Following last month’s design unveiling and initial release in China, the 2015 Gold and Silver Panda Coins are now making their way to the US market with many dealers taking orders for later delivery. This year’s releases are noted by the removal of the inscriptions indicating the weight, metal, and fineness.
Following the typical format, the common obverse design across the coins features the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (The Temple of Heaven). The inscriptions within an outer ring include the title of the People’s Republic of China and the “2015” date.
The newly created reverse design shows a single panda eating a stalk of bamboo against a backdrop of bamboo. The only inscription is the denomination. As noted, there is no indication of the weight, metal, or fineness of the coin. All prior releases of the series since launch in 1983 have included this information on the reverse.
The line up for the 2015 Panda coins remains the same as the prior year with seven different sizes in gold and three different sizes in silver. The gold options are struck in 99.9% purity and range in size from 1/20 oz to 1 kg. The silver options are struck in 99.9% purity and range from 1 oz to 1 kg.
Maximum mintage levels also remain the same as the prior year. The most popular 1 oz silver coin remains at 8,000,000 pieces and the 1 oz gold coin carrying a mintage of 1,000,000.
2015 Chinese Gold Panda Coins
- 20 Yuan: 1/20 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 800,000.
- 50 Yuan: 1/10 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 800,000.
- 100 Yuan: 1/4 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 600,000.
- 200 Yuan: 1/2 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 600,000.
- 500 Yuan: 1 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 1,000,000.
- 2000 Yuan: Proof quality 5 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 5,000.
- 10000 Yuan: Proof quality 1 kg with maximum mintage of 500.
2015 Chinese Silver Panda Coins
- 10 Yuan: 1 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 8,000,000.
- 50 Yuan: Proof quality 5 troy ounces with maximum mintage of 50,000.
- 300 Yuan: Proof quality 1 kg with maximum mintage of 20,000.
Samuel says
designs for 2014 and 15 are bad. 2013 3-panda design probably the best. i bought a sheet of 30, so dont worry about cherrypicking.
Samuel says
pinehurst has the lowest price for 30-coin sheet – 22.26 at this moment.
Erik H says
It would have been nice if they made the switch from ounces to grams as first reported. Also did they remove the weight and fineness because they plan on using these as circulating coins one day, maybe a move to a silver standard???
Z. Barolo says
Interesting on the removal of inscriptions. I’ve been hoping for years that the United States would remove some of the extraneous verbiage from coins. The word “Liberty” is great – just wonderful. But IMO we don’t need “In God We Trust” or “E Pluribus Unum” written on the coinage.
I do “Trust In God” and believe in the melting pot motto “Out of Many One” – but don’t think it has to be cluttering up something as small as a coin. “Less is More”.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
CW says
I guess when the majority in the world market are fake, why even bother? I fail to see the appeal in buying these at all.
fmtransmitter says
I really like this design, why I don’t know..