The main two gold coins from China are the Panda and the Unicorn. Yet, the more popular and well know Chinese gold coin is the Panda. There is another coins, although a collectors item, called the 2004 Year of the Monkey.

As for the Chinese Panda gold coins, this is the most used by investors because of the standards. Pandas are legal tender coins from China minted in solid gold that’s 99.9% pure, making them among the purest gold coins in the world. First released in 1982, Panda gold coins have been issued each year by the official China Mint in standard sizes of 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/10 and 1/20 ounce. Only in 2002 and 2003 did the designs remain unchanged. For every other year, the China Mint created a fresh, new obverse design.

The Unicorn gold coin, issued in 1986, is legal tender in the People’s Republic of China. Struck by the People’s Bank of China, the obverse (head) depicts a Chinese unicorn – the title of PRC in Chinese and the issuing year, and on the reverse (tail) the Western unicorn. They are 99% pure gold and weigh one twentieth of a troy ounce. The face value is 5 Yuan.

In 2004, China issued gold and silver legal tender Proof coins commemorating the Year of the Monkey. According to the Chinese Lunar Zodiac, those born in the Year of the Monkey have magnetic personalities, are well-liked and clever.

The flower shaped 40mm. 1 oz. pure silver (6,800 made) and 27mm. 1/2 oz. pure gold coins (2,300 minted) feature a monkey on a tree branch. Where as the two monkeys on a tree branch are featured on the 50 x 80mm. rectangular shaped 5 oz. pure silver coins (1,888 minted), and 40 x 64mm. 5 oz. pure gold coins (only 118 made). Because the the limited number of these coins made and the premium above the price of gold, these coins are a collectors item.