With the release of the 40th Anniversary of the 2022 Chinese Panda coins, we’re taking a look at the history of this People’s Bank of China’s bullion series and the cultural significance behind the magnificent panda bear. It will explore…
- The panda bear
- The panda coin design
- Previous panda coin designs
- Panda coin sizes
The Panda Bear
Giant panda bears are native to China where they are considered a national treasure. Even with this status, only about 1,600 live in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is a dramatic increase from a population of 300 from 2007 when they were considered endangered. Amazingly in 2016, the IUCN reclassified the species from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’, mainly due to a global effort to conserve the species.
It’s thought that these magnificent creatures are solitary animals. Males and females only come together briefly to mate, but recent research has suggested that giant pandas occasionally meet outside of breeding season to socialise too. They communicate with each other through scent marks and calls and value the art of play.
The Chinese traditionally regard the panda bear as a symbol of friendship and peace and has an important place in Chinese culture and history. The panda was often compared to the yin and yang because of its black and white spots. The panda’s calm demeanour was a demonstration of how, when balanced, the yin yang were harmonious and peaceful. Many people also see the panda as a symbol of good luck, making it a perfect design for bullion coins.
Did you know – Giant pandas grow to between 1.2m and 1.5m and consume up to 17kg of bamboo a day? Scientists aren’t sure how long pandas live in the wild, but they live around 30 years in captivity.
The Panda Coin Design
The Chinese Panda coin series is one of a few in the world that changes designs every year, making it a popular collection and investment coin. 2022 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Chinese Panda coin and the coin design incorporates a 40th-anniversary panda logo.
All Panda coins are guaranteed by the People’s Bank of China and contain .999 fine precious metals in both silver and gold. In 2016, these gold and silver panda coins started to be produced in metric system sizes to better suit the international appeal of the coins. These gram sizes replaced the troy ounce sizes from 1982 – 2016.
The coins always feature a panda bear in a new position or pose and, with the exception of 2001 and 2002, all coins have an annually-changing design that’s unique to that year. The 2022 coin design features two adorable pandas sliding down the hill in the snow paying tribute to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, which are being held in China.
Inscribed on the front are always the coin’s weight and purity. The reverse of the panda always has the Temple of Heaven (Beijing) in the centre with Chinese characters on top saying “Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo” meaning ‘People’s Republic of China’ and the year of issue is found at the bottom.
Previous Panda Coin Designs
The first gold bullion coin was issued in 1982. As mentioned previously, portraits of the panda change on the coin every year (except for 2001 and 2002, which share the same design). The unique charm of each coin makes the Panda series a favourite for collectors all around the world.
We’re proud to have had many of these designs pass through the Bleyer vault, and each design is something we look forward to seeing every year. Some of the older coin designs are now very rare, which of these designs do you have in your stack?
Chinese Panda Coin Sizes
There are many sizes in the panda gold series including 1g, 3g, 8g, 15g and 30g. The silver coin is slightly different in that the People’s Bank of China only offer this as a 30g coin. All gold and silver coins (pre-2016) were available in ounce measurements.
The most popular Chinese Panda coins in the UK:
- 1g Gold Chinese Panda Coin
- 3g Gold Chinese Panda Coin
- 8g Gold Chinese Panda Coin
- 15g Gold Chinese Panda Coin
- 30g Gold Chinese Panda Coin
- 30g Silver Chinese Panda Coin
- 1oz Silver Chinese Panda Coin (pre-2016)
Along with the new, pre-owned silver also passes through our vaults on a very regular basis, so if you’re looking for a particular year, please contact one of the team on 01769 618618 for more information and we’ll be happy to help.
Editors note: This article has been updated to include the latest 2022 bullion coin.