The Panda Coins of China
What Causes Red Spots on Panda Gold Coins?
One of the mysteries of gold Panda coins is, what are those awful red spots that often turn up on them? Some people call them copper spots as copper's nickname is the red metal and it's a natural impurity in gold. Copper is also traditionally mixed with gold to create a harder, more durable alloy. Now a trio of Chinese chemists have done a study of the red spots and found they are actually made up of compounds of silver and sulfur. The presence of silver isn’t surprising as it is often mixed in with gold in nature and may not be completely removed by refining.
Sulfur, though, is the contaminant that turns your old newspapers yellow. It’s also a component of smog, spewed from power plants that run on fuel oil or coal. In one of the researchers’ tests gold coins were exposed to a sulfur-laden atmosphere. The gas reacted with silver impurities on the coin’s surface to produce red spots.*
This means that every effort should be taken to reduce the contact between gold Pandas and air, particularly polluted air (which seems to be nearly everywhere these days, doesn’t it?).
P.S. There is a lively discussion on this research at CoinTalk. Unfortunately, from my perspective, it sidetracked into what fineness gold could be purified to in ancient times.
2010 Panda Silver Date Varieties
Large and Small Date varieties among 2010 10 Yuan silver Pandas have been spotted. The Large Dates are distinguished by larger numerals and larger lettering that is placed closer to the coin rim than it is on the Small Dates. Other differences have also been reported. The Large Dates were reportedly struck at the Shenyang Mint in Northern China while the Small Dates come from the Shenzhen GuoBao Mint facility. It is uncertain at the present time which, if either, is the scarcer variety. Some Panda date varieties from prior years are accorded large premiums by collectors. (hat tip to Chinese Coin Forum)
Click to enlarge
2010 Small and Large Date Silver Pandas
Red lines added to highlight distance.
China Gold and Silver News
NGC (Numismatic Guarantee Corporation) provided on-site coin grading and authentication at the 2010 Hong Kong International Money Exhibition. See photos from the exciting August 22-26, 2010 Show.
"...we visited a Bank of China branch. There were 77 teller windows. In the central foyer was a display case with gold and silver coins for sale, as if they were pens or tote bags..."(Before Its News)
"Sales of gold bars have doubled..." (Business insider)
"The potential for gold buying in this nation of 1.4 billion people... is tremendous..." (Gold Forecaster)
2010 MS-70 Pandas: Too much of a Good Thing?
MS-70 means a coin is flawless, without imperfection. In past years very few Chinese Panda coins have achieved this exalted grade. Lately, though, a lot of MS-70 2010 silver Pandas have come onto the market. Are these as desirable as the earlier years?
MS-70 silver B.U. Pandas have often been good investments due to their rarity. For instance a 1989 1 oz. B.U. silver Panda graded (continued)
Panda Brochure Gallery
Click image to enlarge:
1982
1982 Brochure courtesy of Richard Nachbar Rare Coins
1983
1983 Brochure courtesy of Richard Nachbar Rare Coins
1985
1985 Brochure courtesy of Leon AKA Toonfan34
1988
1989
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