Canadian Gold Bison: specifications, value and where to buy
The Canadian Gold Bison is a Royal Canadian Mint coin showing the North American bison. The bullion version is a 1/4 oz coin of 99.99% gold: 7.78 g, 20 mm and $10 face value, issued in 2023 and 2025. A 1 oz 99.999% "Purest Bison" followed in 2026, limited to 999 coins.
The Royal Canadian Mint is best known for the Maple Leaf, but it also strikes wildlife bullion coins, and the bison has appeared on several of them. If you have seen "Canadian Gold Bison" in a dealer listing, it is almost certainly one of the two coins on this page. They are very different products: one is a small, plain bullion coin, the other a limited premium piece.
What are the specifications of the Canadian Gold Bison?
| Bison 1/4 oz (bullion) | Our Purest Bison 1 oz (premium bullion) | |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 2023, 2025 | 2026 |
| Purity | 99.99% gold | 99.999% gold |
| Weight | 7.78 g (0.25 troy oz) | 31.11 g (1 troy oz) |
| Diameter | 20 mm | 30 mm |
| Face value | $10 (Canadian) | $200 (Canadian) |
| Edge | Serrated | Interrupted serrations |
| Finish | Bullion with radial lines | Reverse proof |
| Mintage | No fixed mintage | 999 |
| Reverse artist | Vanessa Miller | Claudio D'Angelo |
| Obverse | Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt (2023); King Charles III by Steven Rosati (2025) | King Charles III by Steven Rosati |
| Packaging | Flex | Card with removable capsule |
Source: Royal Canadian Mint product pages, checked 11 October 2026. The Mint states weights as minimum guaranteed weight.
The 2023 coin's obverse carries a special mark of four pearls, representing the four effigies of Queen Elizabeth II used on Canadian coins, with the dates of her reign. The 2025 coin switched to King Charles III. Both 1/4 oz coins use the Mint's precisely machined radial lines, which create a light-diffracting pattern that is hard to copy.
What is a Canadian Gold Bison worth today?
| Coin | CAD | USD | GBP | AUD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 oz Bison | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 1 oz Purest Bison | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Spot-based melt values, not dealer prices. Last updated: Loading. Use our coin melt value calculator for other quantities.
What do Gold Bison coins cost?
The Royal Canadian Mint's 1/4 oz Bison pages say bullion products are available through select dealers at prices based on the daily gold price, and both pages showed the coin as unavailable in Mint stores. We have not captured a dealer price for the 1/4 oz Bison, so we do not publish a premium for it.
The Purest Bison is sold by the Mint itself. Our automated check at 11:38 UTC on 11 October 2026 found it listed at C$7,249.95, with gold spot at C$5,978.73 an ounce (gold-api.com). That is about 21.3% above the value of its gold. The listing also said "Out of stock in stores". That premium reflects the 999-coin mintage, reverse proof finish and packaging. For context, standard 1 oz bullion coins in our GoldVetted price check, 10 October 2026 cost between 2.8% and 7.1% over spot in the UK and 3.3% to 5.5% in the US (bank wire). Read gold premiums explained for why limited coins cost more.
How are Gold Bison coins taxed?
| Country | When you buy | When you sell at a gain |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No GST/HST Gold coins of 99.5%+ purity are precious metals (CRA 17.1) | Gains generally taxable as capital gains or income |
| United States | State sales tax rules vary | Collectible rate up to 28% if held over a year (IRS Topic 409) |
| United Kingdom | No VAT If it meets the investment gold coin tests, including the 180% price test (Notice 701/21A) | CGT applies Not sterling |
| Australia | No GST 99.99%+ investment gold (GSTR 2003/10) | Generally subject to CGT |
This is where the Bison has an edge over 22-carat coins for Canadian buyers: no GST/HST at purchase. Our Canada gold tax guide explains the 99.5% rule. In the UK, the Purest Bison's roughly 121% of gold value is well inside the 180% investment gold limit. In the US, both coins exceed the 99.5% fineness needed for IRA bullion under section 408(m), but custodians set their own lists and may not accept premium or proof-finish products.
