Sunday, February 5, 2012

Demand leads China to increase 2012 Panda bullion mintages


Pandas have notoriously sensitive populations, but the coins depicting them are proliferating at least: amid soaring demand the People’s Bank of China has announced higher mintages for 2012 Panda bullion coins.

The 2012 mintages for the coins will in some cases double or triple compared to 2011 mintages, according to the June 20 announcement.

The decision to increase mintages was reported by state news agency Xinhua and confirmed by a spokesperson for China Gold Coin Corp., the distributor of the coins in China. PandaAmerica, the California-based distributor for the United States, also confirmed the increased mintages for 2012, the second consecutive year China has raised mintage figures for the Panda precious metal bullion coins.

The stalwarts of the program are the 1-ounce .999 fine silver 10-yuan coin and the 1-ounce .999 fine gold 100-yuan coins; the mintage for the silver 10-yuan coin will double from 3 million pieces to 6 million coins, while the mintage limit for the 1-ounce gold coin is raised from 300,000 coins to 500,000 coins.

Four different sizes of fractional gold bullion coins — the 20th-, 10th-, quarter- and half-ounce pieces — will see the largest increases, rising from mintage limits of 200,000 in 2011 to 600,000 next year, per size.

“Chinese investors have rushed to buy precious metals this year to hedge against rising inflation,” according to the Xinhua report.

In the first quarter of 2011, China became the world’s largest market for gold coins and bars for investment, according to a May 19 report from the World Gold Council, a trade group.

China currently issues 10 different Panda coins annually. The six pieces for which mintage increases have been announced are issued as bullion pieces. Four additional coins, 5-ounce and kilogram sizes of both silver and gold coins, are issued in Proof versions and were not discussed in the recent announcement; their mintages will not be revealed until later this year.

That doesn’t mean they will immune to increases; mintages for eight of the 10 Panda coins (bullion and Proof combined) rose from 2010 to 2011, in some cases dramatically.

The mintages for small Panda gold coins, those of half-, quarter-, tenth-, and 20th-ounce sizes, were raised from 120,000 each in 2010 to 200,000 each with the 2011 coins, a 67 percent increase.

Mintages for some of the large versions were also raised: the kilogram gold coin went from a mintage of 200 pieces in 2010 to a 300-coin mintage maximum this year.

The kilogram-sized silver 300-yuan coins for 2011 have a limit of 8,000 pieces, twice the 2010 mintage, and the maximum of 20,000 5-ounce 50-yuan silver coins compares to 10,000 for 2010.

But the biggest increase for 2011 was registered for the 1-ounce silver size, as the 10-yuan coin, which had a mintage maximum of 800,000 pieces in 2010, saw its maximum shoot up to 3 million pieces, a 275 percent increase in 2011.

The only mintage limits not increased in 2011 were the 1-ounce 500-yuan and 5-ounce 2,000-yuan gold coins, remaining stable at 300,000 pieces and 1,000 pieces, respectively.

The accompanying table lists full details of the rising mintage limits from 2010 through the announced limits for 2012.

The obverse of each Panda coin shows the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (the Temple of Heaven). The reverse design has changed every year since the Panda made its debut, except for 2002, and shows a different design of a panda or pandas.

China’s Panda coins are minted at the Shenzhen Guobao Mint, Shenyang Mint and Shanghai Mint, and are generally not identified with a Mint mark.

2011 China Panda Silver Coins


We have the 2011 Silver Panda Coins from the China Mint and they are available in stock for a limited time, so order now. China Silver Pandas are some of the most popular silver coins in the world. These Silver Pandas are highly anticipated as their fresh, new design is released each year from the China Mint.

China Silver Panda coins are some of the most beautiful and collectible Silver coins in the world.

Each China Silver Panda coin is guaranteed to be in Gem Brilliant Uncirculated condition. The yearly design changes allow collectors to add variety to their collections from year to year and to accumulate one of the most beautiful series of Silver world coins.

Brand New Design for 2011
Panda Silver coins display a fresh, original design each year. The 2011 coin features a mother playing with her cub in a field of bamboo. The reverse design is the same each year, representing an image of the honored “Temple of Heaven” in Beijing, and the 2011 date.

We are always excited to see the annual design changes from the meticulous craftsmen at the China Mint. Each Panda Silver coin is beautifully crafted and feels like a miniature sculpture in your hands.

