Maple Leaf Collection
The Complete Guide to the Silver Maple Leaf
2007 · SILVER MAPLE LEAF · CANADA MINT
First introduced by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1988, the 1oz Canadian Silver Maple Leaf is globally revered for its industry-leading .9999 fine silver purity and cutting-edge security features like MINTSHIELD™ surface protection.
This comprehensive directory tracks the full evolution of Canada’s flagship bullion coin. Explore official mintage figures, historical monarch profiles spanning Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III, and rare numismatic variations—including Reverse Proof finishes, Zodiac and Wildlife Privy Marks, and exclusive Special Edition fractional sets
1oz Silver Bullion
The core 1oz Canadian Silver Maple Leaf series represents the foundational annual bullion release from the Royal Canadian Mint. First introduced in 1988, these standard-issue coins are minted in .9999 fine silver with a diameter of 38mm and carry official legal tender status backed by the Canadian government.
Mintages have been confirmed from 1988 to 2013 but starting around 2014, as global silver demand increased, the RCM pivoted to a “Minted to Order” strategy for standard bullion with mintage estimates between 15 million to 37 million ounces per year.
1988
1,155,931 Mintage
1989
3,332,200 Mintage
1990
1,708,800 Mintage
1991
644,300 Mintage
1992
343,800 Mintage
1993
1,133,900 Mintage
1994
889,946 Mintage
1995
326,244 Mintage
1996
250,445 Mintage
1997
100,970 Mintage
1998
591,359 Mintage
1999
1,229,442 Mintage
2000
403,652 Mintage
2001
398,563 Mintage
2002
576,196 Mintage
2003
684,750 Mintage
2004
680,925 Mintage
2005
955,694 Mintage
2006
2,464,727 Mintage
2007
3,526,052 Mintage
2008
7,909,161 Mintage
2009
9,727,592 Mintage
2010
17,799,992 Mintage
2011
23,129,966 Mintage
2012
18,132,297 Mintage
2013
28,222,061 Mintage
2014 >
Unknown Mintage
1988 – 1989
Obverse
1990 – 2003
Obverse
2004- 2013
Obverse
2014 – 2023
Obverse
2024 >
Obverse
1oz Silver Chinese Zodiac Series (1998–2009)
The inaugural 1oz Silver Chinese Zodiac Series ran from 1998 through 2009, establishing the Royal Canadian Mint’s first full twelve-year lunar calendar cycle. Struck in .9999 fine silver with a face value of $5 (CAD), each release features a specialized, micro-engraved silhouette privy mark representing that year’s zodiac animal, cleanly positioned to the lower left of the iconic sugar maple leaf stem.
1998
Tiger
25,000 Mintage
1999
Rabbit
25,000 Mintage
2000
Dragon
25,000 Mintage
2001
Snake
25,000 Mintage
2002
Horse
25,000 Mintage
2003
Sheep
25,000 Mintage
2004
Monkey
25,000 Mintage
2005
Rooster
15,000 Mintage
2006
Dog
10,000 Mintage
2007
Pig
8,000 Mintage
2008
Rat
8,000 Mintage
2009
Ox
8,000 Mintage
1998 – 2003
Obverse
2004 – 2009
Obverse
1oz Silver Western Zodiac Series (2004)
The 2004 Western Zodiac Privy Mark Series is a specialised 12-coin collection within the Royal Canadian Mint’s broader Silver Maple Leaf program. Struck from 99.99% fine silver with a uniform diameter of 38 mm, each coin in this thematic subset features a legal tender face value of 5 CAD. The reverse side of each issue features a small, deeply detailed astrological symbol laser-etched directly to the left or right of the maple leaf’s stem.
The complete set spans all twelve signs of the classical Western zodiac. To ensure numismatic scarcity, production was locked to a strict maximum mintage of just 5,000 units globally per design, making the individual coins highly sought after as key-date additions to privy mark directories.
2004
Capricorn
5,000 Mintage
2004
Aquarius
5,000 Mintage
2004
Pisces
5,000 Mintage
2004
Aries
5,000 Mintage
2004
Taurus
5,000 Mintage
2004
Gemini
5,000 Mintage
2004
Cancer
5,000 Mintage
2004
Leo
5,000 Mintage
2004
Virgo
5,000 Mintage
2004
Libra
5,000 Mintage
2004
Scorpio
5,000 Mintage
2004
Sagittarius
5,000 Mintage
2004
Obverse
All Coins
The “Fabulous” Series (2006–2016)
The “F” privy mark series was struck exclusively by the Royal Canadian Mint for a high-end European subscription collection distributed by MDM Germany. While the subscription set itself ran outside these dates, the physical appearance of the stamped Maple Leaf coin splits into three distinct eras:
- 2007–2009 (The “F12” Era): Commemorating the “Fabulous 12” collection, these coins feature a small, physical “F12” privy mark enclosed in a square box to the lower-left of the maple leaf stem. They were minted with a premium Specimen finish, which showcases a frosted leaf over a smooth, matte background field. (Note: The initial 2006 subscription launch coin notably lacked any physical mark on the silver itself).