How do you spot a fake?
- Weigh and measure: 7.78 g and 20 mm for the 1/4 oz; 31.11 g and 30 mm for the 1 oz.
- Tilt the 1/4 oz under light. The machined radial lines should throw a distinct diffraction pattern. Flat or blurry lines suggest a copy.
- Check the effigy and date match: Queen Elizabeth II on 2023 coins, King Charles III on 2025 and 2026 coins.
- Use a registered dealer. The Royal Canadian Mint links to a list of registered Bullion DNA dealers from its bullion pages.
More tests: how to tell if gold is real.
Where can you buy the Canadian Gold Bison?
For the 1/4 oz bullion coin, start with the Royal Canadian Mint's "Find a Dealer" list of registered dealers, or see our guide to the Royal Canadian Mint and our Canada buying guide. Because the 1/4 oz Bison has no fixed mintage and appears only in some years, stock can be patchy; a 1/4 oz Maple Leaf offers the same gold and tax treatment and is usually easier to find. The Purest Bison is sold through the Mint's own shop while stock lasts. If you are still deciding what to buy, see best gold coins for beginners, gold coins vs gold bars and all gold coin guides.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 99.99% or 99.999% gold, so no GST/HST in Canada
- Radial-line security finish on the bullion coin
- A wildlife design that differs from the Maple Leaf
Cons
- Bullion version only in 1/4 oz and only in some years
- Purest Bison was about 21% over gold value on 11 October 2026
- Less widely stocked than the Maple Leaf
Frequently asked questions
What is the Canadian Gold Bison coin?
It is the name buyers use for the Royal Canadian Mint's gold coins showing the North American bison. The regular bullion version is a 1/4 oz coin of 99.99% pure gold with a $10 face value, issued in 2023 and 2025. In 2026 the Mint also issued a 1 oz 99.999% pure Purest Bison premium bullion coin.
How much gold is in the 1/4 oz Gold Bison?
A quarter of a troy ounce. The Royal Canadian Mint lists the weight as 7.78 g of 99.99% pure gold, with a 20 mm diameter, a serrated edge and a radial-line background. It has no fixed mintage, as is normal for the Mint's bullion coins.
Is there GST or HST on the Gold Bison in Canada?
Normally no. The Canada Revenue Agency treats gold of at least 99.5% purity in the form of bars, wafers or coins as a precious metal, which is exempt from GST/HST when sold by a dealer. Both Bison coins exceed that purity.
How much did the 2026 Purest Bison cost?
The Royal Canadian Mint listed it at C$7,249.95 when we checked on 11 October 2026, about 21% above the value of its gold at spot. It has a mintage of 999 and a reverse proof finish, so it is priced as a premium product rather than plain bullion.
Is the Gold Bison the same as the American Gold Buffalo?
No. Both show a bison, but the American Gold Buffalo is a US Mint coin. The Canadian coins come from the Royal Canadian Mint and carry the Canadian monarch's portrait. See our American Gold Buffalo guide.
Sources
We checked these primary and official sources when writing and fact-checking this page.
- Royal Canadian Mint: Bison 2025 1/4 oz 99.99% pure gold coin (bullion) specifications
- Royal Canadian Mint: 2023 Bison 1/4 oz 99.99% pure gold coin (bullion)
- Royal Canadian Mint: 2026 Our Purest Bison 1 oz 99.999% pure gold coin (price checked 11 Oct 2026)
- Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST Memorandum 17-1, precious metals
- Australian Taxation Office: GSTR 2003/10
- HMRC VAT Notice 701/21A: Investment gold coins
- IRS Topic 409: Capital gains and losses
- 26 US Code 408(m): IRA collectibles rule and bullion exception
Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.