If you are considering buying physical gold to diversify your portfolio, gold bullion coins are worth a look into. In the world of gold trading, coins occupy a special place. They are cherished just as much as investments as collectable items, and the variety of designs and sizes mean there are lots of options to choose from. Gold coins represent a vibrant sector of the physical gold industry, with some mints rolling out new designs every year, only adding to the allure of the particular coin.
Whether it’s numismatic value or weight-based value, gold bullion coins represent an easy and convenient way to enter the gold market. There are a number of gold bullion coins in circulation today, but few can match the quality and appeal of the Canadian Maple Leaf.
Background
First minted during the late 1970s, the Canadian Gold Maple leaf burst onto the scene just as the South African Krugerrand started to become increasingly hard to find. Guaranteed for weight and purity by the Royal Canadian Mint, the coin is eligible for Gold IRA accounts, allowing individuals to plan for retirement by relying on the staying power of a valuable tangible commodity – gold.
The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is legal tender, and is one of the highest purity gold bullion coins in existence. Composed of almost 100% pure gold mined from national sources, the Maple Leaf has been minted at a purity of 99.99% since late 1982 (Gold Maples minted between 1979 and 1982 have a purity of 99.9%).
The Gold Maple is so pure that the 24-karat gold coins easily show marks from bumps in transit or rough handling, so always handle with care. Individual coins come in sturdy plastic flips, multiples of 10 come in mint tubes, and multiples of 500 are packed in monster boxes.
Special edition Gold Maples are occasionally issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, such as the 5 ounce Maple Leaf Forever Proof (200 minted,) the 1/25 ounce Gold Penny Maple Cufflinks and the 1/10 ounce Fine Gold Maple Leaf (25,000 minted.)
Size and Design
The Gold Maple Leaf comes in the following sizes: 1/20th Oz., 1/10th Oz., 1/4th Oz., 1/2 Oz. and 1 Oz. The most popular sizes are the 1 ounce, with a denomination of $50, and the ½ ounce, with a denomination of $20.
The front of each Maple Leaf features an elegant depiction of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, along with the date and denomination. The rear of the coin features a titular Canadian Maple Leaf, Canada’s national symbol. Both depictions are beautifully crafted to bring out detail. The coin is stamped with “9999” and “Canada,” to signify the purity is guaranteed by the RCM.
Maple Leaf coins serve both as investments and collectable coins. Due to the reputation of the RCM, and the unquestionable quality of the coins, buyers readily pay higher over spot prices. For rare specimens, prices are even higher, due to numismatic value tacked onto the price.
Options
Did you know that the Canadian Maple Leaf comes in silver, platinum, palladium as well as bi-metallic forms (a pure gold core surrounded by a pure silver ring)? The Palladium Maple Leaf, made of 99.95% pure palladium, was discontinued in 1999. In 2007 the Royal Canadian Mint released an ultra-pure gold Maple with a purity of .99999, also called ‘five nines.’
In addition, each year the RCM releases new, collectible designs featuring some of the world’s purest bullion, including: War of 1812 Bicentennial coin (2012), Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee coin (2012), Mountain Avens of the Northwest Territories coins (2011), Royal Canadian Mounted Police coin (2011), and many more. The RCM also occasionally mints ultra-pure, .99999 Silver Maple Leafs, as well.
Collecting Gold Maple Leafs can be a lifelong hobby due to the Royal Mint’s minting of proofs for each new year’s set of Leafs, commemorative sets and innovative new designs.