      */
     public function get maxDate():Date
     {
-        return _maxDate != null ? _maxDate : MAX_DATE_DEFAULT;
+        return _maxDate != null ? new Date(_maxDate.time) : new Date(MAX_DATE_DEFAULT.time);
     }
     
     /**

            || (_maxDate == null && value == null))
            return;

        _maxDate = value;
        populateYearDataProvider = true;
        populateDateDataProvider = true;
        maxDateChanged = true;

    /**
     *  Minimum selectable date; only this date and dates after this date are selectable.
     * 
     *  <p>Note that the Date object returned by the getter is a copy of 
     *  the internal Date, and the one provided to the setter is copied
     *  internally, so modifications to these will not be reflected in the
     *  DateSpinner.</p>
     * 
     *  @default If minDate is null, the value defaults to January 1st, 1601.
     *           minDate's year should be greater than or equal to 1601 since
     *           DateTimeFormatter only supports the range from 1601 to 30827
