Canadian Moose Silver

Canadian Moose Silver Coin from the Wildlife Series

The Canadian Moose is the fourth coin in the Royal Canadian Mint's six-coin Canadian Wildlife Series (2011-2013), released in 2012 alongside the Cougar. Struck in .9999 fine silver with a fixed mintage of 1,000,000 coins, it was part of the RCM's first dedicated silver bullion programme outside the Maple Leaf. The series established the template that the RCM would follow with subsequent themed bullion lines: limited-mintage .9999 silver coins with annual wildlife designs, priced at a modest premium above the Maple Leaf.

The 1 oz silver coin carries a $5 CAD face value as Canadian legal tender and was designed by Senior RCM Engraver William Woodruff, who designed the first four coins in the series. The remaining two (2013 Pronghorn Antelope and Wood Bison) were designed by Emily S. Damstra. The reverse depicts a mature bull moose with a full set of antlers gazing westward in its natural habitat, with grass and trees framing the solitary figure. The moose (Alces alces) is the largest member of the deer family, capable of consuming up to 32 kg of food daily, and is among the most distinctly Canadian wildlife symbols.

The Wildlife Series is no longer in production. It ran from 2011 to 2013 only, and all coins on the market are from existing inventory. The series was succeeded by several themed bullion programmes from the RCM, including Birds of Prey (2014-2015), Predator (2016-2019), and the more recent Bull and Bear (2025). The discontinued status means secondary market supply is finite, which supports a modest premium above generic 1 oz silver rounds but below the premiums commanded by rarer collector issues.

Canadian Moose Coin Specifications

The obverse carries the fourth-generation portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, the standard Canadian coinage portrait from 2003 to 2023. Inscriptions read "ELIZABETH II," "5 DOLLARS," and the year of issue. The reverse features a mature bull moose with a full set of antlers gazing westward, set in its natural habitat with grass and trees framing the scene. Reverse inscriptions include "CANADA" at the top and "9999 FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR" at the bottom, with bilingual weight and purity markings following the RCM's standard convention for Canadian coinage.

Security features include a reeded edge with consistent milling and the micro-engraving and radial line anti-counterfeiting measures that the RCM applied across its bullion coin lines during this period. The .9999 purity makes chemical assay testing straightforward for authentication, as the metal composition is essentially pure silver with only trace impurities. The RCM's more advanced Bullion DNA technology was introduced from 2014 onward, so the 2012 Moose predates that specific security feature. Coins from this era rely on the quality of the sovereign mint strike, precise weight tolerances, and edge consistency for verification.

The 38 mm diameter and 3.29 mm thickness match the dimensional standard shared across most RCM 1 oz silver bullion coins, including the Maple Leaf. Standard 38 mm coin capsules fit the Moose for individual storage, and the coins ship in mint tubes of 25, with 20 tubes per monster box for a total of 500 coins (500 troy ounces) per box.

Tax Treatment for the Canadian Moose Silver Coin

Canada: As Canadian legal tender at .9999 purity, the Canadian Moose is GST/HST-exempt as investment-grade silver bullion. It is eligible for RRSP inclusion through approved dealers. Capital gains on disposal are subject to the 50% inclusion rate.

United States: The coin qualifies for inclusion in self-directed precious metals IRAs, as .9999 silver from the RCM exceeds the IRS Section 408(m) requirement of 99.9% fineness. Sales tax treatment varies by state. Capital gains are taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28% for holdings over one year.

United Kingdom: Silver coins are subject to 20% VAT on purchase. The Canadian Moose is not UK legal tender and therefore not CGT-exempt. Gains are taxed at standard CGT rates. The Silver Britannia, as UK legal tender, offers CGT exemption that no foreign coin can match for UK buyers.

European Union: Silver coins attract national VAT rates (17-27% depending on country). Some EU dealers offer the margin scheme for pre-owned silver coins, which can reduce the effective VAT burden.

Australia: Silver at 99.9% purity is GST-free. The .9999 purity exceeds the threshold for investment-grade precious metals.

New Zealand: Silver at 99.9% purity is GST-exempt. No capital gains tax applies, though gains may be treated as assessable income if acquired with intent to resell.

Singapore: As legal tender silver at 99.9%+ purity, the coin qualifies as Investment Precious Metals (IPM) and is GST-exempt. No capital gains tax in Singapore.

Hong Kong: No sales tax, import duty, or capital gains tax on silver bullion.

The Canadian Wildlife Series: 2011 to 2013

The Canadian Wildlife Series launched in 2011 as the RCM's first attempt at a themed silver bullion programme distinct from the Maple Leaf. The six designs, released as two per year over three years, each depicted a different Canadian animal in its natural environment. The series was designed as a premium bullion alternative to the Maple Leaf, offering artistic wildlife designs at slightly higher premiums while sharing the same .9999 purity standard.

William Woodruff, the Senior RCM Engraver who designed the Moose and the first three other Wildlife Series coins, created compositions that placed each animal as a solitary figure in the Canadian wilderness. The Moose design shows the animal gazing westward with a full set of antlers, a composition that conveys both the animal's imposing physical presence and the vast, empty landscape it inhabits.

The series is widely known in the collector community for a cosmetic issue: "milk spotting," white blemishes that appear on .9999 silver coins over time. These spots are caused by residual cleaning agents from the minting process and do not affect the silver content, purity, or bullion value of the coin. Dealers buy milk-spotted coins at the same price as spotless ones. For collectors seeking pristine examples, individual capsules (38 mm) provide better long-term protection than tube storage.

Canadian Moose vs Maple Leaf and Other RCM Silver

The Silver Maple Leaf is the natural benchmark for any RCM silver product. Both share .9999 purity, $5 CAD face value, and sovereign mint backing. The Maple Leaf has unlimited annual production, the most advanced RCM security features (Bullion DNA, micro-engraved laser maple leaf), and the deepest secondary market of any Canadian silver coin. For pure bullion accumulation at the lowest premium, the Maple Leaf is the more efficient purchase. The Canadian Moose trades at a modest premium above the Maple Leaf, reflecting its discontinued status, fixed 1,000,000 mintage, and collector design appeal.

Within the Wildlife Series itself, all six designs share identical specifications: same weight, purity, diameter, face value, and mintage. The choice between the Moose, Timber Wolf, Grizzly, Cougar, Antelope, and Bison is purely aesthetic. Complete six-coin sets carry a modest premium above six individually sourced coins, as set collectors drive additional demand.

The Call of the Wild silver coins (2014-2020) are the Wildlife Series' spiritual successor. The Call of the Wild ran longer (seven years), featured more dynamic designs of animals mid-vocalisation, and included the distinctive five-nines gold coins that gave the series its reputation. Silver Call of the Wild pieces carry higher collector premiums than the Wildlife Series coins due to stronger brand recognition and the association with the gold programme.

Against the American Silver Eagle, the Canadian Moose offers higher purity (.9999 vs .999) at a generally lower premium. The Eagle's advantage is brand recognition and US market liquidity; for international buyers, the purity difference and lower premium of the RCM product make the Moose a competitive alternative, particularly for those building a collection of discontinued sovereign silver.