| First issued in 1982, the Chinese Gold Panda is a series of gold bullion coins issued by the People’s Republic of China. The panda design changes every year (with a single exception) and Produced in various sizes to satisfy demands from investors and collectors, the series continues to this day where the depiction on the coin changes with each new year., ranging from 1/20 troy oz. to 1 troy oz.China issued its first gold coins picturing an Panda design in 1982, in sizes of 1, 1/2, 1/4, and 1/10 troy oz. of 999 fine gold. Beginning in 1983 another size was added – 1/20 oz. Larger Panda coins were issued in some years, weighing 5 and 12 oz. These popular coins are issued in Prooflike Brilliant Uncirculated quality with a different design each year. A freeze of the design was announced with the 2001 issues—and thus the 2002 Pandas were identical to 2001. But collectors spoke up in behalf of annual changes, and China reverted to their original policy. There are several mints that produce these coins, including but not limited to: Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Shenyang. Unlike coins made by US mints that carry mintmarks to distinguish their origin, Chinese mints usually do not employ mintmarks. In certain years there are minor variations—in the size of the date, style of the temple, etc.—in the coin design that allow the originating mint to be determined.
Obverse: Depiction of the Temple of Heaven in the center with Chinese characters on top saying “Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo” meaning People’s Republic of China and the bottom the year of issue. If the issue is a commemorative issue, the theme will be marked here also.
Reverse: Different portraits of panda that changes every year (except for 2001 and 2002, which share the same design). The official distributor for the gold and silver Panda coins in China is the China Gold Coin Corporation (CGCC); in the United States, Panda America has been an official distributor since 1982. |
