This is the most used by investors because of the standards. Pandas are legal tender coins from China minted in solid gold, 99.9% pure, making the coins 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.

Because of the high quality of the gold content, China restricts the number of coins released outside Asia; Panda coins are seldom seen in typical American coin collections. While today, the Panda gold coins trade at relatively small premiums over their gold content, in the past they have enjoyed better than 100% premiums. It’s the collector demand that bumps this coin to heights unseen in other gold bullion coins.

“Please note that the premium over the intrinsic gold value charged on Pandas by the China Mint and sellers is higher than for most other gold bullion coins. In part this is due to the added cost of refining the gold to a purity of 99.99% as well as costs of shipping, handling, and distribution. This slight premium has not diminished the appeal of Panda coins among collectors but rather distinguished the Panda series as the premier gold coin in the world today,” mentioned Austin Coins, a seller of Chinese Panda Gold Coins.