Homepage / Bullion Coins: Chinese Coins / 30 gram & (1 oz.) - Chinese Silver Panda

Last Updated on 10/14/2024

Chinese Silver Panda 
Bullion Coin

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30-gram & (1 oz.)

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1983 - Present

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The Chinese Panda bullion coins are officially known in China as the "Panda Precious Metal Commemorative Coins;" the coins have undergone numerous design changes, and all are explained in-depth on this page.

In 1983, one year after the Chinese started to mint the Gold Panda Bullion coins, they introduced the Silver Panda coin as a proof coin.

The 1983, 1984, and 1985 Silver Panda coins had a maximum mintage of 10,000; the coin contained 900 silver, had a diameter of 38.6 mm, and weighed only 27 grams.

There were no Silver Pandas minted in 1986.

In 1987, the Chinese brought back the Silver Panda, but as a way to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Chinese Gold Panda bullion coin.   This coin had a limited mintage of 31,000, and it was the first Silver Panda coin to contain 999 pure silver, it had a diameter of 40mm, and weigh 1 oz. (troy ounce).

There were no Silver Pandas minted in 1988.

In 1989, the bullion version of the Chinese Silver Panda bullion coin debuted; mass production began this year to meet customer demand.

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Large & Small Dated
Chinese Silver Pandas

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From 1989 to 2001, two Chinese mints produced the 1oz Silver Panda bullion coin; each mint had slightly different dies for minting the coin's obverse, which caused slight variations to the bullion coin's "year of issue."

The Shenyang Mint produced a 'Small Date' with skinny, short numbers with wide spacing, while the Shanghai Mint produced a 'Large Date' with taller, thicker, more compact numbers.

The size difference in the coin's "year of issue" ended in 2001.

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Obverse Design Changes
Chinese Silver Panda

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Reverse Design Changes
Chinese Silver Panda

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1989 - 1991

1989 is the first year of the bullion version of the Chinese Silver Panda coin.

When the Chinese Silver Panda bullion coin was introduced, its weight, metal content, purity, and face value were inscribed on the reverse side in Chinese and in English.

1989-P, Proof version

In 1989, in addition to introducing the Chinese Silver Panda bullion coin, the Chinese released a proof version of the coin.

The proof versions of the silver coin had a "Circled P" mint mark on its reverse side, indicating the coin was a Proof coin; the coin also had a limited mintage. 

(Note: The Chinese introduced the Gold Panda proof coin in 1986)

1992 - 2014

In 1992, the Chinese removed the inscriptions that were in the Chinese language for the coin's weight, metal content, purity, and face value.

2001-D

In an attempt to control imports and exports to and from China, the Chinese placed the special "D" mint mark indicating these coins were to be sold only to those living in mainland China.  However, the coin is available on the secondary market.

The 2001-D version of the Chinese Panda bullion coin was only available in gold and silver; the special mint mark "D" is believed to represent "Domestic," although its exact meaning has not been confirmed.

The 2001-D Chinese Panda bullion coin was exclusively produced in that year by Shenzhen National Treasure Mint Co., Ltd.; unfortunately, its mintage figures are currently unavailable.

Despite being manufactured by only one mint, two versions of the "D" special mint mark on the bullion coins were minted. One version was made with a Large "D" and the other with a Small "D." 

The photo to the right displays the two versions.

Special mint mark "D" Chinese Panda source: CHNGC article (translator needed)

2014 - 2015

The 2014 and 2015 Chinese Silver Panda bullion coins both weigh "1oz," both contain "Ag" (silver), and both have a silver purity of "999" however, the 2014 Chinese Silver Panda was the last Silver Panda bullion coin to have these inscriptions on its reverse side.

In 2015, all gold and silver panda bullion coins had their reverse inscriptions erased except for their face value. (Photo - below right)

The Chinese gave no indication they were going to remove the inscriptions before they did so, and they gave little information regarding the removal, as stated in this 2014 CoinWorld article: 2015 Panda coins lack inscriptions for weight, metal, fineness.

Removing the inscriptions for the coin's weight, metal content, and purity put many dealers and investors on edge because it made it easier for counterfeiters to reproduce the coin.

Gold and silver Chinese panda bullion coins are among the most counterfeited bullion coins in the world.

The changes to the 2015 Chinese Panda bullion coins lasted for only one year because the Chinese planned for bigger changes to come to the bullion coins in 2016.

Reverse Inscriptions,
Ounces to Grams - 2016 to Present

In 2016, the Chinese Gold Coin Corporation (CHNGC) changed the weight of all their precious metal bullion coins, including the Chinese Panda, from troy ounces to grams.

The Chinese government made the change from ounces to grams to make it easier for the average Chinese citizen to purchase the bullion coins; as stated in the excerpt below, taken from a Chinese Gold Coin Corporation (CHNGC) article, explains this:

"...especially for the Chinese people who are not professional collectors, replacing "ounces" with "grams" is undoubtedly applauded"

"Ounce" is a very obscure word in the eyes of the Chinese people, such as 1/3 ounce, 1/10 ounce and 1/20 ounce gold and silver coins, and if the value is calculated according to the market price of gold and silver, these are very vague in the eyes of the common people, even if the relationship between ounces and grams is finally understood, it is still necessary to go through a complex conversion and calculation to get the result."

