Chinese Silver Panda

{{Short description|Bullion coin from China}}

{{Infobox Coin

| Denomination = Silver Panda

| Country = China

| Value = 10

| Unit = Yuan (face value)

| Mass_g = 30

| Mass_troy_oz = .965

| Diameter_mm = 40

| Thickness_mm = <=3

| Diameter_inch = 1.52

| Thickness_inch = 0.118

| Edge = Reeded slanted left

| Composition = 99.9% Ag

| Years of Minting = 1983-present

| Obverse = China silver panda coin 2018 reverse.png

| Obverse Design = The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests located in the Temple of Heaven complex

| Reverse = China silver panda coin 2018 obverse.png

| Reverse Design = 2018 version Panda

| Reverse Designer =

| Reverse Design Date = 2017

}}

The Chinese Silver Panda ({{zh|c=熊猫银币|p=xióngmāo yínbì}}) 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. Starting in 2016, Pandas switched to metric sizes. The 1 troy ounce coin was reduced to 30 grams, while the 5 troy ounce coin was reduced to 150 grams. There is also a Gold Panda series issued featuring the same designs as the Silver Panda coins.

History

The first Silver Panda coins—issued 10 yuan Panda bullion 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: Shanghai, Shenyang, and Shenzhen. Unlike coins made by US and German 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 allows 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, the Gold and Silver Panda coins were not labeled with metal fineness and weight. This information returned in 2016 when the 1 troy ounce coin was replaced by the 30-gram coin (one troy ounce is approximately 31.1 grams).{{cite web |url=https://coinweek.com/world-coins/37-year-history-two-half-pages-case-chinese-panda/ |title=37-year History in Two-half Pages |website=Coin Week |date=19 February 2019 |accessdate=17 February 2020}}

The official distributor in China for the Silver and Gold Panda coins is the China Gold Coin Incorporation (CGCI).

As of 2020, the highest-priced coin is a perfect 1983 proof panda worth $16,430. The highest-priced, non-proof coin is a perfect large-date 1991 panda worth $3,100.

Specifications

wikitable class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! colspan="4" |Specifications{{Cite web|url=https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/chinese-modern-coin-prices.aspx?lang=en-US&ChineseCategoryID=1&subcat=silver-panda-coin-prices|title=Chinese Silver Panda Coin Prices|last=|first=|date=|website=ngccoin.com|access-date=30 June 2019}}

Weight

! Face value

! Diameter

! Thickness

1 kilogram300 yuanstyle="text-align:right;" | 100 mmstyle="text-align:right;" | 13 mm
12 troy oz100 yuanstyle="text-align:right;" |style="text-align:right;" | 14 mm
5 troy ozrowspan="2" | 50 yuanrowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 70 mmstyle="text-align:right;" | 6 mm
150 gramsstyle="text-align:right;" |
1 troy ouncerowspan="2" | 10 yuanrowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 40 mmstyle="text-align:right;" |
30 gramsstyle="text-align:right;" |
{{frac|1|2}} troy oz5 yuanstyle="text-align:right;" | 33 mmstyle="text-align:right;" | 2.2 mm
{{frac|1|4}} troy oz3 yuanstyle="text-align:right;" | 25 mmstyle="text-align:right;" |

= Thickness =

Taking the 1-ounce silver coin as an example, the authentic coin has a thickness of only about 2.6 millimeters, while the thickness of the counterfeit coin exceeds 3 millimeters. If they are of the same thickness, the counterfeit coin will not weigh 31.1 grams.{{cite web |url= https://www.sohu.com/a/307854247_100169869 |title= 熊猫币如何鉴别真伪 熊猫币的鉴定方法要点有哪些 |access-date= 2019-04-16|publisher=Sohu}}

= Reeding =

The diagonal reeding was first introduced in the 2001 D (Domestic) Gold Panda Coins. This feature was introduced to other Chinese Panda Coins in 2002.{{cite book |last=Anthony |first=Peter |title=Gold & Silver Panda Coin Buyer's Guide |edition=5th |year=2016 |publisher=Peter Anthony |pages=138 |date=January 1, 2016}}

Design

The center of the obverse is a depiction of The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, located in the Temple of Heaven complex in Beijing. The Hall was built between 1406 and 1420. Chinese characters on top say "{{lang|zh|中华人民共和国}}", meaning the 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. The reverse shows portraits of the giant panda that changes every year (except for 2001 and 2002, which share the same design).

