Collectable Gold 1oz Panda coins from China in pre-owned condition. Offered at low premiums over the live gold price.
Obverse
Each obverse shows Beijing's famous Temple of Heaven, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. The year date and '中华人民共和国' (People's Republic of China) complete the legend.
Reverse
The reverse will show a variation of a design of Chinese Panda(s), depending on the year issued. The denomination, metal fineness and size make up the legend.
Specification
31.13 grams of 0.999 fine gold. Diameter: 32.00 millimetres. Face value: 100 Yuan / 100元 (1982-2000) / 500 Yuan / 500元 (2001-2015).
Presentation
Issued loose in bullion condition. May show slight signs of wear, which is perfectly normal for mass-produced coins and won't affect their precious metal value.
Buy Gold Pandas
Although gold Pandas command slightly higher premiums than Krugerrands and Britannias, it hasn't deterred both collectors and investors from acquiring them. Each annual issue features a unique obverse which enhances their appeal compared to other bullion coins.
All these pre-owned Pandas are carefully inspected and tested to ensure they meet the required standard for bullion coins. Being from our best value range, they may have signs of slight wear and tear, but we guarantee they will contain exactly one troy ounce of pure gold.
Gold Pandas are popular with collectors and the earlier dates can be difficult to obtain. If you're looking for a particular date we recommend you get in touch with us so we can check our stock. It's not uncommon for pre-2000 Gold 1oz Pandas to have some slight blemishes; unfortunately we cannot pick out individual dates or grades in our best value range.
What Gold Pandas Are There?
Gold Pandas made their bow on the bullion coin market in 1982, with China becoming the third nation to issue troy ounce gold bullion coins. 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz and 1/10oz coins were initially released, with a 1/20oz edition following in 1983. Their release sparked a frenzy, which peaked in the late 1980s and the popularity of the range has endured today. Silver, platinum and palladium editions are also available in a range of sizes.
Each 1oz Panda is struck 0.999 fine gold, which sharp observers will spot is one '9' less than post-1982 Gold Maples and post-2012 British Britannias. They weigh 31.13 grams and measure 32.00 millimetres in diameter. The Panda's face value depends on the year of issue as they were denominated in 2001. See the tables below for a list of the full specifications:
Ounce Gold Pandas Specifications 1982-2016
| Size |
Face Value (1982-2000) |
Face Value (2001-2015) |
Total Weight |
Diameter |
| 1oz |
¥100 |
¥500 |
31.13g |
32.00mm |
| 1/2oz |
¥50 |
¥200 |
15.56g |
27.00mm |
| 1/4oz |
¥25 |
¥100 |
7.78g |
22.00mm |
| 1/10oz |
¥10 |
¥50 |
3.12g |
18.00mm |
| 1/20oz |
¥5 |
¥20 |
1.56g |
14.00mm |
Metric Gold Pandas 2016 Onwards
| Size |
Face Value |
Actual Gold Weight |
Diameter |
| 30g |
¥500 |
0.9645oz |
32.00mm |
| 15g |
¥200 |
0.4823oz |
27.00mm |
| 8g |
¥100 |
0.2572oz |
22.00mm |
| 3g |
¥50 |
0.0965oz |
18.00mm |
| 1g |
¥20 |
0.0322oz |
10.00mm |
Advantages Of Buying Gold Pandas
Of all the bullion coins you can buy, the Chinese gold Panda makes a great addition to any gold stack, coin collection or investment portfolio. A number of reasons to acquire these popular coins are:
- Popularity - Unique designs every year enhance their collectability
- Cost - Gold Pandas are priced close to the live gold price
- Liquid asset - Pandas are prized by coin collectors and are easily sold on
- Authenticity - The 1oz gold Panda is legal currency in China
- Physical asset - A one ounce gold Panda coin is a physical, tangible asset. You can touch it, hold it and store it wherever you like
- VAT free - These qualify as investment gold under HMRC rules, which makes them exempt from VAT
What Is The Chinese Mint?
The mintage of coinage in the People's Republic of China is under the ultimate authority of the People's Bank of China. In terms of Chinese precious metal coinage, the China Gold Coin Incorporation (CGCI) is the state-owned company responsible for the designing, production and distribution of them. It's an official subsidiary of the People's Bank of China and they issue precious metal coins on their behalf. Without doubt their most famous product is the Panda, available in a range of metals, sizes and finishes.