Source: Chinese Gold Coin Corporation (CHNGC) - Analysis Edition Panda gold and silver commemorative coins 2016 outlook

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Design of the
Chinese Silver Panda
1989 to 2014

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Obverse

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Displayed in the center of the obverse side on the 1 oz silver bullion coin is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the largest building in the Temple of Heaven, located in Beijing, China.

Inscriptions:

• 中 華 人 民 共 和 國  ("People's Republic of China")
• Year of Issue

Obverse coin image provided courtesy of Walmart

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Reverse

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All Chinese Panda bullion coins receive a new design of a Chinese Panda every year, the design above is from the 2014 silver bullion coin.

Inscriptions:

• 10元 - (10 Yuan)
• 1oz
• Ag
• .999
  

The edge of the 1oz. silver bullion coin is reeded.

Reverse coin image provided courtesy of Walmart

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1989 - 2014
1 oz. Silver Panda
Coin Information:

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Design of the
Chinese Silver Panda
2015

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Obverse

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Displayed in the center of the obverse side on the 1 oz. silver bullion coin is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.

Inscriptions:

• 中 華 人 民 共 和 國 (meaning "People's Republic of China")
• Year of Issue

Obverse coin image provided courtesy of Walmart

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Reverse

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The reverse side of the 2015 Chinese Silver Panda bullion coin displays a Giant Panda sitting, eating bamboo, with bamboo stalks standing behind it.

In 2015, the Chinese removed the weight inscription from the reverse side of the bullion coin. 

Despite removing the inscriptions, the 2015 silver bullion coins retained its original weight (1 troy ounce), metal content (Ag - silver), and purity (999) as the previously minted Chinese Silver Panda bullion coins.

Inscriptions:

• 10元 - (10 Yuan)

Reverse coin image provided courtesy of Walmart

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2015
1 oz. Silver Panda
Coin Information:

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Design of the
Chinese Silver Panda
2016 to Present

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Obverse

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Displayed in the center of the Chinese Silver Panda bullion coin is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.

Inscriptions:

• "中 華 人 民 共 和 國"  (People's Republic of China)
• Year of Issue
  

The edge of the bullion coin is reeded.

Coin Photo provided courtesy of the Chinese Gold Coin Corporation

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Reverse

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Every year, all Chinese Panda bullion coins receive a new design of a Chinese Panda.

The reverse side of the 2024 Chinese Silver Panda bullion coin depicts a mother panda with her cub.

Inscriptions:

• 30g
• Ag
• .999
• 10元 - (10 Yuan)
  

Coin Photo provided courtesy of the Chinese Gold Coin Corporation

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2016 - Present
30 gram Silver Panda
Coin Information:

Silver Content:.......30g (.9645 troy oz)

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1 oz. & 30 gram
Chinese Silver Panda Bullion Coins
& Mintage Figures

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1983 - Present

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In 1983, one year after the Chinese started to mint the Gold Panda Bullion coins, they introduced the Silver Panda coin as a proof coin

The 1983, 1984, and 1985 Silver Panda coins had a maximum mintage of 10,000; the coin contained 900 silver, had a diameter of 38.6 mm, and weighed only 27 grams.

There were no Silver Pandas minted in 1986.

In 1987, the Chinese brought back the Silver Panda, but as a way to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Chinese Gold Panda bullion coin.   This coin had a limited mintage of 31,000, and it was the first Silver Panda coin to contain 999 pure silver, it had a diameter of 40mm, and weigh 1 oz. (troy ounce).

There were no Silver Pandas minted in 1988.

In 1989, the bullion version of the Chinese Silver Panda bullion coin debuted; mass production began this year to meet customer demand.

Note: These sentences are found at the top of this page.

Year      Mintage

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1983....10,000 (proof)

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1984....10,000 (proof)

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1985....10,000 (proof)

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1987....31,000 (proof)

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1989....255,000  (bullion coin debut)

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1990....200,000

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1991....100,000

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1992....100,000

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1993....120,000

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1994....100,000

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1995....168,000

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1996....100,000

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1997....600,000

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1998....250,000

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1999....unknown

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2000....Shanghai Mint - Mirrored Obverse.....29,000

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2000.... Shenyang Mint - Frosted Obverse.....140,000

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2001....500,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2002....500,000

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2003....600,000

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2004....600,000

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2005....600,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2006....600,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2007....600,000

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2008....600,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2009....600,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2010....1,500,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2011....6,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2012....8,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2013....8,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2014....8,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2015....8,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

Available at BGASC (while supplies last)

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2016....8,000,000

Available at BGASC (while supplies last)

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2017....10,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

Available at BGASC (while supplies last)

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2018....10,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

Available at BGASC (while supplies last)

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2019....10,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

Available at BGASC (while supplies last)

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2020....10,000,000

Available at BGASC (while supplies last)

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2021....10,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

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2022....10,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

Available at BGASC (while supplies last)

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2023....10,000,000

Available at Walmart (while supplies last)

Available at BGASC (while supplies last)

Available at SD Bullion (while supplies last)

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2024....10,000,000

Available from one of our Reputable Dealers

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