Chinese Coins: Pandas Show Their Metal

Chinese Panda coins can be found in a virtual rainbow of different metals. The series started simply enough in 1982. That year the China Mint released four sizes of gold Pandas. In 1983 the Panda family grew by two more metals. Gold Mint State Pandas were joined by a Proof silver Panda and a brass proof Panda.

Four years later platinum made its first appearance in a publicly released Panda. A 1987 Proof New York International Coin Exposition Panda contains 1 oz of the metal. A year later the New York International Coin Exposition was again the occasion for another metal to join the Panda realm. This time it was palladium in the form of a 1988 Proof 1 oz show Panda.

A three-year gap followed until another metallic branch was added to the Panda family tree. In 1991 bronze was used for the first time in a 3.3 oz medal that commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Panda series. All ten years of Panda designs appear on one face of this medal, while the Great Wall occupies the other side. Many collectors are also familiar with the 3.3 oz silver and gold-plated medals that share the same design as the bronze. However, not many realize that it was the bronze medal that was issued first. The silver and gold-plated medals are based upon it.

One more metal come into the fold in 1993: a circulating 5 Yuan 13.5 gm copper Panda was minted. Of the millions struck, some were distributed in cards that tell the story of China’s endangered symbol. There were quite a few types of these cards printed and they form an interesting and affordable subset of Panda collectibles.

The one kind of 1993 copper Panda with a high grade from NGC can run into more serious money. Most coins are in the MS 65 to 66 range with fewer at MS 67. A MS 68 is a rare find and an MS 69 is nearly unheard of. Another type of 1993 copper Panda that brings a higher price is a Proof. Theses are far less common than the Mint State versions, but again most grade only PF 65 or PF 66. Proof 68s are rare and Proof 69s? They don’t exist, as this is written.

Copper was again used for the 20th Anniversary of the issuance of gold Pandas. A seldom seen 1 kg copper medal was struck for the 2002 event. It has the same design as the regular 2002 Pandas on one side. On the other side there is the Temple of Heaven in Beijing encircled by all the years of Panda designs. Just two of these medals have ever been graded by NGC. There were actually three variations of the medal produced: an antique-finish copper, a copper with “painted silver” and a copper with “painted gold.” In my experience while the plain copper version is quite scarce, the painted versions are rarely encountered.

In 2012 the China Mint once again turned to bronze for an anniversary medal. A magnificent large medal of roughly rectangular shape helps commemorate the 30th Panda coin birthday. The delightful design of this medal helps sum up a series that has given numismatists so much to enjoy and study; a multiple metal tradition that continues to this day.

30 Years of Copper and Bronze Panda Anniversary Medals (l to r): 1991, 2002 and 2012

Peter Anthony is an expert on Chinese modern coins with a particular focus on Panda coins. He is an analyst for the NGC Chinese Modern Coin Price Guide as well as a consultant on Chinese modern coins.