Canadian gold coins have an interesting history. When they were first introduced in 1979, there was only one other gold coin on the market, the Krugerrand. However during that period, apartheid was prevalent in South Africa, and a boycott of the coins was in place. The importance of the Canadian gold coin issued at that time, a creation thought up by Walter Ott, was that it was, like the Krugerrand, .999 gold content. This means that the gold, mined from Canada, has no other common metals found in other gold creations.

Walter Ott, the designer of the first Canadian gold coin, was originally born in Austria and immigrated to Canada. He was trained in Böhler-Werke as an apprentice engraver. After his apprenticeship, he won a scholarship to the Academy of applied arts where he studied modeling and composition. While he was there he took and passed an engraving examination. Later in his career, he became a member of, and then chairman of, the Master Examination Board, which is the engraver's certification Board in Austria.

He worked for a time. As a sculptor and engraver and then immigrated to Canada in 1952. His artistic endeavors and craftsmanship were renowned in his community, and he became quite popular. At one time he was a master engraver for hunting rifles in Canada.

He joined the Royal Canadian Mint in 1964 as an engraver and eventually became the Director of Art. While at the Royal Canadian Mint, he became a master designer, and developed many of coin styles, among other engravings. It is because of his works that be Royal Canadian Mint is so well-known for its craftsmanship. His favorite of creations is the Gold Maple Leaf coin.

There many different types of Canadian coins. You can find that the coins in 1/20, 1/10, 1/4, and 1 ounce denominations. Each of these different denominations, contains the .9999 or 24 karat gold. While you can't spend the gold coins as you would any other coin, the value of each coin is a significantly more than the face value, depending on the gold market.

Canadian gold coins are measured in troy ounces. A troy ounce is not the same as the ounces which are based upon the 16 ounces per pound measurement, but on a different scale. The measurement system is based upon what's known as a grain. In history culture measured based on how many grains fit a certain mass. A normal 16 ounce per pound measurement is based on a 437.5 rating measurement. A troy ounce, which is how gold is mentioned, is 480 grain. In ancient Rome, they used bronze bars to measure currency, and that's the system which now measures gold. So when speaking of a gold weights of .9999 in 1/20th of an ounce, it's important to note that it's not a traditional ounce.

Since 1988, Canadian maple leaf coins, the ones designed by Walter Ott, are being minted in platinum and silver. The platinum coins are made with .9995 platinum, and unlike gold, have the same weights and face value as the gold coins, not as platinum. The silver maple leaf coin is minted in the same fine weight in gold, meaning .9999 silver. These silver coins have a face value of five dollars.

Beginning in 2005, the maple leaf coin was being minted also in Palladium. The Palladium Maple leaf coin has a face value of $50 and is .9995 Palladium.

An incredible coin was shown to the public in 2007. These Gold Maple leaf coin has a face value of $1 million, even though the actual gold itself was worth $2 million. This fantastic coin weighs more than 200 pounds and is more than 20 inches wide and an inch thick. The gold is almost 100% pure. Designed by Stanley Whitten, this coin is intended to bring publicity to the Royal Canadian Mint. The reason for the publicity stunt is to promote the new nearly hundred percent pure. 1 ounce Gold Maple Leaf coins. While it was only meant as a publicity stunt, apparently several people have already ordered the larger coin and are paying upwards of $2.5 million for them.

If you are thinking of collecting the Canadian maple leaf coins from 1979, be aware they were only produced in 1 ounce coins and that they are .999 purity. Beginning in 1982 to 1985 you can find the 1 ounce, 1/4 ounce and 1/10 ounce coins. The 1/20 ounce coins began being minted in 1993. In 1994 and only 1994, you can find the 1/15 ounce coins. All coins, after 1982 are .9999 purity.

It seems there are some complaints about the quality of the Gold Maple coins. The complaints are that the goal is to soft. 24 karat gold is extremely soft and pliable. Indeed it when you saw characters by down on gold to check if it was real and pure, it is because pure gold can be indented. Also, the fact that the edges are “milled” and that there is a large blank space surrounding the Queen. All of these combined means that the coins will easily show any handling marks, fingernails scratches or dents, etc.. Unfortunately this is unavoidable with pure gold, however, most gold is not meant to be anything except for an investment and therefore not handled at all.