The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is the official bullion gold coin of Canada, and is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. The brainchild of Walter Ott, it is one of the purest gold regular-issue coins in the world[citation needed] with a gold content of .9999 millesimal fineness (24 carats), with some special issues .99999 fine. That is, it contains virtually no base metals at all—only gold, from mines in Canada.[citation needed]

The coin was introduced in 1979. At the time the only bullion coin was the Krugerrand, which was not widely available because of the economic boycott of apartheid-era South Africa. Coins minted between 1979 and 1982 have a gold content of .999.

The coin is offered in 1/20 oz., 1/10 oz., 1/4 oz., 1/2 oz., and 1 oz. denominations and is guaranteed to contain the stated amount (in troy ounces) of .9999 fine gold (24- carat). The coins have legal tender status in Canada for their face values ($1, $5, $10, $20 and $50), subject to the Canadian Currency Act and the Royal Canadian Mint Act. Although categorized as "non-circulating bullion coins" in the Mint Act, these coins are still legal tender under the Currency Act.