Please Help Identify This 5oz Gold Chinese Coin

BigBuffaloGuy

Can someone please help me identify this 5oz Gold Chinese coin for a customer? It is housed in a hard wooden box but doesn't have any paperwork. Thanks.

theboz11

That is the God of Wealth. Mintage 100. I bought 2 when they came out @ $4800 ea. Original issue price $3900. Sold two years later at $5700. They were hot in the 80's along with the large Pandas .Gold was still dropping. Should command a premium.

Someone told me that there may be Fakes. The proof surface in the eyes of the animals is a indicator of a real one.

BigBuffaloGuy

Thank you for the response!

I can't find any information on this coin based on a search for God of Wealth. There is a result for a 1989 God of Wealth coin, but not 1987. The animal eyes are frosty and not proof, so I don't know what the heck I have. This coin came from a customer who has consigned numerous 5oz and 12oz Chinese coins, so I'm thinking it is authentic.

Thanks again for the help.

theboz11

The guy I sold mine too was an expert in the area. Cited a reference book that I can't remember. That was 30 years ago You are probably right on the 1989 date. I would take that as the one you are seeking. I do remember something about minting and Issue dates. I have a reverse photo buried in a drawer, I will look through all those old photos and verify the date. As for the eyes, mine were clearly proof and I deemed all the detail exemplary. It was truly an awesome piece and one I hated to part with. I no longer do Chinese.

I did write to Coin World to verify the weight on the piece, so in their Archives is something about it. I ran across the letter awhile back as I sorted through old papers and I believe I threw it out , as I no longer had the medal.

BigBuffaloGuy

I certainly appreciate the information you have provided! Thanks again.

If anyone else has any information about this coin, please let me know.

Thanks

theboz11

I have the photo,. It is dated 1987.

BigBuffaloGuy

That is not necessary if you are confident they are the same coin. This whole thing is really bizarre as I can't image how the guy who ownes this coin would have obtained a fake example. The animal eyes definately do not appear proof.

theboz11

I will ask you a question. If the Chinese can and will fake silver dollars and The Govoners car coin that had mintages in the thousands, why do you NOT suspect a fake, when unknown to you I owned two real ones that I Described in detail. No need to answer

Edit to add, That may be why that wood box did not have a COA.

Edit 2- Those eyes should blink at you, they are that proof!

sumnom

This is gold bullion as opposed to a coin, yes?

sumnom

I might also add that this looks more like a god of longevity rather than wealth.

theboz11

My OLD mind is about worthless. The God of Longevity usually has the deer standing beside HIM as in the medal. You are correct. It was one of a series that included wealth.

Yes it is a bullion piece like the panda. Limited.

sumnom

Another clue is that the big character on the reverse is "longevity."

cacheman

It shouldn't matter whether it's real or not as long as it contains 5 oz of gold bullion...

theboz11

<< <i>Another clue is that the big character on the reverse is "longevity." >>




That's why I don't do Chinese, I can't read it

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My list of Chinese mint products shows a proof 1987 "God of Longevity gold medal " that weighs 156.25g; mintage of 150. All the other 5 oz. gold coins of that year are Pandas of one sort or another. There is a photo of the 12 oz. gold version at http://www.pandaamerica.com/details.asp?item=7083&grp=1&categ=1.

Is there any possibility this coin is from Taiwan?

Best wishes,
Peter
http://www.pandacollector.com

TwoKopeiki

<< <i>Another clue is that the big character on the reverse is "longevity." >>

BigBuffaloGuy

Thanks for the responses, especially letting me know the official name of the coin. Can anyone add to the comment about the animal eyes always being proof, or was that just for the 1989 God of War and Wealth coin?

Thanks!

theboz11

The coin that I spoke of Is the coin you are showing. My error was calling it Wealth instead of Longevity. I owned two of that one, but the eyes were proof. Just to clarify my ramblings. Sorry that I confused the matter over a 20 year old memory of the medal

As for the mintage, The COA gave a # out of 100, so I would really question where the 150 mintage came from in that reference book, unless the China mint cheated.

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My list for the 5oz gold may be inaccurate, although for the 12oz gold God of Longevity it matches the quantity that PandaAmerica (an official importer) reports. The Chinese Mint revised the mintages of the whole gold Panda series (from 1982 on) earlier this year, so I wouldn't bet the ranch on their numbers.

best wishes,
Peter
www.pandacollector.com

mrearlygold

Will NGC authenticate them and maybe provide a photo cert?

trozau

<< <i>Peter
www.pandacollector.com >>


Nice China Panda website. Good and useful info!

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Thanks; glad you find it useful. It's still expanding; if anyone has a request of what they would like to see on the site, let me know and we'll see if we have any data or resources on it.

Best wishes,
Peter
www.pandacollector.com