Canadian gold maple leaf coins are the world’s best selling 24 karat gold bullion coins. Available in five sizes from 1/20 oz, through 1/10 oz, 1/4 and 1/2, up to the full 1 oz size. The face value of these coins are $1, $5, $10, $20 through to $50 for the 1 oz. This also happens to be the best one to buy, if funds permit. Although there is a markup on this coin, that’s how gold bullion dealers make their money, it is smaller than the markup on the smaller sized coins. There is in fact an inverse relationship between size and cost. The smaller the coin, the higher the markup.
Special edition gold maple leaf coins have in the past been produced, over and above the normal five coins. The 1/15 oz, $2 face value, Canadian maple leaf was, unfortunately discontinued after only one year. Others to have seen the light of day include a colored gold maple leaf and a hologram maple leaf coin, both produced in 1999 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the original Canadian gold maple leaf.
If you are feeling particularly solvent, the Royal Canadian Mint will make you a $1 Million Canadian Gold Maple Leaf. A lovely present for someone, they will almost certainly require payment in advance!
One ounce gold maple leaf coins, unlike for example the South African Krugerrand, are pure gold. This explains their popularity, you buy pure gold you get pure gold, but it does come at a practical cost. Canadian maple leaf gold coins scratch very easily, you have to be very careful when you handle them. For that reason alone it is better to leave them in the protective package they come in, normally a clear plastic tube. Damage the coin, damage the future resale value. You have been warned.
If this is worry for you, the Krugerrand a 22 karat gold coin, may be more suitable. With it being an alloy, it is much more resilient to rough handling! If, however, you are searching for a gold investment opportunity that really is a thing of beauty, the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coin is hard to beat.