Several mints across mainland China are tasked with minting Panda coins, with the most well-known being Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Shenzhen. In contrast to branch mints in America and the former British Empire, Chinese mints do not place mintmarks on their coins. Numismatists have examined minor variations on the coins issued by certain mints in China which can determine their origin.
Domestically, CGCI is responsible for the distribution of gold and silver Panda coins. For the international market, the company is represented by a number of subsidiaries.
Why are Pandas Metric?
Precious metals are primarily traded in troy ounces in the Anglosphere, with the LBMA providing its daily price fixes measured per troy ounce. In addition, most modern bullion coins around the world are issued in troy ounces as standard. However, most retail bullion bars are issued in metric weights and when dealing with scrap gold and silver the quotes are nearly always based on a rate per gram.
In 2016, the People's Bank of China announced the Panda bullion coin range would be changed from being officially weighed in troy ounces to being weighed in grams. From the Chinese perspective they had been marketing Pandas domestically in grams since the previous year, and decided to take the step to market them in grams worldwide. It's a superficial difference to the coins, as the metric denominations of the post-2015 coins are all suspiciously close to the previous troy ounce units. Bullion coins issued by rival mints across the world still overwhelmingly use troy ounces to measure their coins, with the one ounce size being the most popular.
Interestingly, the metric pandas could be interpreted as a 'shrinkflation' ploy, as the weights were rounded down for four out of the five main coins. But no profiteering from this change was realised as bullion panda coins are generally sold at a percentage premium above the live precious metal price.
Sell Gold Pandas
Chinese Pandas are in high demand, especially earlier dates and we offer very competitive rates for your gold and silver Panda coins. If you're interested in selling Panda coins then check out our Sell Your Coins page on our website. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us by telephone or email or you can even visit our showroom in Royal Wootton Bassett in person. No appointment necessary.
Buy and sell coins with confidence when you use The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.
Buy Collectable Coins Online
We offer a wide range of collectable and investment coins in pre-owned and brand-new condition. As our name suggests, we focus on British coins (from hammered metal-detecting finds to modern Royal Mint issues) with a healthy selection of pieces from international mints too. All the coins we sell are 100% guaranteed authentic and, where relevant, are individually certified.
The Britannia Coin Company is part of the Gold-Traders group, founded in 2008. We're members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) and pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity and expertise.
You're guaranteed a fully protected service when you buy online with The Britannia Coin Company. Our payment process is fully encrypted, preventing unauthorised access to your personal and financial details. Check your browser bar for the trusted padlock symbol: it's a mark of security.
Free And Insured UK Shipping
The price of all our coins includes free, fully insured UK shipping.
We post most orders within one to three working days of receipt. Please check individual product pages for accurate delivery estimates.
We deliver internationally. All payments are to be made in Pounds Sterling. We have a flat rate international shipping charge of just £15. See our dedicated delivery page for exceptions and further information.
Sell Your Coins With Confidence
Our experts want to make selling your coins a stress-free experience. They're ready to provide transparent valuations for your old coins: whether that's an individual piece or a large collection.
The team buys thousands of coins every month via our postal valuation service. It's a safe and easy way to sell coins from home with payment via bank transfer available the same day you confirm our price.
If you'd prefer to visit us in person, we've got secure, private meeting rooms in our offices at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AE. We recommend calling ahead to book an appointment or check out one of our specialist drop-in valuation days.
Visit Our Wiltshire Showroom
If you're looking for a bargain then why not visit our showroom? We've got lots of great discount coins available in our cabinets at Old Bank Antiques.
From circulating £2s and 50ps to world coins, commemorative sets and new releases to ancients, we've got something for everyone. Make sure you save time to browse the glass, ceramics, jewellery, clocks and militaria on display in the rest of the shop, located at 143 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AB.
You won't find our full range on display in our showroom but if there is something particular you would like to examine then please do get in touch. We're pleased to arrange a private viewing appointment at a time that suits you.
Contact Our Coin Experts Now
Got questions about buying or selling coins? Our friendly team of numismatists (coin experts) are ready to assist with valuations, offers, postage enquiries, and more.
Call our enquiries line on 01793 205 007 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Drop us a line at coins@britanniacoincompany.com.
Message us using our live chat feature (that's the green button, found at the bottom right of this page).
Visit us at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4 7AB (we recommend checking our location map before you set out).
