5 oz. Fine Silver Maple Leaves 2014

5 oz. Fine Silver Coin - Maple Leaves - Mintage: 2500 (2014)



This beautiful coin represents a cluster of maple leaves, a symbol of Canada.

This 5 Troy ounce fine silver coin is large enough to show quite a bit of detail.  Larger coins usually have a larger field for the image, allowing for enhanced detail.  And, to make this coin really special it comes with a proof finish.

This coin has a mintage set at 2,500 coins by the Royal Canadian Mint, making it a rather low mintage coin.

This coin has a face value of $50 CAD, and is legal tender in Canada.

The coin is accompanied by a serialized Certificate of Authenticity.  It comes in a nice display box, and should be kept with the Certificate of Authenticity and the display case.

Click the image and read the description on the Royal Canadian Mint's site, where the special process to obtain a particularly high relief is described.

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Coins of the Royal Mint

The Royal Mint makes coins for many countries, but it has as its primary purpose the minting of coinage for Britain.

Other countries included here are Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Jersey, and Guernsey.
The mint that produces British coins is an old, well established mint, and produces quality British coins.

Its Britannia coins are perhaps the most sought after bullion coins available. Available in both gold and silver, the Britannia comes in multiple sizes. The gold coins come in 22 karat, and in one Troy ounce (100 pound), one-half Troy ounce (50 pound), one quarter Troy ounce (25 pound) and a tenth Troy ounce (10 pound) sizes, The silver coins include the one Troy ounce (2 pounds) fine silver, and the tenth ounce 0.958 silver coin and a four coin set of 0.598 silver. The gold coins come in both three and four coin sets, as well as individually, except the half ounce is only available in sets.

Proof issues of both the gold and the silver coins are available in very limited quantities.

One series of coins, The Cities, honors the capitols of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The 2010 issues are one pound coins honoring London and Belfast. The others were released in 2011.

The silver and gold dog and cat series of Gibraltar coins are highly prized. As with the Isle of Man, the fractional gold is often sought by collectors. The silver and gold Cherub coins are also highly collected.

Historically, the Isle of Man's gold and silver coins are highly prized. It is particularly known for the cat coin series, which appeared in both silver and gold. The fractional, hence affordable, gold coins are highly prized.

Unlike other major mints that make coins for smaller countries, then sell them on their website, the Royal Mint concentrates its sales of British coins only.

The two small countries of Jersey and Guernsey countries have beautiful coins. One nice thing is few people know of them, so it is quite possible to find a bargain.

British Coins Market Values 2014


Seaby Standard Catalogue of British Coins 1998: Coins of England and the United Kingdom

Platinum Coins

Platinum usually is more valuable than gold, and is subject to large increases and decreases over a short time. Some people like to have platinum coins. Platinum coins, like gold coins, are guaranteed for purity can weight by the government that issued therm.

Here we will concentrate on the issues of the United States Mint, the Royal Canadian Mint, and the Perth Mint of Australia.

The United States began issuing platinum coins in 1997. The amount of platinum in a United States coin is 0.9990 Troy ounce for the $10 coin, 0.2502 Troy ounce for the $25 coin, 0.4997 Troy ounce for the $50 coin, and 0.9995 Troy ounce for the $100 coin. The purity of a United States coin is 0.9995. The coin's reverse changes annually.

Like its other bullion coinage, the Royal Canadian Mint issues platinum maple leaf coins. The Maple Leaf is the image of choice for the lower denominations. The larger denominations depict wildlife. All are exquisite, and all are worth considering for your collection.

The smallest coin is the 0.0500 Troy ounce, 0.9995 purity $1 denomination coin. It was first issued in 1993.

The $2 coin was issued only in 1994. It contains 0.666 Troy ounce of platinum with the purity of 0.9995.

The $5 coin is a 0.1003 Troy ounce, 0.9995 beauty, and has been issued since 1988.

The $10 coin was first issued in 1988. It contains 0.2502 Troy ounce of platinum, and has a purity of 0.9995.

The $20 coin was first issued in 1988. It is 0.9995 in purity, and contains 0.4997 Troy ounce of platinum.