Minting history

File:11 Temple of Heaven.jpg

File:1998 silver panda with air privy.jpg privy mark for the China Aviation Expo.]]

There are many varieties of types of coins issued:

  1. Bulk Uncirculated
  2. Proof
  3. Gilding (either side, or both)
  4. Colored (only obverse side known)
  5. Privy marked for a commemorative issue
  6. Extra wording of a special event. For example, where the coins will be sold, such as a coin show or to commemorate an event or place.

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Type

! Description{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgs.com/prices/detail/10-yuan/3784/most-active |title=10 Yuan Price Guide |website=PCGS |accessdate=18 February 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bullionweb.de/silbermuenze/china-panda/sonderpandas.html |title=China silver panda - Special editions |website=Buillionweb.de |accessdate=18 February 2020}}

! Mintage

1983

| rowspan="5" | Proof

| Both proof and frosted proof

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:right" ; | 10,000

1984

|

1985

|

1986

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 0

1987

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

1988

|

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 0

rowspan="2" | 1989

| Proof

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 8,000

Bulk

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 255,000

rowspan="2" | 1990

| Proof

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 20,000

Bulk

| Both large and small dates

| style="text-align:right"; | 200,000

rowspan="2" | 1991

| Proof

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 20,000

Bulk

| Both large and small dates

| style="text-align:right"; | 100,000

rowspan="2" | 1992

| Proof

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 20,000

Bulk

| Both large and small dates

| style="text-align:right"; | 100,000

rowspan="2" | 1993

| Proof

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 20,000

Bulk

| Both large and small dates

| style="text-align:right"; | 120,000

rowspan="2" | 1994

| Proof

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 20,000

Bulk

| Both large and small dates

| style="text-align:right"; | 120,000

rowspan="2" | 1995

| Proof

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 10,000

Bulk

| Both large and small dates

| style="text-align:right"; | 200,000

rowspan="3" | 1996

| Proof

| Both narrow and wide bottom

| style="text-align:right"; | 16,000

rowspan="2" | Bulk

| Large, small and micro dates

| style="text-align:right"; | 120,000

Beijing Stamp and Coin Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 25,000

rowspan="6" | 1997

| Proof

| Colorized

| style="text-align:right"; | 100,000

rowspan="5" | Bulk

|

| rowspan="4" style="text-align:right" ; | 50,000

Large and small dates
Year of Tourism
Chongqing Municipality
Beijing Stamp and Coin Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

rowspan="4" | 1998

| Proof

| Colorized

| style="text-align:right"; | 100,000

rowspan="3" | Bulk

| Large, small and micro dates

| style="text-align:right"; | 250,000

China Aviation Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 50,000

Beijing Coin Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

rowspan="3" | 1999

| Proof

| Colorized

| style="text-align:right"; | 100,000

rowspan="73" | Bulk

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 70,000

Beijing Stamp and Coin Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 40,000

rowspan="2" | 2000

| Both frosted and mirrored finishes

| style="text-align:right"; | 70,000

Guangzhou Stamp and Coin Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 40,000

