Home› World & Ancient Coins Forum

2 down, 1 to go on the "Big 3" proof silver pandas.

gecko109gecko109 Posts: 8,231 ✭
in World & Ancient Coins Forum
The Chinese silver panda series began in 1983, just a year after the gold panda series started. During the first 3 years, the silver pandas were produced in proof only and in mintages of 10,000 for each year. The coins carry a denomination of 10 Yuan on the panda side of the coin, but do not indicate the composition, weight, or fineness. Each of these first 3 issues weighs 27 grams of .900 silver. A unique characteristic shared by these first 3 years is the "coin orientation" of the pieces rather than the "medal orientation" that all subsequent pandas display. Unfortunately, due to the rise in prices of these highly collectable coins, rampant counterfeiting has begun to pose a problem. Most of the fakes are easy to spot, but they are getting much more sophisticated. I reccomend only buying slabbed pieces unless you are truly an expert in the series. I have recently aquired the 1984 coin, and along with my 1985 I now only need the 1983. Here are my 2 coins.

1984
image

1985
image

Comments

  • DorkGirlDorkGirl Posts: 9,994 ✭✭✭
    Man, when you jump in, you go with both feet.....imageimage

    It seems like I collect everything but Pandas. I worry about the fakes....image
    Becky
  • zeebobzeebob Posts: 2,825 ✭
    The new lower metal prices should help you in your quest for pandas! Nice photo in the first post!

    Cheers,

    Bob
  • ccrdragonccrdragon Posts: 2,697 ✭
    I have the '83, '84 and '85 that I purchased years ago in the original mint packaging. good luck in your quest!!
    Cecil
    Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
    'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
  • coinsarefuncoinsarefun Posts: 21,740 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Its Pandamoniumimage And I'm happy to have been captured by these little guy'simage



    And those little bears can be quite expensive....congrat's






    Stefanie
    CoinsAreFun Pictorials Album
    .
    CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
    .
    Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
    .
    More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
  • gecko109gecko109 Posts: 8,231 ✭


    << <i>Its Pandamoniumimage And I'm happy to have been captured by these little guy'simage



    And those little bears can be quite expensive....congrat's






    Stefanie >>




    Yes they can be EXPENSIVE Steph!!! The 2 pictured above would cost about $500 and $800 respectively. Thats quite a bit of change for 27 grams of silver x 2!
  • TypeCollectorTypeCollector Posts: 76
    "Big 3" bullion imageimageimage
  • gecko109gecko109 Posts: 8,231 ✭


    << <i>"Big 3" bullion imageimageimage >>




    Many people routinely buy and sell the 1995-W American silver eagle at around $4500. Just bullion, right? In fact, here is a tiny tidbit for you. If you combined all of the first 3 years of the silver panda mintages, you would still have fewer coins than that "ultra rare" 1995-W.image And all three of these "Big 3" bullion pieces can currently be had for about HALF the price of that "rare" silver eagle. Still laughing? Just wait another 15-20 years when there will be over a million very affluent Chinese collectors all scrambling after 10,000 each of these "Big 3" bullion pieces. Then I will be the one doing this...image
  • TypeCollectorTypeCollector Posts: 76
    "Big 3" bullion imageimageimage >>




    << <i>Still laughing? >>

    I'm now laughing even more than before...thanks for the "tidbits" and the education image

    Seems to me that P.T. Barnum may have summed it up...what was it he said?

    Don't worry, I'll bet there will be plenty to go around...Some creative Chinese fellows have probably already substantially increased the "official" mintage of the "Big 3" and will continue as long as they sell for stupid money imageimageimageimageimage
  • gecko109gecko109 Posts: 8,231 ✭


    << <i>"Big 3" bullion imageimageimage >>




    << <i>Still laughing? >>

    I'm now laughing even more than before...thanks for the "tidbits" and the education image

    Seems to me that P.T. Barnum may have summed it up...what was it he said?

    Don't worry, I'll bet there will be plenty to go around...Some creative Chinese fellows have probably already substantially increased the "official" mintage of the "Big 3" and will continue as long as they sell for stupid money imageimageimageimageimage >>




    Hey, look....you are wrong AGAIN!image P.T. Barnum never said......"that". Have a wonderful weekend.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There's_a_sucker_born_every_minute
  • TypeCollectorTypeCollector Posts: 76
    Whatever; still stupid $ for bullion, but have fun.
Sign In or Register to comment.