The $30 dollar coin is the lowest denomination to depict wildlife. It, and some larger denominations, have a purity of 0.9990. The image of the wildlife depicted changes annually. The platinum in the $30 coin is o.9990 Troy ounce.

The $50 coin is a Maple Leaf, with the purity of 0.9995 and contains 0.9994 Troy ounce of platinum. $50 platinum coins were first issued in 1988.

The $75 coin is a wildlife issue, and has the purity of 0.9990. It contains 0.2497 Troy ounce of platinum, and was first issued in 1990.

Currently, the discover Australia coins of indigenous art and the bullion Platypus coins are the platinum coins being issued. These coins are made to 0.999 purity, and issued in 1/10 and ½ Troy ounce sizes. There have been five different coins issued annually in 2009, 2011, and 2011. This series is now complete.

Before these coins were issued, the Perth Mint issued floral designs on platinum coins at a rate of five different flowers annually for three years.

Coins of City States and Principalities

Issues of several smaller entities are examined here. We will discuss the issues "coins" of the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Jersey, and Guernsey of the United Kingdom affiliated entities. We will also discuss the "coins" Principality of Andorra, Vatican City, Monaco, Hut River Providence of Australia, and Singapore.

Many smaller nations are involved with issuing collectible "coins." There is a market, especially with silver and gold trading high. Collectors can buy a nice coin, and there is a real possibility its metal content alone will one day greatly enhance its value. Unfortunately, not every small nation has the authority to issue coins.

Many smaller governments, in need of coinage, turn to major mints to fill their requirements. Some issue legitimate coins. Others, while their issues have a denomination, issue what is technically a round.

If the government is small, there are few coins needed for circulation, which makes many everyday coins rare.

The Singapore Mint issues the current coins for Singapore. Many are quite attractive. In particular, the landform ridge issues including the 2008 issues of Kent Ridge Park, Labrador, Mount Faber, and Telok Blandah. Another quite attractive series or the orchid coins which include some very nice five ounce issues.

Singapore's Mint not only mints for Singapore, but for other nations.

The Bailiwick of Jersey coins are the equivalent of a British Pound, but do not freely circulate throughout the United Kingdom. The Isle of Man, Gibraltar, and Guernsey issue pound which have the same standing when circulating throughout the United Kingdom as the banknotes of Scotland. All of these entities have issued highly collectible coins, with the Isle of Man and the Gibraltar issuing some fantastic gold and silver coins, especially the cat coins. In fact, Gibraltar has issued the short, highly collectible dog series and the cherubs.

Andorra is a small principality in Europe, and has joined the European Union. Before joining the European Union, Andorra had its own currency, and coins from that era are technically coins.
Today, Andorra still issues ten diners "coins" that are attractive, collectible silver coins. The Mint of Poland, Mennica, mints them and markets them for Andorra. Since the Principality of Andorra's diner denominations are obsolete, current minting of diners produces what is technically a round. Here is the strange situation of a round bearing a denomination and having been minted by a legitimate government, yet cannot be used in trade.

The Hut River Province of Australia declared its independence years ago, and began issuing its own coinage. When it exchanged its coins for Australian dollars freely many of its coins were collected. One of the first entities to capitalize on coins made in abundance for international collectors, Hut River minted coins that had images of many topics that were of interest to collectors abroad. Movie stars and Dessert Storm issues were abundant. A ruling by an American court that Hut River had no authority to issue coins made these not recognized as real coins. So, while these issues have denominations, they are technically considered rounds.

Vatican City is an independent government, and as such issues coins. Most have the effigy of the Pope who is alive at the time of issue. Some have religious themes. These coins are highly collected.

Past issues had denomination that matched the denominations of Italy, such as the lire, but current issues are in Euros.

While Monaco is indeed a small country, and does issue coins, finding a collectible issues is difficult. The best bet is the silver coin that bears the image of Grace Kelly that is enhanced with gold.

Silver American Eagle Coins

In 1986, the United States Mint started producing the American Eagle coins, minted in both gold and silver. These were to be the bullion coins of the United States Mint. The obverse of the silver coin, the subject here, is the same design that the mint once used on the Walking Liberty half dollar coins. The reverse is an open winged eagle with a shield.

