China Mint

The China Mint strikes the only major world coin series that changes its design every year — the Chinese Panda, issued continuously since 1982. That annual redesign is why Pandas are collected by date rather than accumulated by weight, and why a complete run is a long-term project rather than a purchase.

Two details matter when buying. In 2016 the series moved from troy ounces to metric weights — silver from 1 oz to 30 g, gold from 1 oz to 30 g — so every listing here states the precise weight rather than a rounded figure. And Panda surfaces mark easily: the gap between the MS 69 and MS 70 populations on a given year is often an order of magnitude, which is the whole reason certification matters on this series.

assay house carries gold Pandas from 1 g through 30 g and the earlier fractional ounces, and silver Pandas from 30 g through 5 oz, including early proofs from the 1980s and anniversary issues. Each is a single certified coin with its certification number stated.

Our Chinese Panda collector's guide covers the design history, the 2016 weight change and what to verify before buying.