The website of (http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/about-the-mint/million-dollar-coin-1600006) Royal Canadian Mint says the coins were originally conceived as a unique showpiece to promote the mint's new line of 99999 pure 1 oz
Gold Maple Leaf bullion coins.
In 1999 the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM), which has a history of issuing coins featuring holograms, unveiled a holographic
gold maple leaf coin to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its
gold maple leaf programme.
The special issue Canadian
Gold Maple Leaf coin contains the highest purity gold of any bullion coin, at 99.999 per cent or 0.99999, while the popular issue Canadian
Gold Maple Leaf coin has a purity of 99.99 per cent.
The 100-kg, 99999 pure gold bullion coin with a $1 million face value was originally conceived as a unique showpiece to promote the RCM's new line of 99999 pure one-ounce
Gold Maple Leaf bullion coins.
Besides South Africa, other countries issue gold coins such as the Gold American Eagle (USA), Kangaroo Nugget (Australia); Gold Panda (China); Gold Brittania (UK); and
Gold Maple Leaf (Canada).
In 1999, it released a hologram
Gold Maple Leaf coin to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its
Gold Maple Leaf program, which won the IHMA's Excellence in Holographic Product award that year.
In 1999 the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a hologram
Gold Maple Leaf coin to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its
Gold Maple Leaf program.