Canadian Silver Coins (Maple Leafs & More)

Canadian Silver Coins at BGASC

Among the most popular mints in the world is the Royal Canadian Mint. Oftentimes referred to as the RCM, they create some of the most popular silver coins in the world, most notably, the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf. Learn more about this iconic coin series, and other Canadian Silver Coins at BGASC, right here.

Brief Background on the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint originated as a branch of the Royal Mint in Britain. It wasn’t until 1931 that the mint was turned over into Canadian hands. Nowadays, the RCM has two locations, the original Ottawa branch that focuses on numismatic coins, while the Winnipeg branch strikes circulation coinage.

Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coin

The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coin debuted in 1979 as the world’s second bullion coin, after the South African Gold Krugerrand. The success of the series led the RCM to produce a silver version less than a decade later.

The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf debuted in 1988 and was the world’s first .9999 pure silver bullion coin to be made available to investors. These coins are released with a weight of 1 Troy oz and a face value of $5 (CAD). These coins have been issued annually ever since their debut.

The obverse field displays the reigning British monarch. Over the years, this has included three different designs of Queen Elizabeth II and one of King Charles III.

• 1988-1989: Coins with an issuing year in this range will display Arnold Machin’s design on the obverse. This design depicts Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 39.
• 1990-2003: Coins with an issuing year in this range will showcase an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 64. This portrait was created by Dora de Pédery-Hunt.
• 2004-2023: Coins with an issuing year in this range will feature Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 79. This image was designed by Susanna Blunt.
• 2024-Present: With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, coins will now feature the image of King Charles III, designed by Steven Rosati, on the obverse field.

The reverse field features a sugar maple leaf, designed by Walter Ott. This image can also be seen on the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and has been featured on these coins since the debut of the coin program. In 2014, new security features were added. Among these were radial lines on the reverse as well as a micro-engraving laser mark.

Animal Portrait Series

In 2017, the RCM debuted a brand-new Animal Portrait Series. These coins consist of 3/4 Troy oz of .9999 pure silver and are issued annually. Coins in this series are also reverse-proof strikes. This indicates a frosted background with mirrored design elements.

Every new coin in the series displays the image of a popular North American animal species on the reverse. The obverse of these coins showcases the reigning British monarch at the time.

• 2017: Bighorn Sheep
• 2018: Wolverine
• 2019: Wild Horse
• 2020: Woodland Caribou
• 2021: Great Horned Owl
• 2022: Moose
• 2023: Lynx

Ice Age Series

This brand-new coin program from the RCM displays creatures prevalent in the Ice Age on a 2 Troy oz .9999 pure silver coin. The first issue came in 2023 and featured the Smilodon Sabre-Tooth Tiger. This release shows the fearsome predator lunging toward the viewer in a powerful piece of art, designed by Julius Csotonyi. The obverse features Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

The second release features the Woolly Mammoth. Furthermore, this release is the first in the series to feature King Charles III on the obverse.

Other Popular Canadian Silver Coins

• Birds of Prey: Issued between 2014 and 2015, this four-coin collection featured well-known birds that are seen in Canada on the reverse. Each coin in the original series was made from 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver. Designs included the Peregrine Falcon (2014), Bald Eagle (2014), Red-Tailed Hawk (2015), and Great Horned Owl (2015). Following the success of the series, the RCM re-releases the designs as reverse-proof strikes.
• Canadian Wildlife: This six-coin series ran from 2011 to 2013 and proved to be highly successful. Every coin in the series was a 1 Troy oz specimen made from .9999 pure silver. Designs on the reverse included the Timber Wolf (2011), Grizzly (2011), Cougar (2012), Moose (2012), Wood Bison (2013), and Pronghorn Antelope (2013).

Investing in Canadian Silver Coins at BGASC

For any questions regarding Canadian Silver Coins, contact the BGASC customer service team today at 888-992-4272. Our team can be reached via email or through our online chat feature as well.