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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12250 Posts |
In responding to a recent post by vonigohcr in a different thread, I was reminded of a set of maple leaf coins that I've enjoyed having in my collection for the last 15-20 years. So, I decided to do a quick set of posts about them. Back in 2009, I mounted an exhibit about the coins at my local coin club show; I've adapted the exhibit's presentation cards for use here. Introduction
The Royal Canadian Mint (R C M) began striking 0.9999 pure silver maple leaf bullion coins in 1988. These coins were struck primarily for those interested in investing in silver, but they instantly became popular with collectors as well. The obverse of each bullion coin features a right-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (it has been updated over the years). The coin gets its name from the primary design element of the reverse - a maple leaf. 1988 Canada Silver Maple Leaf $5.00  Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12250 Posts |
Specifications
In 2001, the R C M launched a series of special "collector" silver maple leaf coins. Each coin of the series features a maple leaf reverse design that is different from that used on the standard bullion issue. Also, each distinct maple leaf design is presented with selective colour. The Mint claimed to have used a proprietary colourization technology in which the colours are sealed onto each coin's surface; the process enables smooth, detailed and precise colours. Seven coins were produced in the series (2001 through 2007). Common characteristics of each colourized coin presented:
Composition 0.9999 fine silver
Weight 31.39 grams (1 ounce of fine silver)
Diameter 38.00 mm
Thickness 3.15 mm
Edge Reeded
Denomination $5.00
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
2001 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Autumn
The series was launched in 2001 with a silver maple leaf design indicative of the colours of the autumn season.
Design A sugar maple tree (Acer saccharum) branch with three leaves displaying the reds and oranges of fall.
Designer Debbie Adams
Mintage Limit 50,000
Coins Sold 49,709
Issue Price $34.95 (CAD)
NumisNote Essentially a sell-out of a reasonably robust maximum mintage. 2001 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Autumn More to come...
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
2002 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Spring
The series continued in 2002 with a silver maple leaf design presenting the lush green colours of spring and the seeds of future growth.
Design A sugar maple (Acer saccharum) branch with two fresh green leaves and two seed packets
Designer Stan Witten
Mintage Limit 30,000
Coins Sold 29,509
Issue Price $34.95
NumisNote A significant (40%) mintage drop from 2001; another virtual sell-out. 2002 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Spring More to come...
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
06/04/2022 12:18 pm
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
2003 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Summer
The seasonal series continued in 2003 with a coin presenting the maple leaf in the full bloom of summer.
Design A sugar maple (Acer saccharum) branch with three fresh, vibrant green leaves and yellow flowers
Designer Stan Witten
Mintage Limit 35,000
Coins Sold 29,416
Issue Price $34.95
NumisNote A small increase (16.7%) in maximum mintage; sales, however, remained flat vs. those of 2002. 2003 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Summer More to come...
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
2004 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Winter
The Mint's "Four Seasons" series of coloured silver maple leaf coins ended in 2004 with the "Winter" release. It features a maple tree with several bare branches and the last of its leaves for the season.
Design A sugar maple tree with its last few crimson-colored leaves clinging to its branches
Designer Stan Witten
Mintage Limit 27,000
Coins Sold 26,763
Issue Price $34.95
NumisNote Another maximum mintage drop (22.8%); the drop produced a sell-out. 2004 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Winter More to come...
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
2005 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Bigleaf Maple
In 2005, the Mint branched out (pun intended) to a new theme for its coloured silver maple leaf series - types of maple trees. The Bigleaf Maple was the first to be highlighted. It is a tree found primarily in western Canada.
Design A Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) twig with green leaves in various stages of development and a cluster of yellow flowers
Designer Stan Witten
Mintage Limit 27,000
Coins Sold 21,233
Issue Price $39.95
NumisNote The maximum mintage was unchanged, but sales fell short of 2004. 2005 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Bigleaf Maple More to come...
