Obverse: identify the front

Elizabeth II faces right on the illustrated 2012 coin. ELIZABETH II appears above and 5 DOLLARS 2012 below. Read the value and date together: this silver five-dollar coin must not be confused with a smaller five-dollar gold Maple Leaf. The photograph includes its holder; the holder is not part of the coin’s gross mass.

Reverse: identify the back

A single maple leaf sits beneath CANADA. The face shows 9999 and FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR. Read the explicit silver inscription instead of relying on color or the maple design alone. Preserve the complete rim and purity numerals when taking a photograph for identification.

History and purpose

The Royal Canadian Mint dates the Silver Maple Leaf’s introduction to 1988. Its standard five-dollar one-ounce silver identity continues across monarch portraits and security developments. Separate the date of the actual specimen from the current product year so an older coin is not described using an unobserved modern portrait.

How to identify this variant

Confirm FINE SILVER, 1 OZ and the five-dollar denomination before choosing this entry. The mint reports 38 mm diameter and 31.11 g gross mass for the standard type. Remove a holder’s mass from any measurement; a coin in a capsule cannot be compared directly with a bare-coin reference weight.

Understanding its metal content

Three identified coins total 3 troy oz fine silver on the cited reference basis. Separately multiplying the reported gross mass and fineness gives 31.106889 g, approximately 1.000110 troy oz. Rounded nominal displays and a mint’s stated fine-ounce content are different records; the source precision note explains this entry’s choice. This calculation does not measure an individual coin or include a collector premium.

Dates, varieties and composition changes

The illustration is dated 2012. The mint’s 2020 reference describes newer radial lines and micro-engraved security details; those issue-specific features must not be imposed on this older photograph. Privy-mark, commemorative and special-finish variants need their own identification. Check a complete inscription before treating a larger silver Maple design as the standard one-ounce issue.

Melt value versus collector value

Keep special packaging, unusual privy marks and documented provenance with the lot. Surface spotting and a collector finish need individual assessment; neither changes the reference quantity automatically. A standard bullion photograph cannot establish a grade, identify an unseen special variety or guarantee a premium.

Authenticity and condition

Start with the actual metal inscription and denomination, then compare the complete date and both designs. Photograph the rim and any original packaging. A photograph, matching color or plausible mass alone does not authenticate a coin. Use a suitable scale and caliper without scratching, bending or cleaning the surface; leave an uncertain specimen aside for professional examination. Security details must be assessed against the actual issue year, rather than inferred from a newer reference coin.

Selling this coin

Group this one-ounce type separately from smaller fractions, proof sets and similar designs in another metal. Record readable dates and the number of identified coins; keep uncertain pieces out of the quantity total. Preserve original holders and obtain clear photographs of both faces. The existing quote link carries the selected coin context so the lot can be reviewed. Reference metal content, a collectible assessment and a purchase offer are separate steps.

Sources and calculation methodology

The owner-selected reference world-silver table omits this modern type. The issuing mint supplies the standard one-fine-ounce quantity, .9999 fineness, 31.11 g gross mass and 38 mm diameter. The rounded gross-mass product is disclosed separately; it does not replace the issuer’s one-ounce statement. The actual reference photo is 2012, while the linked 2020 product supplies standard specifications and explicitly newer security context. The reference is the owner-selected deciding source for uncertain metal input. A missing table row is not described as a reference specification. Photograph identity, face ordering and reuse rights are reviewed independently. No customer assay, grade or current trading price is inferred. An approved live quote feed is unavailable, so the calculator displays metal quantities without invented dollar amounts.

Common questions

References

• Royal Canadian Mint: standard Silver Maple Leaf specifications — identity; weight 31.11 g and one fine ounce; fineness .9999; diameter 38 mm; dates introduction 1988 and 2020 reference; design maple leaf (checked 2026-10-10)
• NGC: owner-selected world silver table — coverage check: modern Silver Maple Leaf is not listed; no table specification claimed (checked 2026-10-10)

Issue-year references

• PCGS: regular Silver Maple Leaf annual issues

Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-10. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.

Related coins

Austrian Silver Philharmonic, One Ounce

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

Austria • 99.900% silver; balance alloy metal

Series dates: 2008–2026 (continuing)

Fine silver: 0.999000 troy oz

Add to collection

South African Silver Krugerrand, One Ounce

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

South Africa • 99.900% silver; balance alloy metal

Series dates: 2017–2026 (continuing)

Fine silver: 1.000000 troy oz

Add to collection