the English-speaking population. It appeared on the coat of arms of both Ontario and Quebec in 1868 and was added to the Canadian coat of arms in 1921. The Maple Leaf became the central national symbol in 1965 and it was added to the flag at that time. It has subsequently come to be used in the logos of Canadian companies and sports teams.
The Maple Leaf Forever by Alexander Muir
In Days of yore,
From Britain's shore
Wolfe the dauntless hero came
And planted firm Britannia's flag
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave,
Our boast, our pride
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwined,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
[CHORUS]
The Maple Leaf
Our Emblem Dear,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
God save our Queen and heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane
Our brave fathers side by side
For freedom's home and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died.
And so their rights which they maintained,
We swear to yeild them never.
Our watchword ever more shall be
The Maple Leaf Forever
[CHORUS]
Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound
May peace forever be our lot
And plenty a store abound
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever
And flourish green for freedom's home
The Maple Leaf Forever
[CHORUS]
Year (Mintage)
1988 (1,155,931)
1989 (3,332,200)
1990 (1,708,800)
1991 (644,300)
1992 (343,800)
1993 (1,133,900)
1994 (889,946)
1995 (326,244)
1996 (250,445)
1997 (100,970)
1998 (591,359)
1999 (1,229,442)
2000 (403,652)
2001 (398,563)
2002 (576,196)
2003 (684,750)
2004 (680,925)
2005 (955,694)
2006 (2,464,727)
2007 (3,526,052)
2008 (?)
2009 (?)