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2023 1 oz Gold Canadian Maple Leaf

The Royal Canadian Mint offers two important security features on its Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coins. In 2013, the mint added a micro-laser engraved privy mark on the reverse of the coins. This maple leaf privy mark comes with the last two digits in the date mark for each release. As such, these coins have a 23 inside the textured privy mark. These digits are only visible under magnification. The background field of the obverse and reverse includes radial lines.

Obverse

On the obverse of 2023 Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coins is an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The latest portrait of the Queen to grace Canadian coins, this design is the first of her reign to lack a crown and just the second to be developed by a Canadian artist. Susanna Blunt created this portrait in 2003. It includes inscriptions of ELIZABETH II, 50 DOLLARS, and 2023.

Reverse

The reverse side of the 2023 Canadian Maple Leaf 1 oz Gold Coin includes an image of the sugar maple leaf. This design was created for this weight in the series when the collection launched in 1979. Walter Ott developed this life-like vision of the national emblem and it now features on all versions of the Canadian Maple Leaf bullion coins. Inscriptions on this face read CANADA, 9999, FINE GOLD, and 1 OZ OR PUR.

History

Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coins debuted in 1979 with only a 1 oz weight available and using .999 pure gold content. In November 1982, the series added its first fractional-ounce coins in the form of 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz coins, and also increased the gold purity of the coins to .9999 fineness. Since that time, 1/2 oz, 1/20 oz, and 1 Gram coins have joined the annual release schedule.