The classic Canadian maple leaf takes on a completely different appearance in the 2026 1 oz Silver Maple Leaf in Ultra High Relief fine silver , a coin that combines 99,99% pure silver, a pronounced relief and a new color application inspired by the hues of Canadian autumn.
Limited to 11.000 pieces , this Royal Canadian Mint issue is particularly noteworthy for its design. The maple leaf is 1,4 mm deep and features, for the first time, the Vivid Toning Effect , a technology that combines yellow, orange, and red tones with the brilliance of silver.
Image courtesy of the Royal Canadian Mint
A new interpretation of the Silver Maple Leaf
The Ultra High Relief version of the Silver Maple Leaf first appeared in 2022. For the 2026 edition, the Royal Canadian Mint is introducing a new element designed to visually transform the familiar maple leaf design. This is the Vivid Toning Effect , used for the first time by the institution and developed to recreate the vibrant colors of the leaves during the Canadian autumn.
The effect incorporates yellow, orange, and red onto the polished relief of the coin. The application has a metallic-foil-like appearance and allows light to pass through the tones, reach the shiny surface beneath, and reflect back. As a result, the coin produces an iridescent effect, causing the color and relief to react visually to different lighting conditions.
Design
Obverse
The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III , created by the Canadian artist Steven Rosati . The portrait occupies the central part of the composition and represents the more traditional side of the coin, contrasting with the much more elaborate treatment found on the reverse.
Image courtesy of the Royal Canadian Mint
Reverso
The reverse features Walter Ott's renowned Silver Maple Leaf design , reinterpreted in Ultra High Relief and enhanced with the new Vivid Toning Effect. The maple leaf at its center is the dominant element. Its relief reaches a maximum height of 1,4 mm , exceeding that of a typical one-ounce Silver Maple Leaf.
This more pronounced relief highlights the contours, veins, and different layers that make up the leaf. The raised surface has been polished to a high gloss, a key characteristic for achieving the desired visual effect with the application of color. Yellow, orange, and red tones appear on the leaf , directly inspired by the colors of the Canadian autumn.
Light can pass through these tones and reflect off the polished relief beneath. In this way, the design acquires an iridescent appearance that changes depending on the lighting and the angle from which the coin is viewed. The background also plays an important role in the composition.
Behind the main leaf appears a new laser-engraved pattern composed of small maple leaves arranged vertically and lines that expand outward like rays of light. These lines help to visually intensify both the natural brilliance of the silver and the colors applied to the central leaf.
Around the design appear the inscriptions CANADA , FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR and 9999 , identifying the issuing country, the silver content and its high purity.
Image courtesy of the Royal Canadian Mint
Technical Specifications
- Year: 2026
- Metal: Silver
- Purity: 99,99%
- Weight: 31,39 gr
- Diameter: 36,15 mm
- Face value: $20
- Finish: Reverse Proof
- Singing: Smooth
- Maximum relief: 1,4 mm
- Throw: NOTE 11.000
The coin is delivered encapsulated to protect its surface and is presented in a black clamshell case from the Royal Canadian Mint, accompanied by a black outer box.
It also includes a serialized certificate , complementing its presentation as a coin intended for the collector market.
A relief that transforms the maple leaf
One of the most distinctive aspects of this issue is the depth achieved by the central design. The leaf reaches up to 1,4 mm in height , allowing its various elements to protrude considerably from the coin's surface. This greater depth helps define the veins and contours of the leaf and provides a much more pronounced sense of volume.
However, the Ultra High Relief doesn't work in isolation. The surface of the relief has been polished to interact directly with the Vivid Toning Effect. Light passes through the applied tones on the leaf and reaches the bright silver beneath before reflecting back. In this way, relief, color, and light become part of a single visual concept.
The 2026 Silver Maple Leaf 1 oz Ultra High Relief fine silver coin demonstrates how one of Canada's most recognizable designs can be reinterpreted through innovative minting techniques. Its relief of up to 1,4 mm, colors inspired by the Canadian autumn, and a new laser-engraved pattern transform the classic maple leaf while preserving the defining elements of the Silver Maple Leaf. Limited to 11.000 pieces and presented in a specially designed collector's edition, this coin combines high-purity silver, technical innovation, and one of Canada's most iconic natural symbols.
Find out all the details of this broadcast on the official website:
https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2026/silver-maple-leaf-1-oz-fine-silver-ultra-high-relief-coin
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