Legal Tender Silver
Chinese Panda coins are genuine legal tender coins, issued exclusively by the People’s Bank of China. Each of the pure Silver Panda Coins is minted in one troy ounce of 99.9% fine silver. At very affordable prices, these coins make great gifts and are an excellent addition to any coin collection.

Each Silver Panda comes double-sealed from the China Mint in a clear, protective package that surrounds a plastic holder. This keeps out effects of harmful air pollution and helps to preserve these beautiful coins for generations to come.


2011 China Panda Silver Coins

2010 Chinese Gold and Silver Pandas

The 2010 Chinese Gold and Silver Pandas have been issued by the People's Bank of China. This year's program consists of ten different issues, including seven gold and three silver coins with a new reverse design. The high quality bullion coins have become popular around the world.

The Gold and Silver Pandas feature a common obverse design depicting the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests of the Temple of Heaven located in Beijing, China. An inscription in Chinese indicates "People's Republic of China" along with the year "2010".

The new reverse design for 2010-dated coins features two pandas at play. The face value of the coin, bullion weight, and purity also appear. Each year, the coins have featured a different Panda themed design. All coins have a purity of 99.9% fine gold or 99.9% fine silver.

2010 Gold Panda Coins

This year's Gold Panda coins will be available in weights ranging from 1/20 oz to 5 oz. Each weight carries a different fave value and has a stated maximum mintage. The details of each coin are below:

Weight Diameter Face Value Maximum Mintage
1/20 oz 14 mm 20 Yuan 120,000
1/10 oz 18 mm 50 Yuan 120,000
1/4 oz 22 mm 100 Yuan 120,000
1/2 oz 27 mm 200 Yuan 120,000
1 oz 32 mm 500 Yuan 300,000
5 oz 60 mm 2000 Yuam 1,000
1 kg 90 mm 10000 Yuan 200

2010 Silver Panda Coins

This year's Silver Panda coins will be available in three different weights from 1 oz to 1 kg. Each coin carries a different face value and has a stated maximum mintage as included below:

Weight Diameter Face Value Maximum Mintage
1 oz 40 mm 10 Yuan 800,000
5 oz 70 mm 50 Yuan 10,000
1 kg 100 mm 300 Yuan 4,000

The 2010 Gold and Silver Pandas were first issued by the People's Bank of China on November 30, 2009. The coins are minted by the Shenzhen Guobao Mint, Shenyang Mint and Shanghai Mint, and solely distributed by China Gold Coin Incorporation.

The People's Bank of China 2009 Panda Silver Brilliant Uncirculated legal tender coins.

Every year excitement and buzz builds surrounding the design of the new Panda coin, and this year has been no exception.

The beautiful designs of the 2009 Panda Silver coins have made the wait worthwhile. These coins are 99.9% pure silver - and are now available to collectors who are assembling date sets, and to silver bullion buyers who expect a continuation of the current desire for silver in the market.

The 2009 Panda coins keep the traditional obverse design that has been the hallmark of this great series, featuring the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the title of the People's Republic of China, and the year of issuance. The reverse design features 2 baby pandas, sitting and eating in a field of bamboo. The face value of 10 Yuan & purity level of 99.9% are also prominently displayed on the bottom of the reverse.

The 1-ounce Silver Pandas from 2009 are issued with a maximum authorized mintage of 600,000. Click here to view & buy these coins for only $27!!

The People's Bank of China 2009 Panda Silver Brilliant Uncirculated legal tender coins.

2009 China Commemorative Silver and Gold Panda Coins



Each coin’s reverse bears the same Panda design as depicted on the 2009 Gold Panda and 2009 Silver Panda bullion coins. The new commemoratives, however, feature a ring surrounding the pandas with the inscription "30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE CHINESE MODERN PRECIOUS METAL COMMEMORATIVE COINS."

The obverse design of both coins has the traditional image of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

The central bank said it would issue a maximum of 10,000 gold coins in 1/4 oz size, with a diameter of 22 mm and a fineness of 99.9%. Up to 300,000 of the 1 oz silver coins are to be struck with a diameter of 40 mm and the same bullion 99.9% purity. The legal tender face value of the gold and silver commemoratives are 10 and 100 yuan, respectively.

Panda coins are among the most popular in the world, featuring adorably detailed images of playful pandas that change annually. Although the Chinese precious metal coin program dates back to 1979, the Gold Panda coin design was first introduced in 1982 while the silver version debuted in 1983.