The People’s Bank, which governs the creation of coins in China, has announced that because the Panda coins are so popular they will be increasing production. In December, I wrote that the People’s Bank was plannning on a 10-fold increase in production. However, the recent announcement shows a somewhat smaller increase.
The largest increase will be in the 1⁄10 ounce and 1⁄20 ounce gold Pandas with a 4-fold increase. Silver 1 ounce Panda coins will double from last year. Mintages are being reported as follows:
| 2011 Pandas | 2010 Mintage | New Mintage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ounce Gold | 300,000 | 500,000 |
| ½ ounce Gold | 120,000 | 200,000 |
| ¼ ounce Gold | 120,000 | 200,000 |
| 1⁄10 ounce Gold | 120,000 | 600,000 |
| 1⁄20 ounce Gold | 120,000 | 600,000 |
| 1 ounce Silver | 3,000,000 | 6,000,000 |
In some forums, it has been suggested that this increase would mark the fourth generation of the silver Panda coins. One source described the generations as:
| Generation | Weight | Content | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Silver Panda Coins (1983-1985) | 27g | .900 fine | 38.6 mm |
| Sterling Silver Panda (1987) one year issue |
1 troy oz | .925 fine | 40 mm |
| Second Generation (1988-1999) | 1 troy oz | .999 fine | 40 mm |
| Third Generation (2000-2010) Change in artists |
1 troy oz | .999 fine | 40 mm |
| Fourth Generation Increased Production |
1 troy oz | .999 fine | 40 mm |
Some have called silver the investment vehicle for the masses. Silver has a silky color that allows for striking designs to be very visible. Because silver is less dense than gold, a one ounce coin made from silver is larger than a one ounce gold coin. This means there is a larger surface area for beautiful designs, like the silver Panda.
Silver Panda coin image and production data courtesy of CGCI
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