1989 Chinese Historical Figures Silver Set

Exterior of Box

Interior of Box

忽必烈
Kublai Khan (1215 - 1294) Yuan Dynasty
Emperor of China (1260 - 1294)
'10-Spear Version'

'7-Spear Version'

關漢卿
Guan Han Qing (1225 - 1302) Yuan Dynasty
Playwright and Poet

郭守敬
Guo Shou Jing (1231 - 1316) Yuan Dynasty
Astronomer, Hydraulic Engineer, Mathematician

黄道婆
Huang Dao Po (1245 - 1330) Yuan Dynasty
Developed weaving technology in early Chinese textile industry

1989 Silver Proof Panda

1989 is the first year of issue of the BU Silver Panda coin. Hence, the design of the Proof and BU versions are only differentiated by the 'P' mint mark besides the proof finishes. The Panda on the Proof version tends to be frosty compared to the BU although there were also frosty versions found on the BU types.

Planned and Actual Mintage: 25,000

Average Transacted Prices (Jan - Nov 2010):

Coin in capsule - S$103.27 (US$48.83) (2)

Coin in capsule with Box - S$96.91 (US$65.00) (2)

Coin in capsule with COA & Box - S$124.67 (US$86.47) (3)

Double sealed coin - S$96.02 (US$62.50) (6)

Double sealed coin with COA - S$120.36 (US$84.00) (2)

Double sealed coin with COA & Box - S$102.33 (US$65.26) (4)

The potential of the 1989 version could have been reached with prices more than doubled in November from US$46 to US$122 for a doubled sealed coin with COA. Price of around US$100 would be a good buy for a set with COA and Box.

NGC PF69 UCAM - S$159.74 (US$100)

PCGS PR68 DCAM - S$83.87 (US$46)

PCGS PR69 DCAM - S$128.31 (US$82.72) (4)

Do not that prices for the graded coins were from first half of 2010. No transactions could be tracked for second half of the year.

1989 Chinese Silver Panda

1989 Chinese Silver Panda Obverse

1989 Chinese Silver Panda Reverse

The 1989 Chinese Silver Panda was issued with the following denominations:

1 oz.t 40mm 10 Yuan BU 255,000

1 oz.t 40mm 10 Yuan Proof 25,000

5 oz.t 70mm 50 Yuan Proof 10,000

12 oz.t 80mm 100 Yuan Proof 6,000

Total NGC Graded: 1,354

MS70 (4); MS69 (727); MS68 (374); MS67 (188); MS66 (43); MS65 (12); MS64 (5); MS63 (1)

Highest Certified: NGC PF69/PCGS PR69 DCAM

The 1989 version was the very first issue of BU Silver Panda coins. It could be due to inexperience of the mints, the capsule containing the coin is not adequately thick hence resulted in many Panda forehead getting rubs. It is said that the 1989 version also has a frosty version but I have yet to get one in my hands. According to Mr. Ge Zu Kang's catalogue, the actual mintage for 1 oz.t is 250,000.

Average Transacted Price in ebay (Jun - Dec 2009) (Shipped):

1 oz.t - S$60.27

1 oz.t - S$120.15 (Proof COA)

5 oz.t - S$272.30 (COA)

12 oz.t - S$626.66 (COA)