The Canadian Maple Leaf is the official bullion gold coin of Canada. It is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint and is the purest gold coin of regular issue in the world, with a gold content of .9999 millesimal fineness (24 karats). That is, it contains virtually no base metals at all – only gold exclusively from gold mines in Canada. Coins minted between 1979 and 1981 have gold content of .999.

The coin was first introduced in 1979. At that time, the only available bullion coin was the Krugerrand, which was not widely available because of an economic boycott of apartheid-era South Africa.

Starting in 1988, Maple Leaf coins have also been struck in .9995-fine platinum, having the same weights and face values as the gold coins. Since 1988, a one ounce .9999-fine silver Maple Leaf has also been struck, with a face value of 5 dollars.

The Royal Canadian Mint is now producing the first government issued palladium bullion coin, with 1 Troy ounce of palladium content and certified purity of .9995.