Gold Maple Leaf Auction

Most people buy a gold Maple Leaf as a means to acquire, hold, and invest in gold bullion; a Canadian Gold Maple Leaf auction is a fast and easy way to do just that. The Maple Leaf, while beautiful, has a primary purpose not for collecting, but as a means for everyday people like you and I to invest in one of the oldest and most stable stores of value- gold. The links below will tell you a little about each of the Maple Leafs available, and take you the auctions.

1 oz Gold Maple Leaf

When you buy a Maple Leaf, you're actually getting 24 carat gold. Not 22 carats like its South African cousin, the Krugerrand. Today, each one troy ounce Maple Leaf has .9999 fine pure gold (the RCM has even introduced .99999 fine coins!). When the Maple Leafs were introduced 1979, they were the most pure, and only the second gold bullion coin on the market, at .999 fine. Investor interest was brisk, and the 1 oz Gold Maple Leaf was a commercial success. Since the coin was designed as means for investors to acquire gold, rather than simply collect or conduct trade, the Maples Leafs were stamped with their equivalent weight in gold, and a currency value. The value is basically ornamental at this point, as gold prices are much higher than the stamped denominations.

1/2 oz Gold Maple Leaf

At 15.58 grams, the 1/2 oz Maple Leaf is substantial. Holding one if your hand you have a sense of something with tangible value. The smaller size offers a nice compromise between affordability and price, ensuring that one gets a sizeable portion of gold, without breaking the bank. The first 1/2 oz gold maples were introduced in 1986, and have been a part of the Maple Leaf offering for almost twenty five years. In the mid eighties, there was an anonymous donation of Gold Maple Leafs for over 5 years in Chicago's Salvation Army kettles. Whether in a charitable donation kettle, or your safety deposit box for your child's future, Maple Leafs provide a portable, stable, convenient way to invest in bullion.

1/4 oz Gold Maple Leaf

For thousands of years, in times of feast and famine man has invested in gold. As stock prices go down, gold prices have historically gone up, and present times are no exception. The petite 1/4 oz gold Maple Leaf makes it possible for small investors to buy and hold gold bullion. The mint stamps out these miniature works of art with the national symbol of Canada, the Maple Leaf on one side, and the image of Queen Elizabeth II on the other. The smaller coins carry a higher premium, but are more portable and affordable than their larger cousins.

1/10 oz Gold Maple Leaf

At a svelte 3.13 grams the 1/10 oz gold Maple Leafs are a less pricey way for new or young investors to purchase gold bullion. They also make beautiful charms when framed with a gold Maple Leaf coin bezel. Investors should know a little about the fractal Maples, however. If you're buying the gold strictly as an investment, you should purchase the largest size you can afford. You see Maple Leafs are sold according to the intrinsic value of the gold, and also a premium over spot. The premium is usually described as a fee for shipping, handling and mintage. Regardless, proportionally speaking the fractal Maples have a higher premium, with the highest fees being charges on the smallest coins. The reason for this is that it still costs the same to strike the smaller coins, even though they contain less gold. So it follows to reason that if you're buying coins as an investment, you should consider the larger coins, where more of your investment is in the gold itself. This doesn't discount the value of the 1/10 oz and smaller Maple Leafs, they're still beautiful and collectible, as well as a great accent to jewelery.

1/20 oz Gold Maple Leaf

The 1/20 oz Gold Maple Leaf coin makes a great piece of fine jewelry, both the young and old. If you're looking to buy the Maple Leaf for gold alone, you may be better served with a larger coin, however. The premium on the fractals are particularly high, and less of your money goes for the actual gold content. They are however, strikingly elegant, and mounted in bevel they are hard to beat as an accent piece for a sophisticated lady out on the town. They also make good gifts for responsible children, which allows a parent to teach responsibility in care of jewelry without breaking the bank.

