In 1982, fifteen thousand ounces of gold converged on Shanghai to
make history. With the help of the China Mint, they became the first one
ounce gold Pandas, and were quickly to become a smash hit in the gold
bullion coin market.
History of the Panda
Not only were they cute, but over the
next few years collectors were treated to a unique treat; unlike the gold
coins issued by other countries around the world, the panda design on the
Panda changed each year. This, the beauty of these coins, and the small
mintages made these coins so popular that they were quickly trading at
many times the bullion price. Responding to demand, the mintage for the one
ounce panda increased to about 130,000 in 1985, yet this still pales
compared to the almost one and a half million gold U.S. Eagles struck that
year. From 1989 to 1996, demand for all gold bullion was down, and
fewer than fifty thousand one ounce gold pandas escaped China that year.
Since '97, production has been pretty stable at between 120,000 and 150,000
per year.
In addition to the one ounce coins, gold Pandas are also made in
half-ounce, quarter-ounce, and tenth-ounce sizes, and twentieth-ounce coins
have been included in the lineup since 1983.
While all one ounce bullion gold coins contain an ounce of
gold, some are alloyed with silver and/or copper, which makes them
more resistant to wear. Eagles and Krugerrands
are 91.6% gold and sold in tubes. Pandas (and others, such as the Austrian
Philharmonic) are 99.9% gold and packaged individually sealed in plastic.
In 1986, both China and the United States decided to get into
the proof game. Once again, the U.S. seemed to go for volume.
For every one of the ten thousand one ounce Panda proofs, there
were forty four proof Eagles. And while the U.S. issued Eagle
proofs only in the one ounce size, there were super-shiny Pandas
in all five denominations, mostly sold in sets with one of each size. Proofs of smaller Eagles were introduced
in 1988 and continue to be produced to this day, while Panda proofs became
extinct in 1995.
In 1989, the gold Panda got a baby brother: the silver Panda.
As with most silver bullion coins, it comes mostly in a one ounce
size, though five- and twelve-ounce coins aren't hard to come by.
The Mint began a dalliance with a half-ounce version in 1993, but
it didn't last and the last one was seen in 1998. It's also easy to
find the one-kilogram silver Panda, but I don't know if they make them
every year.
The Panda Design
As I said, the panda depicted on the coin is different each year — though in any given year, the gold and silver Pandas have the same design — but
it always involves a panda and bamboo, whether he's climbing it,
playing with it, eating it, or what have you. This is one of the factors that made them
so popular. But in 2002, the Mint for some reason re-used the design
from 2001, and announced that that would be the image from then on.
A mighty cry arose from the investors and collectors of the world, and
the Mint bowed before it, going with a new design for 2003.
The panda appears on the reverse, along with the face value (which
was 100 yuan for the one ounce coin through 2000, then changed
to 500) and the designation of weight and fineness, written in English.
Or you might say it's a combination of Arabic, English, and Latin. The one
ounce coin says 1 oz Au .999 (Ag for the silver of course.)
There have been only three designs for the obverse, each being an
image of the Hall of Prayer for Abundant Harvests in the Temple of Heaven,
with the date at the bottom and some Chinese writing around the top.
The first image was used from 1982 until 1991, the second until 1999,
and the third one is still going strong as of 2004.
Other Pandas
Little interest is shown in the brass Panda internationally, but they
are distinctive in that they are the only Pandas that are not round,
but octagonal. As with the Eagle, the platinum version
has a relatively small audience.
There are several other kinds of Panda that hold no interest for
serious collectors. There are bimetallic coins,
with a gold center bearing the panda surrounded by a ring of silver (these
coins definitely do not share the same panda design as the "real" Pandas),
and "colorized" Pandas, and who knows what else.
Then there are the commemoratives. As with all mints, the China Mint
produces commemorative coins, sometimes seemingly at the drop of a
coolie's hat. These are generally not well respected nor have any
great value. But in 1991, the Mint created a commemorative on the
occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Panda. The reverse image consisted
of a central large panda (I don't know if it's the same image as that
year's Pandas, but I would hope that it is), and around the edge were
miniature images of the first ten Panda designs. It is said to be the
largest gold coin in the world, measuring fifteen centimeters across and
weighing five kilograms. You don't have one in your collection? That might
be related to the fact that they only made ten of them! As you might guess,
these sell at many times the bullion price, though I don't know when was
the last time that one changed hands.
The Panda and Me
I've been buying Pandas as part of my bullion investments because they're
just so darn cute! I've always found silver coins more attractive than
gold, and all my Pandas so far are silver. I just bought some gold ones,
though, and even though I'm sure I'll like the silver better, I still
believe they will look better than my other gold coins. It is often said
that the twenty dollar U.S. gold coin known as the St. Gaudens (after the
designer, Augustus St. Gaudens) is the most beautiful coin ever made
(maybe sometimes qualified with "U.S. coin"), but believe me, it doesn't
hold a candle to the Chinese Panda.