- 2010–2014 (The Smooth “F15” Era): Reflecting a change in the subscription program’s name, the stamped text beside the stem permanently changed to a stylized, cursive “f15” privy mark. Although the core standard bullion range switched to a light-refracting radial background in 2014, the RCM kept the F15 Privy series on the old smooth-field blanks through 2014, retaining the completely flat, satin matte Specimen finish background on both the front and back.
- 2015–2020 (The Radial “F15” Era): The series adopted a high-security Reverse Proof finish, shifting the background field on both sides of the coin to micro-machined radial lines while polishing the main maple leaf to a brilliant mirror shine. The coin retained the cursive “f15” stamp next to the stem until the physical privy program concluded at the end of 2020.
Throughout the entire active physical run of this collection (2007–2020), the obverse side features the single, crownless portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, with the texture of the field behind her updating from a smooth matte surface to radial lines in 2015.
2007
F12 Privy
5,000 Mintage
2008
F12 Privy
5,000 Mintage
2009
F12 Privy
5,000 Mintage
2010
F15 Privy
5,000 Mintage
2011
F15 Privy
5,000 Mintage
2012
F15 Privy
10,000 Mintage
2013
F15 Privy
10,000 Mintage
2014
F15 Privy
10,000 Mintage
2015
F15 Privy
10,000 Mintage
2016
F15 Privy
10,000 Mintage
2017
F15 Privy
10,000 Mintage
2018
F15 Privy
10,000 Mintage
2019
F15 Privy
10,000 Mintage
2020
F15 Privy
10,000 Mintage
2006- 2014
Obverse
2015 >2020
Obverse
1oz Silver Wild Canada Series (2016–2018)
The 1oz Silver “Wild Canada” Series is an official, highly collectible subset of the Royal Canadian Mint’s iconic Silver Maple Leaf program. Minted in a reverse-proof finish, featuring a frosted field and a mirrored design, each coin retains the classic central sugar maple leaf but includes a small, detailed wildlife privy mark near the stem. The six-coin series directly revived the animals from the mint’s earlier standalone Wildlife program, beginning with the Wolf in 2016 and concluding with the Wood Bison in 2018
2016
Timber Wolf
50,000 Mintage
2017
Cougar
50,000 Mintage
2017
Moose
50,000 Mintage
2016
Grizzly Bear
50,000 Mintage
2018
Pronghorn Antelope
50,000 Mintage
2018
Wood Bison
50,000 Mintage
1oz Silver Chinese Zodiac Series (2012–2018)
The Second Chinese Zodiac Series of the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf (2012–2018) represents a distinct, limited-edition chapter in the bullion program, characterized exclusively by Reverse Proof strikes rather than standard brilliant uncirculated finishes.
Reviving the lunar theme after a brief hiatus, this series features a small zodiac animal privy mark positioned to the left of the maple leaf’s stem on the reverse.
Unlike the first series (1998–2009), which utilised standard bullion strikes, every coin in this second iteration, from the 2012 Dragon to the final 2018 Dog was struck with a frosted background. While early years had transparent mintage figures due to single-distributor exclusivity, later issues (2015–2023) often have unreported final mintages, and the series notably ceased producing standard bullion versions entirely, existing solely as these special reverse proof collectibles
The 2014 Double Privy Silver Maple Leaf (featuring both the standard Horse privy and a Chinese character “Horse” privy) was commissioned exclusively by the China Gold Coin Inc. for the People’s Bank of China, with a very limited mintage of just 500.
2012
Dragon
25,000 Mintage
2013
Snake
85,000 Mintage
2014
Horse
85,000 Mintage
2014
Horse
Double Privy
500 Mintage
2015
Sheep
Unknown Mintage
2016
Monkey
Unknown Mintage
2017
Rooster
Unknown Mintage
2018
Dog
Unknown Mintage
2012 – 2018
Obverse
1oz Silver Anniversary & Events Special Edition Privy
Beyond the standard annual bullion range, the Royal Canadian Mint has frequently utilised the 1oz Silver Maple Leaf platform to commemorate historic milestones, national anniversaries, and global cultural events. Produced as limited-edition releases, often commissioned exclusively by international coin distributors or global numismatic expositions, these specialised coins are easily distinguished by unique, micro-engraved symbolic privy marks struck directly to the lower left of the signature maple leaf stem.
Unlike standard Brilliant Uncirculated releases, many of these event-driven editions are struck in a striking Reverse Proof finish (featuring a deeply mirrored design element set against a frosted background field) or a matte specimen finish, carrying significantly lower mintage caps that range from 150,000 units down to exclusive runs of fewer than 5,000 pieces.
