Maple Leaf Silver coins have a certified purity of .9999 (99.99%), which is among the highest purity when compared to most other bullion rounds and bars which have purity levels of about 99.90% (.999). Some other features of the Silver Maple Leaf include a maple leaf on the reverse side of nearly every issue with a sculpture of Queen Elizabeth on the obverse, a weight of one troy ounce (32.1 grams) of silver, and the phrase "Fine Silver 1 oz Argent Pur" can be found on the reverse side alongside the bottom of every issue.

Issue Variations
Yearly variations of the Maple Leaf Silver Coin have included holographic enhancements, proof releases found on the 1989 edition only, a colored maple leaf that had a different design not found on the regular issues, and in 2009 a coin was issued in commemoration of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

During the minting of this series there have been some issues worth noting. In 1998 a single issued 10 oz version was made to celebrate the 10th anniversary for the coin series. In 1999 all silver coins were designed with a privy mark in celebration of the RCM Maple Leaf Program. In 2000, the coins featured a privy mark with the number 2000 and fireworks, and another variation was made in celebration of the new millennium, which resulted in the coins having two dates 1999 and 2000.

Market Value
Just like any other minted bullion investment, the market value for these is also dependent on few factors. The factors that influence their value includes the exact amount of silver bullion, current prices of silver bullion, a guarantee of purity and weight by mint and the premium which is based on a particular issue's demand and supply. All bullions start with a "spot price" which is given each day in major newspapers and other news sources, in the investment section.

The pricing of the Silver version differs from that of Gold and Platinum versions. The demands for the silver versions have resulted in the prices which are far higher compared to the actual silver bullion value. This especially happened during the 1996 and 1997 versions when the prices were quite high due to limited mintages. In 1997 around 101,000 coins were minted while in 1999 more than 1.2 million coins were minted.

There is even archaeological evidence that suggests people have been collecting coins since at least the Roman era, and possibly even earlier! Coins may have been collected as far back as the 4th century BC. And since coins of that era were considered works of art, it stands to reason that some connoisseurs would have collected them.

Eminent collectors speculate that coin collecting most likely became a demotic hobby when Emperor Trajanus Decius (249-251 AD) had the Roman mint issue coins of all the Roman Emperors that came before him.  These coins inspired rulers of future generations to do the same. Most U.S. coins, for example, are based on the old Roman currency with the side profile of a president on the obverse, instead of an emperor.

During the 15th century, coin collecting became known as the "hobby of kings," because many members of the European nobility enjoyed it.  These royal family members had the wealth and influence to purchase ancient coins from all over the world. Like most hobbies that involve collectibles, the rarer and older the item, the more people wanted it.  Coin collecting became so popular that great artists were commissioned to make replicas of famous ancient coins, which were then added to impressive personal collections.

Because of its popularity, forgeries were quite common. As a result, major collectors were forced to employ scholars who had studied the history of ancient coins and could spot a fake. This was when coin collecting became numismatics, a word that means the collection and/or study or coins.

By the 17th century, huge collections were assembled, studied, and cataloged. The former hobby soon became a respected academic pursuit and many of its top scholar published popular and influential books during this period.  Now called numismatics by most, the study of coins was considered a science.

With the decline of rigid class structures in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, more and more middle class and even lower class people took up coin collecting as a simple hobby. Others recognized that coins were a great investment opportunity, since their value seemed to always increase. Basic handbooks and coin guides were created for the non-academic novice during this time.

Modern Collecting

The internet has been a great boon to coin collectors everywhere as it has connected experienced numismatists with interested neophytes from all over the globe. Huge internet auction sites like eBay also make it easy for collectors to buy and sell coins. The only problem is that most people don't know very much about collecting coins, which means they often make bad choices. If you are interested in starting a coin collection, there are several things you should know.

What to buy?

Just as in any new endeavor, the novice should never pretend to know more than he actually does. While it can certainly be tempting to dive in head first, most experts strongly suggest that you start small and learn a bit about the hobby before you buy anything.

One of the more reliable ways to get value for your money is to purchase a coin that is stamped on a precious metal, like gold or silver. But with the price of gold at a record high, few new collectors can afford gold coins, which is why silver coins are such a popular alternative. Over the past two decades, the price of silver has risen rapidly, faster, in fact, than the price of gold. It currently stands at around 17 dollars per ounce.

The U.S. Mint is well aware of the rise in popularity of silver as both a precious metal and a collectible and they offer several silver proof sets each year. These sets start at about and obviously are tied to the price of silver. Probably their most popular offering is the U.S. Silver Eagle.  The Eagle is made from one full ounce of silver bullion and they are generally sold for just a few dollars over the present spot price of silver.

Because of its purity (99.9 % pure silver), the Eagle remains the most collectible modern silver coin on the market. Though the Mint does not normally release print runs, they have issued limited addition sets in the past. For example, their 20th anniversary Silver Eagle Set was limited to 20,000. The set was a huge hit and almost all of them sold. Because silver bullion prices have increased, these limited edition sets have become quite valuable. Most limited sets are only available for a short period of time, often for only a few months. So, when the U.S. Mint announces a special set, coin collectors line up.

Angus & Julia Stone - Silver Coin [ALBUM] version
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Coin collectors may want to consider the American Silver Eagle dollar coin as a collectors piece, since the coins were produced with a proof version specifically for this reason. The coins have been produced at three minutes, including the Philadelphia mint, or "P" mintmark coins. The earlier coins were struck in San Francisco and have an "S" mintmark. The latest proofs come from the West Point, New York mint, and have a "W" mintmark on the reverse.

The coins were designed in with the Walking Liberty design. This design was also used on the half dollar coin that was minted from 1916 through 1947. The image is considered to be an iconic American symbol and a favorite in the country. On the opposite side of the coin is a heraldic eagle, with wings spread. The Walking Liberty design was created by Adolph A Weinman while the eagle was created by John Mercanti.

The American Silver Eagle dollar coin is one that many people enjoy collecting, for various reasons including the fact that it is rather valuable. There are various factors that affect the value of the coins, including the year minted. If the coin is uncirculated, that too raises the value of it, as does being a proof. Before purchasing these coins, do some research to fully understand the true value behind them. Most dates are not expensive, since there is a good supply of these coins today. Some of the coins are valued much higher, such as those from 1993, which are valued well over $100. The 1995W issue of the coin is work several thousand dollars since only a small amount were sold.

The coins were minted beginning in 1986, with a bulk uncirculated at about 5,393,005 and proofs at 1,446,778. The 2008 mintage of the coins were 20,583,000 in standard circulation with an estimated 713,353 as proof. You can learn more about the exact mintage of these coins at the United States Mint.

As with all types of coins, it is important to understand the full value of the coin before investing. With the American Silver Eagle dollar coin, you will find that most coins sell for about $20 to $30, but of course this changes often. If you are hoping to collect the coins, start with the oldest coins, which are traditionally more valuable since there are fewer of them. Also, consider the actual wear on the coins. Coins that have substantial wearing such as on Lady Liberty\'s garment or on the wings of the eagle are worth less than those in good condition are.