Meet the Mint’s Bullion Coins. The Most Secure in the World
- Apr 09, 2018
- Learn
- 4 minutes read
The Royal Canadian Mint’s Gold Maple Leaf (GML) coins
We’ve all seen movies where characters are trying to steal, find and/or protect a pile of gold — Three Kings (1999), Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995), and the 1964 classic Goldfinger where James Bond defends all the gold in Fort Knox.
Even Charlie Chaplin fuelled dreams of untold riches as he headed to Alaska in The Gold Rush (1925).
When did this all this fascination with gold begin? Much farther back — say, 9,000 BC.
In the same way that early Canada used furs to trade for tools, food and weapons, other parts of the world had been using beads and shells for thousands of years. However, as trading networks expanded, people soon discovered what was valuable in one culture was completely worthless in another.
But there was one thing everybody wanted — gold.
Gold was the one commodity that everybody could use. It did not spoil, was virtually indestructible, and best of all, it could be melted down and turned into something entirely new. This is why many cultures would gift their newborns with a piece of gold jewellery — if times got tough, they would always have something “liquid” to fall back on.
The word bullion finds its roots in Latin and Old English to describe the notion of “boiling” down a metal. By the mid 15th century, “bullion” was being used to describe the gold and silver that kings, aristocrats, governments (and today’s banks and corporations) were storing in bulk — usually in the form of bars.
Coins, please
By the middle of the 20th century, more and more everyday consumers were seeking to privately own gold. Considering that a New York “Comex” (Commodity Exchange) gold bar weighs 100 troy oz., and the “London Good Delivery” weighs in at a whopping 400 troy oz. with an equally hefty price tag, demand for a more accessible form of bullion grew.
Enter the gold bullion coin.
In 1970, South Africa introduced the Krugerrand, a 1-ounce, 22-karat gold bullion coin. Its 91.67% purity reigned until 1979 when the Mint eclipsed that standard by launching the Gold Maple Leaf. At 99.9% pure, it took the investment world by storm, and orders for Gold Maple Leafs came rushing in. Three years later, the Mint solidified its international leadership by pushing its purity standard once again, to an unprecedented 99.99%.
The 1-ounce Silver Maple Leaf was introduced in 1988, with Platinum and Palladium Maple Leafs entering the mix shortly thereafter.
Today, the Gold Maple Leaf remains the most trusted gold bullion coin in the world. It’s available in 1/20, 1/10, 1/4, ½ and 1 ounce of 99.99% pure gold, and is legal tender.
Conveniently accessible
Innovative packaging and new coin sizes offer today’s consumer yet another option to acquire gold. The Maplegram25 features twenty-five, 99.99% pure gold, 1-gram coins in a detachable blister pack.
Security that’s beautiful look at
Like the beautiful art on paper money that’s designed to deter counterfeiting, each of the Mint’s Maple Leaf bullion coins features a design that proves their pedigree. The focal point is Canada’s iconic maple leaf, rendered in exquisite realism and detail, with radial lines that flow outwards to the edge of the coin. Each line is machined within microns of the master tooling with a unique width and pitch that creates a light-diffracting pattern across the coin’s surface. It’s one of three high-tech security features crafted into each coin and delivers a breathtaking delight for the eye — gold magnates Chaplin and Bond would surely agree!
Bullion vs. Collector. What’s the difference?
Bullion: Often cast or struck into ingots, bars, wafers or coins, precious metals in bulk form are known as bullion and are traded on commodity markets across the globe. Their price changes daily based on the international market values. A premium is added to the price to cover manufacturing, administration and delivery.
Collector: Is a rare keepsake with a design or theme that you adore. It’s not produced continuously, but has a limited mintage, and once that mintage is sold, no other coins with its design will be produced. Consider it like a work of art — you’re buying artistry, craftsmanship and rarity, and the price will be higher than the metal content of the coin.
How to Buy Bullion: You can purchase our bullion products from the main branches of many Canadian chartered banks, from authorized Bullion DNA™ Dealers, or from our boutiques at our Ottawa and Winnipeg locations (with the understanding that bullion products are always subject to availability).