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
06/06/2022 2:15 pm
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
2006 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Silver Maple
The second coin of the Maple Tree series featured leaves from the Silver Maple (aka Silverleaf Maple), a tree found in eastern Canada.
Design A cluster of yellow Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) leaves fluttering in an autumn breeze
Designer Stan Witten
Mintage Limit 20,000
Coins Sold 14,157
Issue Price $45.95
NumisNote Another drop in mintage (25.9%!), but sales dropped even further. 2006 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Silver Maple More to come...
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
2007 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Sugar Maple
The final coin of the series brought forth the Sugar Maple leaf for a final appearance. Sugar maple trees are a primary source of maple syrup and are found primarily in eastern Canada.
Design A Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) branch with orange-colored foliage at the height of autumn.
Designer Stan Witten
Mintage Limit 20,000
Coins Sold 11,495
Issue Price $49.95
NumisNote Mintage remained constant with 2006, but sales dropped a bit further to a series low. 2007 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf - Sugar Maple
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
2001-2007 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf Series - Maximum Mintage vs. Sales
A quick visual look at the series Maximum Mintages vs. Coins Sold. 
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
2001-2007 Colourized Silver Maple Leaf Series - Final Thoughts
 The maple leaf that appears on Canada's bullion coins - and the 2001-2004 plus 2007 coloured coins presented above - is from the Sugar Maple tree, the National Tree of Canada. I think having Stan Witten design all but one of the seven coins enabled a design consistency that benefited the series. A coloured maple leaf has appeared on multiple silver, gold and platinum R C M coins since 2007, but none was a continuation of the series presented - they were either standalone issues or included as part of another series. Selectively gold-plated maple leaf coins have been issued since 2008. In that year, a silver maple leaf coin marking the 20th anniversary of the first silver maple leaf coins released was issued. Multiple selectively gold-plated maple leaf coins have been issued since. I purchased the 2008 coin, but have generally passed on the other issues since. Collectors definitely shifted their attention away from the series in its final years. A series that began strong just didn't have the staying power - too much of a single theme even back then? I have to believe the continued sales drop was a major driver behind the Mint deciding to end the series. Though not the subject of much discussion, the coins do, however, typically trade for more than their issue price - there remains some market demand for them out there. IMO. they make for an attractive supplement to the standard design of the bullion coin. The End.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5177 Posts |
Great overview, @commems.
Regarding the monotonic decreases in sales...perhaps it has something to do with the steep price increases almost every year?
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
Quote:
perhaps it has something to do with the steep price increases almost every year? Good thought, anything is possible. I actually had a bullet prepared for my Final Thoughts post that was accidentally left off - I think it addresses your comment: The price of coins in the series rose from $35 to $50 (CAD) - an increase of $15 or ~43%. The average spot price of one ounce of silver in 2002 was ~$7.35 (CAD), in 2007 it was ~$14.38 (CAD) - an increase of ~97%! With such a large increase in the price of silver, the Mint's price increases are understandable. Based on discussions here on CCF, I think collectors are somewhat savvy about the impact of spot prices on the precious metals in their coins. I would think/hope this would mitigate the aversion to the price increases seen in the series. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
06/06/2022 9:56 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
634 Posts |
Thanks for the the info and pictures of the maple leafs.
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Valued Member
United States
357 Posts |
Nice pictures. I'd love to see the US issue colorized coins.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12250 Posts |
Quote:
I'd love to see the US issue colorized coins. The US has begun to issue colorized coins, but is proceeding slowly. Personally, I hope the US never comes close to matching Canada's pace of coloured coins - the Royal Canadian Mint has issued well over 100 at this point! So far, a silver dollar and a clad CuNi half dollar with color were issued in 2020 for the National Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2022 a version of the Purple Heart silver dollar commemorative was issued with purple coloring added. You can read more about them and see images of them at https://www.usmint.gov. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
06/07/2022 4:10 pm
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Replies: 19 / Views: 4,579 |
Posted 06/04/2022 08:41 am
