Since 1982, China’s Panda coins have paired bullion value with a new panda design every year — building the most date-driven, checklist-friendly bullion series in the world. This entry covers the series structure, key dates, and why collectors chase them.
Key facts
- Gold Pandas launched in 1982 in four sizes — 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz, all .999 fine gold; a 1/20 oz gold coin was added in 1983 (CoinWeek; JM Bullion; Provident Metals).
- Face values 1982–2000 were 100, 50, 25, and 10 yuan (plus 5 yuan from 1983); revalued upward in 2001 (1 oz = 500 yuan); in 2016 the series switched from troy ounces to metric grams (30 g, 15 g, 8 g, 3 g, 1 g) (Wikipedia; Provident Metals).
- The panda design changes every year — the hallmark of the series — with the sole repeat being the 2001/2002 design (CoinWeek; Provident Metals).
- Silver Pandas: proof issues began in 1983; bullion silver Pandas followed in 1989; gold pandas carry the design on the reverse, silver pandas on the obverse (CoinWeek).
- The most popular collector format is the 1 oz BU silver Panda; early gold proofs (1986–1992 sets) and low-mintage key dates such as the 1995 small-date issues command strong premiums (Numismatic News; CoinWeek).
- Panda coins are legal tender of the People’s Republic of China (Wikipedia).