A fractional set that pulsates with pride

Introducing our first ever set of coins that pulsate with pride for Canada’s beloved maple!

All five coins in this set are double dated (“1996  2021”) to mark the 25th anniversary of the maple tree’s designation as the national arboreal emblem of Canada. And on each reverse, the iconic Silver Maple Leaf bullion coin design is enhanced with engineered surface mirror technology — a numismatic innovation that made its world debut on our 2020 Pulsating Maple Leaf coin.

Thanks to an array of precisely rendered sub-millimetre-scale mirrors, each maple leaf appears to expand and contract when you tilt the coin. It’s an optical effect that reflects the swell of pride Canadians feel when they think of everything the maple tree represents, including our nation’s identity, our achievements and our history of innovation.

KEY SPECIAL FEATURES:

• A Canadian emblem celebrates its 25th anniversary. An annual favourite, this fine silver fractional set highlights the 25th anniversary of the proclamation designating the maple tree (Acer spp.) as the national arboreal emblem of Canada.
• First “pulsating” set: This is the first set to feature the Royal Canadian Mint’s engineered surface mirror technology, which creates the impression of an engraved “pulsating” effect on the reverse.
• A big impression: Photonics-based technology made its numismatic debut on our 2020 Pulsating Maple Leaf coin, which sold out quickly. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a Canadian innovation that brings motion to engraved design!

ADDITIONAL SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Five times the technology: Unlike some of our previous fractional sets, the technology-enhanced design isn’t just on the 1 oz. coin — it’s on all five coins (1 oz., 1/2 oz., 1/4 oz., 1/10 oz., 1/20 oz.) in this set.
• Limited mintage of just 3,000 worldwide.

DID YOU KNOW?

This pulsating technology was made possible by a close collaboration between the Royal Canadian Mint Research and Development Team and the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Research in Photonics. Sub-millimetre-scale mirrors were precisely engineered to exact dimensions and orientations that would allow the individual facets to manipulate photons (light particles) and bring a sense of motion to the engraved-only design. The mirror array was then engraved on the master dies and struck onto 99.99% pure silver blanks.

Fittingly, our proudly diverse country isn’t represented by a single maple species. The proclamation issued on April 25, 1996 broadly defined Canada’s official tree as the genus Acer—a generic maple that represents the 10 different maple species that are native to Canada.

Why was the maple chosen as Canada’s national tree? The maple leaf has a place of honour on our coat of arms and flag, but the adoption of a national arboreal emblem in 1996 formally recognized the maple tree’s role in the social and economic development of Canada, from early First Nations to modern-day industries.

DESIGN

Each reverse features the Silver Maple Leaf bullion coin design, rendered using engineered surface mirror (“pulsating”) technology developed in collaboration with the Centre for Research in Photonics at the University of Ottawa. All five coins are doubled dated (“1996 2021”) in honour of the 25th anniversary of the proclamation designating the maple tree (Acer spp.) as the national arboreal emblem of Canada. The reverse and obverse field pattern reproduces an expanded, non-pulsating version of the pulsating pattern on the maple leaf. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Product Specifications