why are Pandas so expensive??

julie43 · January 6, 2012 4:58AM

I have been pricing out Pandas and they seem to go for a lot of money, is this just my imagination? Is there something I am missing or uninformed about? Sorry if this is a dumb question

ambro51 · January 6, 2012 5:07AM

and then too, youre going to have to source a constant supply of bamboo leaves and shoots to feed them. I hear they are really nasty too...the cuteness thing is all an illusion. no, not a dumb question at all. I wondered about that too.........

julie43 · January 6, 2012 5:09AM

I guess I deserved that

Leonidas · January 6, 2012 5:09AM

Design, popularity, changing obverse, low mintage.

pruebas · January 6, 2012 5:10AM

Uh...........maybe demand?

ShinyThingsInPM · January 6, 2012 5:11AM

And 1+ billion population in China alone

julie43 · January 6, 2012 5:18AM

<< Uh...........maybe demand?

>>

I have been out of the game for a while. I was collecting these like crazy 5 years ago. I went through a serious illness and stopped colleting. Just trying to get back into the game. Sorry if I sound stupid

MidLifeCrisis · January 6, 2012 5:21AM

Tough crowd!

D · January 6, 2012 5:22AM

<< Tough crowd! >>

-D

RYK · January 6, 2012 5:28AM

Yes, they are cute. Yes, there are 1 billion Chinese folks who collect them. Yes, this is a tough crowd, and that fact is not new.

I also suspect a Well-Managed Promotion at work.

airplanenut · January 6, 2012 5:29AM

Keep in mind that as China's economy grows, there is a new wealth in China and a lot of national pride. I've sold tons of Pandas recently, and the majority have either gone to China, or for those not going to China, to buyers with Asian names. This money and demand will drive up the prices, and in fact, most Chinese coins have seen strong increases in value recently.

Leonidas · January 6, 2012 5:34AM

You don't sound stupid. This is a US Coin forum. Your post (question) would have been better on the World and Ancient Coin Forum. But the bottom line to your question is;

They're cute little buggers. The obverse changes yearly. They're .999 Silver. There are some earlier date Panda's that have mintages of less that 30,000. Since 2008 the mintages on the bullion peices have multiplied to 6 million. The Commemorative Panda's are very low mintage. Most of the Chinese want these raw, but in original double sealed packages. Not too long ago there was a 1983 Secure Plus PR69DCAM Panda that sold for over $7,000.

There are variety collectors, like VAM collectors. Some Panda's have a large and small date variety (depending on the mint).

OnlyBuffalos · January 6, 2012 5:54AM

Many of the smaller size gold pandas are and have been used in jewelry. All gold sizes have seen their populations reduced by melting. Also the early dates were often treated as bullion and were often stacked and roughly handled. The PCGS populations of most early gold coins for all sizes is less than 50 in MS69 and some are less than 10.

The proof gold pandas all had mintages of 10,000 or less.

The proof silver one ounce coins which were first made in 1983 had mintages of 10,000 for the first three years and are difficult to find without problems. Few exist in PCGS PR69DC condition.

The first business strike one ounce silver panda was issued in 1989 and these and the following issues are not particularly scarce. But since these coins were considered bullion coins, a relatively small number have been preserved.

Only recently have citizens of China been legally allowed to own gold and this may have an impact on the availability of pandas.

mozin · January 6, 2012 7:06AM

I recently sent all my Panda gold coins from the 1980s to PCGS for grading. With the values so high, I felt it was worth it to me. They certainly are a lot easier to handle when in the PCGS holders.

The Chinese Pandas are the most interesting foreign gold pieces that I own. Cute little buggers.

kiyote · January 6, 2012 7:15AM

I have about six of them from the 90s that I bought for twice what silver was going for and thought they expsnsive then. They're a fun group to collect, with the different designs. 'Roos are the same way but koalas are kinda meh.

RYK · January 6, 2012 7:37AM

Don't tell Longacre, but I even have some Pandas put away.

Broadstruck · January 6, 2012 7:43AM

<< and then too, youre going to have to source a constant supply of bamboo leaves and shoots to feed them. I hear they are really nasty too...the cuteness thing is all an illusion. >>

Spkrmakr · January 6, 2012 8:11AM

Panda's are expensive and made in China. I've seen some MS, 1804, US silver dollars also in MS (also made in China) for $30. Go figure!

WoodenJefferson · January 6, 2012 8:30AM

Women like them in jewelery, hence you got to pay more!

coasterfan · January 6, 2012 8:34AM

Clueless question here. Can they be ordered from the China mint?

Coins101 · January 6, 2012 8:36AM

<< Panda's are expensive and made in China. I've seen some MS, 1804, US silver dollars also in MS (also made in China) for $30. Go figure! >>

I was thinking the same thing!

crypto79 · January 6, 2012 9:15AM

Because the meat is so delicious

thisnamztaken · January 6, 2012 9:26AM

<--------- Panda-free and unconcerned about it, although I must say, the live bears themselves sure are cute and cuddly.

Leonidas · January 6, 2012 9:30AM

Because most of all yall are going to vote conservative......even though "conservative" means taking everything and running

Swampboy · January 6, 2012 9:37AM

<< Because most of all yall are going to vote conservative......even though "conservative" means taking everything and running >>

Au contraire. Many forum members are not

<< going to vote conservative >>

they're going to vote
all night with abandon until the last precinct in Chicago closes.

TWQG · January 6, 2012 9:47AM

I buy a silver 1 oz each year. The current price doesn't scare me because I have so little into the set.

sbeverly · January 6, 2012 9:58AM

The Panda coin market is seeing some downward pressure lately.

Spkrmakr · January 6, 2012 10:24AM

I'm going to vote conservative, because I want to still be able to collect COINS!

Absolution · January 6, 2012 10:54AM

I recently purchased a FIRST STRIKE 2011 PCGS MS70 Panda coin. I think I am getting it only because of the cute factor but I think these will go up at the same rate as the 25th Anniversary Silver Eagles.

TwoSides2aCoin · January 6, 2012 11:05AM

...because they're cute and cuddly bears.

Absolution · January 6, 2012 11:06AM

Did you see the 2012 Panda???? OMG SO CUTE lol

smirkingchamp · January 6, 2012 11:59AM

<< Keep in mind that as China's economy grows, there is a new wealth in China and a lot of national pride. I've sold tons of Pandas recently, and the majority have either gone to China, or for those not going to China, to buyers with Asian names. This money and demand will drive up the prices, and in fact, most Chinese coins have seen strong increases in value recently. >>

Hmmm, now that I think about it, I've had similar experiences. I sold Pandas to a couple of folks who may be Asian. Their names were Wa Shing Kah, Chin Tu Fat and Hu Flung Dung.

OnlyBuffalos · January 6, 2012 3:14PM

<< Clueless question here. Can they be ordered from the China mint? >>

The China mint does not sell directly to collectors. The mint only sells to distributors. The USA distributor for Chinese coins is Panda America.

timber100 · January 6, 2012 3:37PM

I have been making an effort to buy american lately and that goes for coins also.

Actually I find nothing at all interesting in the coin design. I would pay bullion for them but why bother when I can get some pretty american AGEs or buffs.

why are Pandas so expensive??

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