Description
With an annual design change always featuring
China's symbolic animal, the Gold Chinese Panda has long been a
favorite of collectors and jewelry designers the world over. At one
time this coin was minted in seven different sizes, second only to the
eight sizes of the Australian Nugget. The 5- and 12-oz. sizes were
discontinued over a decade ago.
Design
The main obverse design of the panda never changes.
It features Beijing's famous Temple of Heaven (Tien Tien) along with
the date of issue. Chinese characters rest above the temple's roof.
The design on the reverse changes annually, but it always features
the endangered Giant Panda. The only year the design did not change was
2002; the rotation began again in 2003. The reverse also features the
size, gold fineness, and monetary amount.
Minting Information
From 1982-2000, the face values of the
1/20- through 1-oz. Gold Pandas were 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 Yuan,
respectively. Since that time, the face values of these coins have been
raised to the denominations listed in the Detailed Coin Information
section below.
Mint Marks and Proof Marks (signified by a 'P') have been added to Chinese Pandas in some years, but not all.
| Detailed Coin Information |
| Composition: 99.99% Gold |
| Coin Size |
Face Value* |
Gross Weight |
Diameter |
Thickness |
| 1-oz. |
500 Yuan |
31.103g |
32.05mm |
2.70mm |
| 1/2-oz. |
200 Yuan |
15.5515g |
27.00mm |
1.85mm |
| 1/4-oz. |
100 Yuan |
7.7758g |
21.95mm |
1.53mm |
| 1/10-oz. |
50 Yuan |
3.1103g |
17.95mm |
1.05mm |
| 1/20-oz. |
25 Yuan |
1.5552g |
13.92mm |
0.83mm | |
| Dates: 1982-present (1/10-, '-, '-, 1-oz. sizes); 1983-present (1/20-oz.); 1984, 1986-90 (12-oz.); 1987-88 (5-oz.) |
Mints: Beijing, Shanghai, Shengyang
*
Prior to 2001, Pandas carried the following face values per size:
1-oz.: 100 Yuan; 1/2-oz.: 50 Yuan; '-oz.: 25 Yuan; 1/10-oz.: 10 Yuan;
1/20-oz.: 5 Yuan |