From 1986 through 1992, the proof issues carried the S mint mark of the San Francisco Mint, while the business strike coins carried no mint mark, indicating the Philadelphia Mint.

From 1993 through 2000, the P mint mark was used on proof coins produced at the Philadelphia Mint.

In 2001, the proof coins began to carry the W mint mark for the West Point Mint. The special "burnished" finish coins also carry the W mint mark.

In 2008, the proof coins stopped carrying a mint mark.

The silver American Eagle is a true coin, since it has a denomination of $1. However, it was issued as bullion, with a purity of 0.9993 fine silver. Each coin contains 0.9993 Troy ounce of silver, although most people simply say one Troy ounce.

American Eagles in the original mint box are generally more valuable than those not in the box. The boxed coins were placed in the boxes in acrylic capsules at the mint, affording them protection from both physical and environmental damage. Those not boxed are shipped in large boxes, taken out and sold. There is exposure to the environment, and a possibility of being improperly handled.

Many eBayers, and some dealers, sell the empty boxes. Obtaining a capsule is easy, and a less desirable coin can be inserted. Buying a boxed coin requires a trust level. Why would the original coin be removed in the first place? Grading serviced place graded coins in slabs, and this leaves the boxes empty. It then becomes a matter of squeezing every penny out of the coin. Unfortunately, a box sold is a box bought, and you can be certain this is for use.

As with every coin issue, the year with the low mintage becomes the year to get. In the case of the silver American Eagle coins that year is 1996. The years 1995 and 2006 also are harder to find than most coins, but cannot compare with the 1996 coins, except for the 1995 special 20th anniversary coins.

1995 coins had a special issue that celebrated the tenth anniversary of the silver American Eagle. These were only issued as proof coins, and command a price in the stratosphere. My reference book showed a price in excess of $3,000!

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American Silver Eagles: A Guide to the U.S. Bullion Coin Program, 2nd Edition

Buffalo Nickels

Buffalo Nickels

One coin that truly represents early America is the Buffalo Nickel. The buffalo is one of the best known animals indigenous to America, and the Indian on the obverse represents the first inhabitants of America.

The nickel benefits from one of the most attractive designs used in United States coinage. And, it is one of the most affordable coins of the closed sets.

The Buffalo Nickel is a closed set, meaning the last coin of the series have been minted. There will be no additional releases. In fact, the set was finished in 1938.

Since the set started in 1913, it has a very small number of issues needed to get the entire set. True, some are rare, but the Buffalo Nickel is a good starting point for many new collectors. This is especially true with silver prices soaring, making some other older coin types difficult to collect by new numismatists with limited funds.

Buffalo Nickels suffer from having the date and the mint mark too raised for their positions near the rim. Many of these beautiful coins simply have worn out, and with no date or mint mark have become AG grade, or type coins. Finding a Buffalo Nickel with the date and mint mark well pronounced is one of the difficulties.

Another problem is there is an unknown factor of not knowing how many coins were lost to become Hobo Coins.

During the depression hobos who rode freight cars from city to city often amused themselves by carving. One affordable item upon which they could carve was the nickel. The Indian's face gave a start to any face they intended. Pennies were too small, and quarters too much money to use for such purposes, so the nickel was the coin of choice.

Hobo Nickels are now quite collectible. They benefit from no two being exactly alike. It is impossible to collect all of the different Hobo Nickels, so collectors continue to add to their collections.

Vending machines were not in as general use as they are today when Buffalo Nickels were being released, but those that were often sold things that cost much less than similar items cost today, requiring nickels. The Buffalo Nickel was issued before vending machines were popular, so they were not designed for such usage. Many wore out once vending machines became more popular. Unfortunately, coin collecting was not so popular at the time, so few Buffalo Nickels were removed from circulation and preserved even a decade or so after they were no longer being minted.

After one hundred years, this beautiful coin was fantastic celebration. Yes, it is now over one hundred years old, and few have survived.

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Colonial Coinage of the Original Thirteen Colonies of the United States

Colonial Coinage of the Original Thirteen Colonies of the United States

In colonial times there were four sources of money.

Money could be struck by the colony. Several had mintings of some coins, but none had extensive coin making.