1989
10th Anniversary
30,000 Mintage
1998
90th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint
13,025 Mintage
1998
RCMP 125th Anniversary
25,000 Mintage
1998
Titanic
26,000 Mintage
1999-2000
Millennium Turn (Double-Dated)
1,229,442 Mintage
2000
Millennium Fireworks
403,652 Mintage
2000
Expo Hannover
15,000 Mintage
2004
D-Day 60th
Anniversary
12,485 Mintage
2004
Alphonse Desjardins Centennial
15,000 Mintage
2005
Liberation of the Netherlands
3,500 Mintage
2005
VE Day
7,000 Mintage
2005
VJ Day
7,000 Mintage
2008
20th Anniversary
10,000 Mintage
2009
London Tower Bridge
15,000 Mintage
2009
Berlin Brandenburg Gate
50,000 Mintage
2012
Titanic Sinking Centennial
25,000 Mintage
2012
Leaning Tower of Pisa
50,000 Mintage
2013
25th Anniversary
1,000,000 Mintage
2014
World Money Fair (Berlin Bear)
7,500 Mintage
2014
ANA World’s Fair of Money (Chicago)
50,000 Mintage
2015
Albert Einstein Relativity Centennial
50,000 Mintage
2015
Heart Privy
25,000 Mintage
2015
ANA World’s Fair of Money (Chicago)
5,000 Mintage
2016
Mark V Tank
(WWI Centennial)
5,000 Mintage
2016
Four-Leaf Clover
5,000 Mintage
2016
Bigfoot / Sasquatch
50,000 Mintage
2016
Yin & Yang
50,000 Mintage
2016
ANA World’s Fair (Anaheim)
6,000 Mintage
2016
Panda
50,000 Mintage
2017
Panda
50,000 Mintage
2017
Canada 150 Confederation Anniversary
150,000 Mintage
2017
ANA World’s Fair of Money (Denver)
6,000 Mintage
2018
30th Anniversary
150,000 Mintage
2018
Edison Lightbulb
50,000 Mintage
2018
ANA World’s Fair (Philadelphia)
6,000 Mintage
2019
Phonograph
50,000 Mintage
2019
Pride of Two Nations
100,000 Mintage
2020
W Mint Mark
10,000 Mintage
2021
W Mint Mark
8,000 Mintage
1oz Silver Treasured Editions
The Treasured Maple Leaf series represents the modern evolution of the Royal Canadian Mint’s premium direct-to-consumer bullion program. Launched to bypass third-party international distribution networks, these coins are marketed directly by the Mint and select elite dealers.
2024
Year of the Dragon
25,000 Mintage
2024
Congratulations
25,000 Mintage
2024
Polar Bear
25,000 Mintage
2025
Year of the Snake
25,000 Mintage
2025
Congratulations
25,000 Mintage
2025
Polar Bears
25,000 Mintage
2026
Year of the Horse
25,000 Mintage
2026
Celebration
25,000 Mintage
2026
Wolf
25,000 Mintage
Fractional Silver Sets
The 1oz Silver coin from the Royal Canadian Mint’s annual Fractional Sets represents a specialized release tier within the Maple Leaf family. While sharing the 0.9999 purity of standard bullion, this version is only available inside the complete 5-coin sets and features distinct collector finishes, most commonly a Reverse Proof with frosted detailing against a mirrored field, alongside unique annual variations like dual-dating or selective gold plating.
2003
15th Anniversary
(Fractional Set)
28,947 Mintage
2004
Privy Mark
(Fractional Set)
25,000 Mintage
2004
Legacy of Liberty
(Fractional Set)
14,200 Mintage
2013
25th Anniversary
(Fractional Set)
9,999 Mintage
2014
Gold Plated
(Fractional Set)
9,999 Mintage
2015
Silver Incuse
(Fractional Set)
9,999 Mintage
2016
A Historic Reign
(Fractional Set)
5,500 Mintage
2017
Maple Leaf Tribute
(Fractional Set)
5,500 Mintage
2019
Bicentennial
(Fractional Set)
6,500 Mintage
2020
Leaf ‘O’ Canada
(Fractional Set)
3,000 Mintage
2021
Arboreal Emblem
(Fractional Set)
3,000 Mintage
2022
A Radiant Crown
(Fractional Set)
3,000 Mintage
2023
35th Anniversary of the Silver Maple
(Fractional Set)
3,000 Mintage
2024
Canada’s Autumn Beauty
(Fractional Set)
3,000 Mintage
2025
60th Anniversary of Canada’s Flag
(Fractional Set)
3,000 Mintage
2026
Queen Elizabeth II Centenary of Birth
(Fractional Set)
3,500 Mintage