Next year’s silver bullion coins depicting the iconic maple leaf will sport a new finish and an advanced micro engraved design, additions that are "cutting edge in coin security," the Royal Canadian Mint said this week.
Replacing the bullion finish associated with the Silver Maple Leaf (SML) since its 1988 introduction are "precise" radial lines that emanate from the center of the coin on both the obverse (heads side) and reverse (tails side). These lines are matched from die to die and coin to coin.
"The specific width and pitch of the lines radiating from the coin’s central maple leaf design create a light-diffracting pattern which is unique to the Mint’s ‘next generation’ SML and unmatched by competing bullion products," the Royal Canadian Mint said in a coin news statement.
A laser engraved maple leaf is added to the coin’s reverse. Centered within it is the number "14," denoting the coin’s year of issue and visible only under magnification. This particular security element was introduced in 2012 on the Canadian $1 and $2 coins and then added to Gold Maple Leaf bullion coins in 2013.
Beginning in 2014 and forever forward, Silver Maple Leaf bullion coins will have the "radial lines" finish background. The micro-engraved laser mark is also permanent, with the centered numeral adjusted by year. The bullion coins will keep their other traditional obverse and reverse designs, and their specifications to include:
- a $5 denomination,
- composition of 99.99% pure silver,
- weight of one troy ounce of silver,
- a diameter of 38 mm and
- a serrated or reeded edge.
The Royal Canadian Mint this week started shipping 2014 $5 Silver Maple Leaf bullion coins throughout its network of authorized dealers. Many dealers are pre-selling the coins now with expectations of delivering them by next week. Advertised pricing is running about $3-4 per coin over the spot price of an ounce of silver. Orders of higher quantities are offered with discounts.
Photos of 2013 Silver Maple Leaf Bullion Coins
Below are are several Royal Canadian Mint photos of different sides and angles of the new bullion coins. The photos may be enlarged with a click.
