2003 5 oz Silver Panda

In 2003, the People's Bank of China decided to re-issue 5 oz Silver Panda coins. This time, the design for the 5 oz Silver Panda is same as its 1 oz version except that it is proof struck.

2006 5 oz Silver Panda

The 2006 5 oz Silver Panda is the fourth year of issue of the 5 oz Silver Panda. For this year, there is a new packaging for the coin.

Commemorative 5 oz Silver Panda for the 30th Anniversary Issuance of Chinese Panda Gold Coin

The People's Bank of China marks the 30th Anniversary of Issuance of the Chinese Panda Gold Coin with a series of gold and and silver commemorative Panda coins.

This 5 oz Silver Panda is one of the Panda coins issued by People's Bank of China and minted by Shanghai Mint. While it has the highest mintage that 5 oz Silver Panda coins ever had at 30,000, it is still lower than the 50,000 regular 5 oz Silver Panda that is issued for 2012. 

Reverse

Obverse

Outer Box

Inner Case

The Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for 2012 Panda coins has been given a new design. Instead of a single slip of water-marked paper, it is now a cover with a hole specially designed to show the picture of the Temple of Heaven. Such a design will definitely increase the cost of production for counterfeit crooks.

Certificate of Authenticity (COA)

New design of COA

2004 5 oz Silver Panda

The 2004 5 oz Silver Panda is the second year of issue for 5 oz Silver Panda coins starting from 2003. It started off with a simple case and the coin was double-sealed. 

Top of Box

Original Mint Packaging of Double-Sealed Coin with COA

Bottom of Box

Certificate of Authenticity 

Reverse

Obverse

2012 Chinese Panda Coin

The 2012 Chinese Panda coins would be issued on 30 November 2011. Like in 2011, there would be 7 gold and 3 silver panda coins for 2012.

The planned maximum mintage is as follows, previous year mintage in ( ):

GOLD

1 kilo: 500 (200)

5oz: 5,000 (2,000) 

1oz: 600,000 (300,000) 

1/2oz:600,000 (200,000) 

1/4oz:600,000 (200,000) 

1/10oz: 800,000 (200,000) 

1/20oz:800,000 (200,000)
 
SILVER

1 kilo: 20,000 (8,000)

5oz: 50,000 (20,000)

2012 1oz Silver Panda Rev

1oz:8,000,00 (3,000,000)

The Panda coins will be produced by Shen Zhen Guo Bao, Shen Yang and Shanghai Mint. It would be interesting to see how many varieties are there for this issue.

There weren't any varieties discovered but NGC came out with a variety of labels -
The Early Release Blue Label,  First Release Panda Label, Early Release Panda Label, Early Release Country Label and Early Release Great Wall Label (not in picture). Given the mintage of 8 million, top graded coins would be the way to go for Chinese Silver Panda coins now. Number of MS70 graded by NGC stands at 17,310 (26 Oct 2013)

2008 5 oz Silver Panda Coin

2008 5 oz Proof Silver Panda Reverse

2008 5 oz Proof Silver Panda Obverse

2008 5 oz Proof Silver Panda COA

Total NGC graded: 289

PF70 (52); PF69 (228); PF68 (1); PF67 (4); PF66 (2); PF65 (0); PF64 (1); PF63 (1)

2011 5 oz Silver Panda Coin

The new box has one restrainer instead of 2

COA shows mintage of 20,000

'2011' is struck with thicker fonts

Position of the '50 Yuan' is lower than that of 2010

2011 Chinese Panda Coin

The 2011 Chinese Panda coins would be issued on 10 December 2010. Like in 2010, there would be 7 gold and 3 silver panda coins for 2011.

The planned maximum mintage is as follows, previous year mintage in ( ):

2011 1 oz Gold Panda Reverse

2011 1 oz Gold Panda Obverse

GOLD

1 kilo: 300 (200)

5oz: 2,000 (1,000)

1oz: 300,000 (300,000)

1/2oz: 200,000 (120,000)

1/4oz: 200,000 (120,000)

1/10oz: 200,000 (120,000)

1/20oz: 200,000 (120,000)

2011 1 oz Silver Panda Reverse

2011 1 oz Silver Panda Obverse

SILVER

1 kilo: 8,000 (4,000)

5oz: 20,000 (10,000)

1oz: 3,000,00 (800,000)

The Panda coins will be produced by Shen Zhen Guo Bao, Shen Yang and Shanghai Mint. It would be interesting to see how many varieties are there for this issue.

In addition, from internet pictures, it seems that the stone sculpture on the centre stair way has become plain like the temple design used before 2002. Let's get the real thing to see for ourselves.

Total NGC graded: 13,455 (as of 18 Dec 2011)

MS70 (6,805); MS69 (6,650)

2010 5 oz Chinese Silver Panda (Coin Specifications)

The Certificate of Authenticity (COA) in blue fonts

2010 5 oz Chinese Silver Panda Obverse

2010 5 oz Chinese Silver Panda Reverse

2010 5 oz Chinese Silver Panda

The usual blue and grey cardboard box

The 2010 version has a plastic bag covering the wooden case

The inside of the 2010 is quite different too. It has some soft packing material to protect the capsule and also silica gel to keep it dry.

The coin unwrapped

2009 5 oz Chinese Silver Panda (Coin Specifications)

Coin Specifications

Diameter - 70 mm

Weight (including capsule) - 187.7 g or 6.035 oz.t

Face Value - 50 Yuan

Fineness - 99.9%

Finish - Proof

Maximum mintage - 10,000

The Certificate of Authenticity (COA)

Counterfeit coin makers have become more advanced and more informed in printing COAs. Not only they align the correct name of the Governor of The People's Bank of China but also included the water mark on the paper, which shows a sitting Panda. However, the genuine water mark has slight imprint on the paper and that is probably the only difference.

2009 5 oz Chinese Silver Panda Obverse

2009 5 oz Chinese Silver Panda Reverse

As seen from above, the coin is housed in a special inter-locking capsule that locks and unlocks by turning.

2009 5 oz Chinese Silver Panda

5 oz Silver Panda coins were first issued in 1987 to 1995. During the first period of issue, the 5 oz version had a different design from the 1 oz version. The second period of 5 oz Silver Panda coins resumed in 2003. This time the 5 oz version has the same design as the 1 oz version except that it was proof struck.

A blue and white cardboard box

A brass hinged wooden case

The 5 oz coin housed in the wooden case with the COA

2010 Chinese Panda Coin (Shenzhen Guobao v.s. Shenyang Mint) Part 2

This post highlights the remaining difference:

Shenyang Mint produced

Shenzhen Guobao Mint produced

• The digit '2' on the Shenyang Mint product has a thicker horizontal line.
• The year '2010' on the Shenzhen Mint product tend to be further from the rim, hence, can be known as by the common term for Panda coins - Small Date.

2010 Chinese Panda Coin (Shenzhen Guobao v.s. Shenyang Mint)

As mentioned earlier, there are at least 2 variations of the 2010 Silver Panda coin. This post highlights 2 areas of differences:

Shenyang Mint produced

Shenzhen Guobao Mint produced

Differences:

1) Fur on the neck of left panda

2) Fur on the hind leg of right panda

3) Paws of the right panda

4) Bamboo background of the Shenzhen product tends to be more frosty

Shenyang Mint produced

Shenzhen Guobao Mint produced

Difference:

1) Shenzhen product has thicker fonts than Shenyang