Sovereign Coin Series – The Chinese Panda Coins

Those familiar with gold and silver bullion coin investing will know the Chinese Panda series as one of the finest. The obverse showcases the ancient Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the Temple of Heaven with highly intricate details of the steps, walls and eaves. Built in 1420, the Hall is where locals pray for good harvests and weather.

The gold and silver Chinese Panda Coins are legal tender in China and also feature the national animal of China, the Giant Panda. Each year features a different panda design, which has in the past included many playful habits of the furry endangered mammal.

In 1987 the Chinese Mint changed its standards to meet the needs of the international bullion buying and selling markets. It was then that the silver panda coin’s weight was set to one ounce and a high purity of .999 fine silver was used. Later, in 2016, China began using grams instead of ounces to reflect the country’s usage of the metric system.

Mint: Several in China

Country: People’s Republic of China

Composition: Gold and silver

First Year of Issue: 1982 (gold), 1983 (silver)

Artist: Changes every year with the design 

Fascinating Fact: The same design was used in 2001 and 2002, but there was such a backlash from investors and collectors that the mints reverted to changing the design annually after this. 

Obverse: The Chinese Temple of Heaven with “Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo” meaning “People’s Republic of China” and the date.

Reverse: Panda portrait that is annually changed.