rowspan="2" | 2001

|

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right" ; | 250,000

Large and small "D". Domestic only sales
2002

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 500,000

2003

| Both frosted and satin finishes

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right" ; | 600,000

rowspan="4" | 2004

|

50th Anniversary of China Construction Bank

| style="text-align:right"; | 170,000

20th Anniversary of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

| style="text-align:right"; | 120,000

Beijing Stamp and Coin Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

rowspan="4" | 2005

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 600,000

Foundation of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

| style="text-align:right"; | 100,000

10th Anniversary Bank of Shanghai

| style="text-align:right"; | 50,000

Beijing Stamp and Coin Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

rowspan="6" | 2006

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 600,000

10th Anniversary China Minsheng Bank

| style="text-align:right"; | 70,000

10th Anniversary Bank of Beijing

| style="text-align:right"; | 50,000

Shenyang Horticulture Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

10th Anniversary Jinan City Bank

| style="text-align:right"; | 20,000

Beijing Stamp and Coin Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

rowspan="3" | 2007

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 600,000

Xi'an City Bank

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right" ; | 100,000

20th Anniversary of China CITIC Bank
rowspan="3" | 2008

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 600,000

100th Anniversary of Beijing Banknote

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right" ; | 100,000

100th Anniversary of Bank of Communications
rowspan="4" | 2009

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 600,000

30th Anniversary of Chinese modern precious metal coins

| style="text-align:right"; | 300,000

Founding of Agricultural Bank of China

| style="text-align:right"; | 100,000

ChiNext Inauguration

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

rowspan="4" | 2010

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 800,000

Anniversary of listing of Agricultural Bank of China

| style="text-align:right"; | 70,000

20th Anniversary of opening China's capital markets

| style="text-align:right"; | 40,000

90th Anniversary Shanghai Mint

| style="text-align:right"; | 20,000

rowspan="8" | 2011

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 6,000,000

Running of Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:right" ; | 30,000

60th Anniv. of National Committee of China's Financial Union
10th Anniversary of Shanghai Gold Exchange
30th Anniv. of the Founding of Xiamen Special Economic Zone

| rowspan="4" style="text-align:right" ; | 20,000

60th Anniversary of the Rural Credit Cooperatives
60th Anniversary of the Aviation Industry
World Horticultural Expo 2011 in Xian
rowspan="4" | 2012

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 8,000,000

100th Anniversary of Bank of China

| style="text-align:right"; | 260,000

20th Anniversary of the founding of Huaxia Bank

| style="text-align:right"; | 50,000

10th Anniversary of Listing of China Merchants Bank

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

rowspan="4" | 2013

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 8,000,000

25th Anniversary of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:right" ; | 80,000

30th Anniversary of China Everbright Bank
10th Anniversary of China-Asean Expo
rowspan="5" | 2014

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 8,000,000

60th Anniversary of China Construction Bank

| style="text-align:right"; | 420,000

20th Anniv. of the Agricultural Development Bank of China

| style="text-align:right"; | 85,000

Qingdao World Horticulture Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 40,000

Singapur International Coin Fair

| style="text-align:right"; | 2,014

rowspan="3" | 2015

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 8,000,000

20th Anniversary of Bank of Shanghai

| style="text-align:right"; | 60,000

The Year of China in South Africa

| style="text-align:right"; | 10,000

rowspan="4" | 2016

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 8,000,000

20th Anniversary of Bank of Beijing

| style="text-align:right"; | 50,000

120th Anniversary of Shenyang Mint

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

60th Anniversary of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese

| style="text-align:right"; | 20,000

rowspan="2" | 2017

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 10,000,000

China International Collection Expo

| style="text-align:right"; | 50,000

rowspan="3" | 2018

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 10,000,000

30th Anniversary of China Ping An Insurance Group

| style="text-align:right"; | 50,000

30th Anniversary of Industrial Bank

| style="text-align:right"; | 30,000

rowspan="4" | 2019

|

| style="text-align:right"; | 10,000,000

China International Import Expo

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right" ; | 20,000

World Stamp Exhibition
40th Anniversary of State Administration of Foreign Exchange

| style="text-align:right"; | 10,000

See also

References

; General

  • 2020 Standard Catalog of World Coins - 1901–2000, 47th Edition, publication date 2019, Krause Publications, {{isbn|978-1-4402-4896-2}}
  • 2020 Standard Catalog of World Coins - 2001–Date, 14th Edition, publication date 2019, Krause Publications, {{isbn|978-1-4402-4897-9}}

;Specific

{{reflist}}