Money from another country could be brought into the colony, especially money from Great Brittan.

Money could be counterstruck, which is a process where one country’s money is over struck to make I serve as currency elsewhere.

Private companies, plantations and banks produced their own, which sometimes could only be used for that country.

Some early coinage is interesting because the image of the person who led the colonization of a region is on the obverse of the coin. Such persons as Lord Baltimore, and Pitt were depicted on coins.

Eventually King George was to be honored on coins, beginning in 1922, and minted irregularly on coins known as Royal Patent Coinage. King George I, II, and III were all honored, and in the British tradition, King George I and III face right while King George II faces left. It was tradition that monarchs reversed the direction being faced on a coin rom the monarch’s predecessor.

Once the Revolutionary War started, Revolutionary Coinage started, with no image of the King of England. This introduced the dollar as a new denomination. However, it would not last, and minting colonial dollars ended in 1776.

It would be some years before the country would come together, establish a legal monetary system, and begin minting coins. So, several states minted their own coins, some more enthusiastically than others. State coins exist from Connecticut, Massachusettes, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont.

In 1787 some Early Federal Coinage came into existence, Two coins that would be changes were the half disme and the disme, which would be replaced with half dimes and dimes.

Two words to search for are Brasher and Fugio cent.

In those days, it was the metal in the coin that gave the coin its value, so a coin from one country could easily be used in another.

Coins of the Canadian Provinces

Canadian Province Coins

Canadian coins have a long history with some issues dating back to 1858. However, some Canadian Provinces issued coins well into the twentieth century as the country gelled into a great nation. Coinage from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island can still be found. Since these are now close issues, meaning no additional coins will be minted by the Provincial governments, and since there are relatively few coins minted for each Province, collecting them should be a fascinating experience. One could possible attempt a type set of one or more Provinces.

New Foundland Coins

The coinage of Newfoundland is the most extensive. It began in 1865 with the large cent, fine cent piece, ten cent piece, and twenty cent piece, as well as the two dollar gold piece. The fifty cent piece was first issues in 1870, and the twenty-five cent piece was first issued in 1917. The twenty cent piece was last issued in 1912, so there were several years between the twenty and twenty-five cent pieces. There are no one dollar issues, but from 1865 through 1888 a two dollar gold piece was issued on occasion.

Newfoundland coins in the small one cent pieces, the fie cent pieces, and the ten cent pieces can be found with dates as late as 1947, even though the higher denominations were no longer being minted.

New Brunswick Coins

New Brunswick coinage was brief. Coins of New Brunswick date from 1843 through 1864, and consist of halfpenny tokens, penny tokens, half cent, one cent, five cent, ten cent, and twenty cent coins. The halfpenny and penny tokens were only minted in 1843 and 1854, and the other issues were only issued in the early 1860s, yielding to Canadian coinage in 1865. Half cent and one cent pieces were first issued in 1861, and the five, ten, and twenty cent pieces were first issued in 1862.

This is a very short series of coins.

Nova Scotia Coins

Nova Scotia issued halfpenny tokens beginning in 1823 and penny tokens beginning beginning in 1824. These were issues in just a few years, and no coins dated after 1856 were issued for Nova Scotia.

Prince Edward Island

The earliest coins of Prince Edward Island were cut or countermarked coins. The one shilling coin was a countermarked on the center plug of a silver Spanish or Spanish Colonial eight reales coin. The five shilling coin was a countermarked, holed silver Lima eight Reales or Mexico City coin. These were countermarked from 1791 through 1811. The only coin actually minted for Prince Edward Island was the one cent coin of 1871.

Charlie Chaplin Gold Coin

The Perth Mint celebrates Charlie Chaplin with a video focusing on his work and on the gold coin that celebrates it.  Specifically, the coin celebrates the movie "The Tramp."  It also honors 100 Years of Laughter.

Canadian Coin Albums

Canadian coins are collectible, and have a large following.  Yes, there are folders for Canadian coins, and they can help organize a collection.

Coins from different countries are not always the same size, even if they have a similar denomination.  and, the albums for Canadian coins help organize a Canadian coin collection

Find a selection of Whitman coin albums for Canadian coins here.

United States and Canadian whitman Coin Albums


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