The 2005 Canada Maple Leaf 1 ounce gold coin is one of the world's most popular gold bullion coins. Collectors and investors prefer the Canadian Maple Leaf to other 1 ounce gold coins because of the purity of the gold content. Most other gold coins contain an alloy to give it more strength and durability. The Maple Leaf is made of almost pure gold. It is .9999 percent fine gold with no alloys added.
The 24 carat gold coin attracts collectors because of the beauty of the design and the fact that it is one of the only coins with such a high gold content. Investors are also attracted to the Maple Leaf because of its uniformity and almost pure gold content. Other coins that are less pure are larger in diameter and heavier in weight to account for 1 full ounce of gold plus the weight of the added alloys.
It was the year 1979 when the Royal Canadian Mint, led by Walter Ott, decided to produce a gold coin to compete with the Krugerrand. The South African Krugerrand had been the only gold coin available for investors and others interested in bullion gold. Political unrest over the Apartheid policy of South Africa led most nations to impose restrictions on the purchase of the South African gold coin.
Arnold Machin was hired to create the design for the new Canadian gold coin and he created a coin that has enjoyed tremendous success and popularity almost immediately since the first Maple Leaf was minted. On the obverse is an image of Queen Elizabeth II and on the reverse is Canada's national symbol, the Maple Leaf. The coin has a face value of $50 Canadian and is considered legal tender by the Royal Canadian Mint and the Canadian government.
Of course, no one actually uses the coin to buy $50 worth of goods or services because the coin is much more valuable based on its one ounce content of pure gold. Today, the spot price of gold is roughly $1,500 and a 2005 Canada Maple Leaf 1 ounce coin would sell for a small premium above the spot price.
While the coin has received the accolades and approval of millions as proven by its popularity in the world of gold coins, there are some that find a problem with the Maple Leaf. Since the coin is made of all gold and no alloy to add strength to the naturally soft metal, it tends to get scuffed and marked up when handled. Most critics of the coin will admit that since the coin is not intended to circulate, the softness factor is not a major issue.
Whether you are interested in the 2005 Canadian Maple Leaf for its numismatic appeal or buy it as a way to own physical gold, there is no denying that this is one of the most popular and successful gold coins in the world.