The Royal Canadian Mint continues to impress with a steady stream of well designed, beautiful and innovative coins. Their latest release is a trilogy of precious metal coins all themed around one of Canada's most recognizable symbols : the maple leaf.
Canada 2016 5oz Gold $500 Maple Leaves Coin Reverse
The fist coin up is the 2016 5oz gold five hundred dollar Maple Leaves coin. The coin features a trio of wind blown sugar maple leaves as they are being tossed around by the cold autumn breeze. The varying hues of gold achieved by the coin's design is meant to evoke the amber tones of surely the most renowned product of the sugar maple(Acer saccharum) and one of Canada's best exports – delicious golden maple syrup. Nearly 80% of the world's maple syrup supply is of Canadian origin.
Canada 2016 5oz Gold $500 Maple Leaves Coin Obverse
The obverse design is very similar to the 1kilogram maple leaf coin, mere omitting the date and denomination that already appear on the reverse of the coin. The coin measures 60mm at a weight of 156gram with a smooth edge. The coin is shipped encapsulated in a special red RCM display box, with a numbered certificate of authenticity included. Struck from .9999 Fineness gold the coin has a limited mintage of only 99 coins and is expected to sell for $12 500.00 CAD upon release. It is worth noting that the same coin from the 2015 release sold out at the mint in only two days.
Canada 2016 $300 1oz Platinum Maple Leaf Forever Coin Reverse
The second coin is another coin with great eye appeal. The 2016 300 Dollar 1oz platinum Maple Leaf Forever coin. The reverse proof treatment of the coin ensures that the focus falls squarely on the three different typed of maple leaves that are engraved on the coin's reverse. The three leaves are bound together at the stem and represent the three species of maple that are most dear to the Canadian identity.
The first is a silver maple leave in the middle that is left untreated to allow the natural sheen of the proof platinum to shine through. The silver maple is so named for the silvery colour that the underside of the leaves take on during the summer months.
Canada 2016 $300 1oz Platinum Maple Leaf Forever Coin Obverse
The second is a red maple leaf to the left. The red maple gains it's name from the distinctive red hue of it's leaves during autumn. The red maple leaf is finished in rose gold lending it a pink to deep red colour depending on how it catches the light.
Finally there is the sugar maple leaf on the right. Sugar maple is used to make the golden maple syrup that renowned the world over. Hence it is only fitting that the last leaf is clad with yellow gold. The reverse legend reads : “CANADA PLATINUM 1 OZ PLATINE 9995 2016”.
The 1oz platinum coin is made from .9995 Fineness platinum, and has a limited mintage of only 250 coins. The 31.16gram coin measures 30mm and is issued with a numbered certificate of authenticity in a special red display case similar to the one the 5oz gold coin shipped with. The coin is suggested to sell for $2999.95 CAD upon release.
Canada 2016 $300 1oz Platinum Maple Leaf Forever Coin in Box
The obverse of the 1oz platinum Maple Leaf Forever coin is also finished in a reverse proof treatment. It features the Susanna Blunt effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth with the legend “ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA 300 DOLLARS”.
Canada 2016 $20 1oz Silver Bigleaf Maple Coin with Swarovski Crystal Reverse
Then finally we have the 1oz silver Bigleaf Maple coin with a Swarovski Crystal set in the reverse. The coin depicts a forest trail in British Columbia lined with majestic Bigleaf Maples(Acer macrophyllum). The leaves, which can reach 30cm(almost 12 inches) are highlighted with selective colouring. A Swarovski raindrop crystal is set to the left to highlight the importance of water to maintain the lush ecosystem. The reverse was designed by Caren Heine. The design discretely incorporates the legend with the country of issue “CANADA” nestled in the tree canopy, and the date and denomination, “20 DOLLARS 2016”, inscribed at the bottom.
Canada 2016 $20 1oz Silver Bigleaf Maple Coin with Swarovski Crystal Obverse
The obverse of the 1oz silver twenty dollar Bigleaf Maple coin bears the Susanna Blunt designed effigy of HM Queen Elizabet II with the legend “ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA” inscribed around the edge of the coin. The 38mm proof coin will have a limited mintage of 4500 coins. The coin is stuck from pure .9999 Fineness silver and issued with a serialized certificate of authenticity in a maroon clamshell case. The coin is set to retail for $124.95 and the Canadian Mint is limiting the sale of the coin to only two coins per customer.