Proof Gold Maple Leaf

If you're a collector, you're much more likely to seek out a Proof Gold Maple Leafs than a small investor. This is not because they have an inferior amount of gold bullion- but that the deliberate scarcity created by the Royal Canadian Mint, couple with exceptional level of craftsmanship, special features and detail leads to a premium price. There are some who don't understand why a proof Maple Leaf fetches such a premium beyond the underlying gold content and the usual premium. As with all quality products, exceptional materials and preparation, coupled with experience, yields superior results. After the Canadian gold has been harvested and refined, the blanks destined to be proofs are specially polished to a high gloss shine. The machines that are used to stamp the proofs also receive special treatment- sometimes even the dies used to stamp the Maple Leafs are sandblasted to ensure an absolutely pristine strike and finish, even under a 30 power microscope. Rather than fed into the press by a conveyor, proofs are typically loaded in by mint employees- by hand. Once in the press a single or a double stamp won't due- many proofs are struck three times to ensure the absolute finest image possible is created.

Silver Maple Leaf

Introduced in 1988, the Silver Maple Leaf has become a staple of the coin offerings of the Royal Canadian Mint. Refined to .9999 purity, they are highest quality available from a mint, and offer an attractive option for an investor who either doesn't have the funds for gold, or wants to diversify from gold. The mint has also taken some fanciful liberties with the silver maple, and you can find them colored maple leaves, as well as holograms. There's even a silver maple for the Olympic games available. Unlike the gold Maples, silvers often fetch prices well above the underlying metal content, due to low mintages and enhanced collectibility.

Palladium Maple Leaf

William Wollaston discovered Palladium in 1803- he probably didn't envision a Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf making an appearance at the time. The scarcity of the metal, which is closely related to platinum has led to a premium price. In addition, about half the palladium mined is already earmarked for the automotive industry, which means that investors who are looking for a precious metal off the beaten path should take a close look at palladium. Canada has deposits of palladium in the Sudbury district in Ontario. You can pick up a .9995 pure palladium maple leaf for a good price at auction, a limited mintage coupled with a scare metal is a good formula for a successful investment.

Platinum Maple Leaf

The Platinum Maple Leaf has an interesting story. It was originally introduced in 1988, and from its inception until 2002, it was available in an odd assortment of sizes ranging from 1 oz to 1/20 oz. In 1994, it was even made in a 1/15 oz size. There are three versions of Queen Elizabeth II on the coins, depending on the issue date. The coin was discontinued when the price of platinum got so high that demand dropped off sharply. The Royal Canadian Mint did not shelve the Platinum Maple Leaf forever however, and the coin was reintroduced in 2009, albeit it only in the 1 oz denomination.

Hologram Maple Leaf

The hologram Maple Leaf was a technical triumph for the Royal Canadian Mint. First introduced in 1999, it marked the 20th anniversary of the venerable Gold Maple Leaf. Since then, the mint has created special hologram issues in both gold and silver. The hologram has been as simple as the maple leaf, or as varied as special editions for a variety of the Olympic games. The subjects have been natural- like the loon, and even spiritual, wishing good luck, and long health upon recipients.

Maple Leaf Bezel

Whether it's braided gold, bamboo shaped, or a simple loop, a gold Maple Leaf bezel allows anyone to display a sophisticated and classy piece of jewelry. The weight, color, and character of the Maple Leaf brings the bezel to life, and it shows a warm and radiant glow in daylight or evening. A regal appearance can be set by displaying the obverse side of the Maple Leaf with Queen Elizabeth II, or a genuine conversation starter can be put on display by flipping the coin to the reverse to display the Maple Leaf. Smaller fractal Maple Leafs make a wonderful gift for a child, and the 1 oz Maple Leaf is at home even in the most sophisticated social event for adults. Truly an heirloom piece, and Gold Maple Leaf with a high quality bezel is a sight to behold, and a treasure to own.

Maple Leaf Sets and Lots

For the large, serious investor, Maple Leaf Sets and Lots offer the ability to make a sizeable investment in gold, silver or platinum with a single transaction. By purchasing in bulk the premiums are minimized (provided you are not purchasing special coins, such as proofs with additional processing and lower mintage), and you immediately have a stake in a tangible, hard asset- such as gold bullion. If you're new to investing, by all means get your feet wet with a few smaller purchases to get your confidence up. When you're ready to take the next step into serious gold acquisition, we have some great listings to get you started.