1/4 oz Canadian Moose Gold Coin

A Fractional Piece of the RCM Wildlife Series

The 1/4 oz Canadian Moose gold coin is a fractional entry point into the Royal Canadian Mint's Canadian Wildlife Series, struck in 999.9 fine gold. The series originally launched in 2011 as a six-coin silver programme, the RCM's first dedicated bullion series outside the long-running Maple Leaf. The gold versions extend that same wildlife-themed design into a higher-value format, with the moose carrying the same reverse artwork by Senior RCM Engraver William Woodruff that appeared on the 2012 silver issue.

At 7.78 grams of four-nines gold, this coin sits in the fractional sweet spot for buyers who want exposure to a specific series without committing to a full ounce. The Canadian Wildlife Series ran from 2011 to 2013 with a fixed mintage of 1,000,000 per design for the silver coins, making the entire programme finite. That closed production window gives the series a collector dimension that open-ended bullion programmes lack, though liquidity is naturally lower than the 1/4 oz Gold Maple Leaf as a result.

The reverse depicts a mature bull moose with a full rack of antlers, gazing westward across its natural habitat. The moose is the largest member of the deer family, an animal that can weigh over 700 kg, and is one of Canada's most recognisable wildlife symbols. The obverse carries the Susanna Blunt portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the same effigy used across Canadian coinage from 2003 to 2023.

1/4 oz Canadian Moose Gold Coin Specifications

The Canadian Moose was the fourth of six designs in the Wildlife Series, released alongside the Cougar in 2012. The full series runs: Timber Wolf and Grizzly Bear (2011), Cougar and Moose (2012), Pronghorn Antelope and Wood Bison (2013). William Woodruff designed the first four animals in the series, including the Moose, while Emily S. Damstra designed the final two.

The 999.9 purity matches the Maple Leaf standard and exceeds the 22-carat (916.7) purity of coins like the 1/4 oz Krugerrand and the 1/4 oz Sovereign. For tax purposes, this high purity comfortably clears every investment gold threshold worldwide, from the EU's 995 minimum to Canada's 99.5% GST exemption threshold. The series carries the same micro-engraving and radial line security features applied across the RCM's bullion coin lines, and the extreme purity makes chemical assay testing straightforward for authentication.

Canadian Moose Gold Coin Tax Treatment

As a Canadian legal tender gold coin struck in 999.9 fine gold, the 1/4 oz Canadian Moose qualifies for the most favourable tax treatment in all major bullion markets.

• Canada: Exempt from GST/HST. Investment gold coins at 99.5% purity or higher with legal tender status are zero-rated under federal tax rules. No provincial variation applies to this exemption.
• UK: VAT-free as investment gold (exceeds the 995 fineness threshold and the post-1800 legal tender requirement). However, it is not CGT-exempt because it is not UK legal tender. Capital gains on disposal are taxed at the individual's rate (currently 18% or 24%), subject to the annual allowance. UK buyers seeking CGT exemption would need a UK legal tender coin such as the 1/4 oz Britannia.
• USA: No federal sales tax. State exemptions vary; approximately 35 states fully exempt bullion from sales tax. The coin's 99.99% purity exceeds the IRS Section 408(m) threshold of 99.5% for gold, making it eligible for inclusion in a self-directed Precious Metals IRA.
• EU: VAT-exempt as investment gold under Directive 98/80/EC (post-1800 legal tender coin above 900 fineness).
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold (exceeds the 99.5% purity threshold).
• New Zealand: GST-exempt as fine gold bullion above 99.5% purity.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals (IPM) scheme (gold at 99.5%+ purity).
• Hong Kong: No sales tax of any kind applies.

Canadian Moose vs Other 1/4 oz Gold Coins

The 1/4 oz Canadian Moose occupies a niche position in the fractional gold market. It shares 999.9 purity with the major sovereign fractional coins but differs in its limited production run and collector-oriented design.

Against the 1/4 oz Gold Maple Leaf, the Moose is the more specialised product. The Maple Leaf has continuous annual production, advanced security features including micro-laser engraving and DNA anti-counterfeiting technology (introduced in 2014), and far higher global liquidity. For pure bullion accumulation, the Maple Leaf is the more practical choice. The Moose appeals to buyers who value a distinct design and the finite nature of a completed series.

Compared to the 1/4 oz Australian Kangaroo, both coins share four-nines purity and sovereign backing. The Kangaroo changes its reverse design annually, giving each year's issue mild collector interest, but it remains an open-ended bullion programme with strong secondary market liquidity. The Moose's fixed-run scarcity is more pronounced.

The 1/4 oz Britannia offers a significant tax advantage for UK residents through its CGT exemption, something the Canadian Moose cannot match. For UK buyers, this tax difference can outweigh any premium or design considerations at the point of sale.

Among other RCM products, the Wildlife Series sits between the mainstream Maple Leaf and the higher-premium commemorative releases. The series was succeeded by Birds of Prey (2014-2015), Predator (2016-2019), and other themed programmes, but the original six-coin Wildlife Series retains a distinct identity as the one that started the RCM's thematic bullion tradition.