3/4 oz Predator Silver Coin

The 3/4 oz Royal Canadian Mint Predator Silver Coin

The Predator Series from the Royal Canadian Mint is a four-coin bullion programme that ran from 2016 to 2019, each design featuring one of Canada's apex predators struck in .9999 fine silver. The 3/4 oz format is an unusual denomination that the RCM has used for select commemorative and special editions alongside the standard 1 oz versions that formed the bulk of the series.

The standard 1 oz Predator coins are legal tender with a $5 CAD face value and were produced in substantial but limited mintages: the 2016 Cougar at 1,000,000, the 2017 Lynx at 500,000, the 2018 Wolf at 300,000, and the 2019 Grizzly Bear at 500,000. Three of the four designs were created by Emily Damstra (a prolific designer who also created the 2022 US Quarter featuring Anna May Wong), with Nathalie Lagace designing the 2018 Wolf. Each animal is captured in an action pose rather than a static portrait, giving the series a unified sense of dynamism.

The four predators represent different ecological niches across Canadian landscapes: the cougar as an ambush predator, the lynx as a stealth hunter, the wolf as a pack predator, and the grizzly bear as an opportunistic omnivore. Pierre Leduc's Call of the Wild gold series (2014-2020) explored similar territory with vocalising animals; the Predator series focuses on the hunt itself, with animals shown striking, leaping, running, and attacking.

At 3/4 oz (23.33 grams), this denomination sits between the common 1/2 oz and 1 oz sizes. The weight has not achieved mainstream traction in bullion markets, making resale liquidity lower than standard denominations. However, the RCM brand recognition and .9999 purity help mitigate this concern compared to private-mint products at the same weight.

RCM Predator Series Specifications

The Four Predators

The obverse of all coins features Queen Elizabeth II (the series predates the transition to King Charles III on Canadian coinage). The reverse shows each predator in an aggressive action pose with brilliant frosted relief on a lined background, the RCM's distinctive bullion finish. The 2018 Wolf, with the lowest mintage at 300,000 pieces, typically commands the highest premiums on the secondary market. The series succeeded the RCM's Birds of Prey programme (2014-2016), which used the same four-coin format with .9999 silver and $5 face values.

Predator Series Tax Treatment by Country

As legal tender from the Royal Canadian Mint (a Crown corporation of the Canadian government), the Predator coins receive strong tax treatment. The .9999 purity and sovereign mint origin provide maximum eligibility across jurisdictions.

• Canada: GST/HST-exempt as legal tender bullion coins with purity exceeding the 99.9% threshold.
• United States: IRA-eligible. The .9999 purity from a sovereign mint exceeds all requirements. Widely accepted by IRA custodians. State sales tax varies; approximately 35 states exempt bullion. Legal tender status from a sovereign mint further supports exemptions in some states.
• United Kingdom: Silver coins are subject to 20% VAT regardless of origin or legal tender status. Not CGT-exempt (not UK legal tender). The margin scheme applies to pre-owned secondary market sales. Legal tender coins from recognised mints may qualify for the VAT margin scheme at some dealers, with effective VAT around 10-15% rather than the full 20%.
• European Union: Standard VAT applies to silver. Legal tender status from a sovereign mint may qualify for reduced VAT rates or margin scheme treatment in some member states.
• Australia: At .9999, exceeds the 99.9% threshold for GST exemption as investment-grade precious metal.
• Singapore: Qualifies as an Investment Precious Metal (0% GST) given .9999 purity.

RCM Predator vs Other Wildlife Silver Series

The Predator series competes in the limited-mintage sovereign-mint wildlife category, where several programmes share similar characteristics but differ in important details for buyers.

Compared to the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, the Predator series offers limited mintages and changing annual designs versus the Maple Leaf's unlimited production and fixed design. Both share .9999 purity and $5 CAD face value, but the Maple Leaf includes the RCM's DNA anti-counterfeiting technology and radial lines security features that the Predator series lacks. For pure bullion accumulation at the lowest premium, the Maple Leaf is more efficient; the Predator appeals to those who value the design variety and potential for mintage-driven appreciation.

Against Perth Mint wildlife series (Dangerous Animals, native fauna themes), the Predator shares the limited-mintage wildlife concept but benefits from the RCM's .9999 standard versus Perth's .9999 (equivalent) or .999 for some series. Both are sovereign mint products with strong global recognition.

The 2018 Wolf's 300,000 mintage (the lowest in the series) makes it the primary secondary-market target for collectors building a complete set. The declining-then-recovering mintage pattern (1M, 500K, 300K, 500K) suggests the RCM calibrated production to actual market demand after an ambitious initial release. For buyers choosing between individual Predator coins, the Wolf offers the strongest scarcity argument, while the Cougar has the widest availability at the lowest premiums.