Chinese Silver Panda

Size of a 2011 one-ounce Silver Panda bullion coin, compared to a bottle cap.

The Chinese Silver Panda is a series of silver bullion coins issued by the People's Republic of China. The design of the panda is changed every year and minted in different sizes and denominations, ranging from 0.5 troy oz. to 1 kilogram.

There is also a Gold Panda series issued featuring the same designs as the Silver Panda coins.

Face value Nominal silver weight Fine weight Total weight Diameter Thickness
300 yuan 1 kilogram 999.9775 g
100 yuan 12 troy ounces 373.2360 g
50 yuan 5 troy ounces 155.5000 g
10 yuan 1 troy ounce 31.1035 g 31.22 g 39.0 mm
5 yuan ½ troy ounce
3 yuan ¼ troy ounce 25 mm

The first Silver Panda coins—issued in 1983, 1984 and 1985—were proof quality, with a precious metal content of 27 grams of 0.900 fine silver and a diameter of 38.6 mm. Mintages were only 10,000 for each year. No Silver Pandas were issued in 1986. The 1987 Silver Panda coins were minted in proof quality from 1 troy oz. of sterling (.925 fine) silver, with a diameter of 40 mm. There are several mints that produced Silver Panda coins over the years, including: Shenzhen, Shanghai and Shenyang. Unlike coins made by US mints that carry mintmarks to distinguish their origin, Chinese mints generally do not carry mintmarks. In certain years there are minor variations in the coin design—such as the size of the date, and temple. That allow the originating mint to be determined. An example is 1996 where different mints produced coins with minor variations in the font size of the date on the obverse side of the coins. In 2015 both the Gold and Silver Panda coins no longer list the metal fineness and weight much to the dismay of collectors.

Obverse

Depiction of the Temple of Heaven in the center with Chinese characters on top saying "中华人民共和国" 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).

There are many varieties on the types of coins issued as follows:

  1. Uncirculated
  2. Proof
  3. Gold plated / gilded (either side or both)
  4. Colored (only obverse side known)
  5. Privy marked for different distribution such as 2001 D (for domestic market)
  6. Privy marked for commemorative issue, which can also be gold plated

The official distributor in China for the Silver and Gold Panda coins is the China Gold Coin Corporation (CGCC), and since 1982 Panda America has been an official distributor in the United States.

Minting history of one ounce Silver Pandas

Year Bulk uncirculated coins Proof and other special coins % silver Total weight silver weight Diameter
1983 0 10,000 (proof and frosted proof) .900 27g 24.3g 38.6mm
1984 0 10,000 (proof) .900 27 g 24.3 g 38.6 mm
1985 0 10,000 (proof) 0.900 27 g 24.3 g 38.6 mm
1986 No Silver Pandas in 1986 but many collect 1/2 oz Silver Panda coins in their place No Silver Pandas in 1986 N/A N/A N/A N/A
1987 0 31,000 (proof) .925 31.1 g 40 mm (possibly 38.6 mm)
1988 No 1 oz Silver Pandas in 1988 No 1 oz Silver Pandas in 1988 N/A N/A N/A N/A
1989 250,000 25,000 (proof) 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
1990 200,000 20,000 (proof) 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
1991 100,000 20,000 (proof) 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
1992 100,000 5,202 (proof) 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
1993 120,000 ????? .99 9 31.1 g 40 mm
1994 60,000 small date and 60,000 large date 20,000 (proof) 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
1995 168,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
1996 ????? ????? .999 31.1 g 40 mm
1997 50,000 80,000 (proof and proof with gold insert) 0.999 31.22 g 40 mm
1998 100,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
1999 ????? ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2000 ????? ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2001 500,000 (405,000 overseas and 95,000 domestic) ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2002 500,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2003 600,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2004 600,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2005 600,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2006 600,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2007 600,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2008 600,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2009 600,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2010 1,500,000 ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2011 The scheduled mintage was originally supposed to be 3,000,000. The actual mintage was 6,000,000. ????? 0.999 31.1 g 40 mm
2012 [1] 8,000,000 ????? 0.999 31.235 g 31.1035 g 40 mm
2013 [2] 8,000,000 ????? 0.999 31.235 g 31.1035 g 40 mm
2014 [3] 8,000,000 ????? 0.999 31.235 g 31.1035 g 40 mm

References

  1. ↑ silberling.de - Panda -12, in German
  2. ↑ silberling.de - Panda -13, in German
  3. ↑ silberling.de - Panda -13, in German

External links

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