Canada started their silver bullion coin series in 1988 with the introduction of the 1 troy oz Silver Maple Leaf. Produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, Silver Maple Leaf coins are made of 99.99% pure silver and each coin has a face value of $5 Canadian dollars. This is the highest face value of any silver bullion coin in the world, but of course the coin's real value is tied to the market price of silver.
In addition to issuing a dated coin annually, the Royal Canadian Mint has also done a variety of special issues for the Silver Maple Leaf. 1989 is the only year in which the mint issue a proof version of the coin, so naturally that's a highly collectible issue.
Starting in 1999, the Mint spent a couple of years issuing the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins with a privy mark. For 1999, the privy mark celebrated the 20th anniversary of the coin's issue. Then in 2000, all of the Silver Maple Leafs featured a fireworks privy mark. There was also a dual-dated issue to celebrate the Millennium, that featured a fireworks privy mark as well as the dates 1999 and 2000.
Each Canadian Silver Maple Leaf features an image of the Maple Leaf on the reverse and the obverse has a portrait of Elizabeth II. Over the years the portraits (a total of three) have varied to show a profile of the Queen at different ages in her life.
In addition to official coins, collectors interested in other Canadian silver might be interested in some of the silver maple leaf art bars that you can find. These are manufactured by private mints and are usually quite popular to collect.
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 1 GRAM 999 PURE SOLID FINE SILVER CANADIAN MAPLE LEAF BULLION ROUND COIN BAR $2.47 (6 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 21:40:11 PST |
 OLD CANADIAN COINS CHOICE 1989 CANADA SILVER MAPLE LEAF 1 OZ BULLION $49.88 (16 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 21:52:49 PST |
 1989 5 CANADA 1oz SILVER MAPLE LEAF COIN SEALED $59.95 End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 21:58:39 PST |
 SILVER Coin 1 oz 2012 CANADA Canadian MAPLE LEAF Stunning Mirror PROOF LIKE BU $43.99 (22 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 22:20:21 PST |
 Maple Leaf Earrings Gold On Silver Coin Jewelry $57.19 End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 23:06:03 PST Buy It Now for only: $57.19 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 1 GRAM 999 PURE SOLID FINE SILVER CANADIAN MAPLE LEAF BULLION ROUND COIN BAR $2.37 (4 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-4-2012 23:46:06 PST |
 Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coin 5 1oz 9999 1999 2000 NEW in hard plastic RCM $42.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 2:51:56 PST Buy It Now for only: $48.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coin 5 1oz 9999 1999 2000 NEW in hard plastic RCM $39.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 2:53:09 PST Buy It Now for only: $48.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 2007 Canadian Maple Leaf Silver Coin $38.59 (4 Bids) End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 4:58:22 PST |
 2011 Canadian Maple Leaf Silver Coin $37.29 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 5:08:57 PST |
 2012 CANADA SILVER MAPLE LEAF COINS NEW UNC 100MINT ROLLSBULLION1st BID WINS $3,867.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 5:57:08 PST |
 6 2006 Candian 1 OZ Silver Maple Leaf Coins 9999 Fine Silver BU $245.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-5-2012 6:16:35 PST Buy It Now for only: $269.50 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |