The Chinese Gold Panda is a series of bullion coins that The People’s Republic of China mints.
The Chinese Gold Panda was introduced in 1982. It is highly sought after and in strong demand by investors and collectors alike.
Chinese Gold Panda coins are minted from .999 fine gold and available in various denominations.
Chinese Gold Panda Design
The design of the Chinese Gold Panda coins changes with each annual release.
The obverse of the Gold Panda Coin depicts the Temple of Heaven in the center, with Chinese characters on top saying “Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo,” which translates to “People’s Republic of China.” The bottom of the obverse contains the year of issue.
The reverse of the Chinese Gold Panda coin changes with each annual release. Each year, a new design features the giant panda, a bear native to south central China.
Chinese Gold Panda Denominations
Since the start of the series in 1982, the Chinese Gold Panda coin has been available in multiple denominations. From 1982 until 2015, the coin was minted as a 1 troy ounce coin, with fractional denominations available in 1/2 troy oz, 1/4 troy ounce, and 1/10 troy ounce. Several years included special releases in larger sizes, such as 5 troy ounce and 12 troy ounce gold coins. Beginning in 1983, a 1/20 troy ounce coin was introduced.
Beginning with the 2016 release of the Chinese Gold Panda, the weights and denominations of the series shifted from Imperial measurements to using the metric system. The 1 troy ounce Gold Panda became 30 grams. The other denominations were also changed to use the metric system. As a result, the fractional denominations in the series are now available in 15-gram, 8-gram, 3-gram, and 1-gram sizes.
Chinese Gold Panda Face Value
All Chinese Gold Panda coins carry a nominal face value backed by the government of China. The face value of the coins has been revised several times since the introduction of the Gold Panda series.
Face Values from 1982-2000:
| Nominal Gold Weight | Face Value | Total Weight | Diameter | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 troy ounce | 100 yuan | 31.03 grams | 32.05 mm | 2.7 mm |
| 1/2 troy ounce | 50 yuan | 15.5515 grams | 27 mm | 1.85 mm |
| 1/4 troy ounce | 25 yuan | 7.7758 grams | 21.95 mm | 1.53 mm |
| 1/10 troy ounce | 10 yuan | 3.1103 grams | 17.95 mm | 1.05 mm |
| 1/20 troy ounce | 5 yuan | 1.5552 grams | 13.92 mm | .83 mm |
In 2001 the nominal face values of the Gold Panda Coins were revised. From 2001 to 2015 the nominal face values were:
| Nominal Gold Weight | Face Value | Total Weight | Diameter | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 troy ounce | 500 yuan | 31.03 grams | 32.05 mm | 2.7 mm |
| 1/2 troy ounce | 200 yuan | 15.5515 grams | 27 mm | 1.85 mm |
| 1/4 troy ounce | 100 yuan | 7.7758 grams | 21.95 mm | 1.53 mm |
| 1/10 troy ounce | 50 yuan | 3.1103 grams | 17.95 mm | 1.05 mm |
| 1/20 troy ounce | 20 yuan | 1.5552 grams | 13.92 mm | .83 mm |
With the shift to the metric system in 2016 the denominations and face values of the Chinese Gold Panda coins became:
| Nominal Gold Weight | Face Value | Total Weight | Diameter | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 gram Gold Panda | 500 yuan | .9645 troy ounce | 32 mm | 2.7 mm |
| 15 gram Gold Panda | 50 yuan | .4823 troy ounce | 27 mm | 1.85 mm |
| 8 gram Gold Panda | 25 yuan | .2572 troy ounce | 22 mm | 1.53 mm |
| 3 gram Gold Panda | 10 yuan | .0965 troy ounce | 18 mm | 1.05 mm |
| 1 gram Gold Panda | 5 yuan | .0322 troy ounce | 10 mm | .83 mm |
Chinese Gold Panda Coins Collectability
Since their introduction in 1982, Gold Pandas have depicted the giant panda bear in a different posture and background each year. This has been done to emphasize that the gold panda coins, besides their intrinsic value as a gold investment, are also highly collectible.
The Gold Panda Coin series features China’s national symbol, the Giant Panda. The depiction of the giant bear, an endangered species, has international appeal and has captured the demand of coin collectors and bullion investors worldwide.
All Chinese Gold Panda coins are minted from 24 karat (24k) fine gold with .999 purity.
The Gold Panda was the first gold bullion coin to feature a unique and different design on its reverse side with each annual release.