1oz Pure Silver Coins - Country By Country

This one has a nice design

The pictures are my own (the watermark is from the ebay account my wife and I run). A makeshift diffuser box my wife built out of broken blinds and a white pillowcase + my desk lamp provided the lighting, and I used my Olympus Pen for the photos. Hop on over to the Canadian NCLT forum and you'll see some real nice pictures by other forum members. I'm only scratching the surface.

Will get around to other countries when I've got some time.

poboxw,
I really like what the RCM has done for bullion. Their designs are top notch, except for that 2012 Cougar. IMHO.
The thread idea is great for the novice to understand the specifics of what they are about to collect. As well as the ones who have been collecting bullion for a while. I myself enjoyed reading this thread, and by all means keep up the good work. It benefits us all.

There are so many interesting coins coming out of so many mints around the world, it's sorta staggering! I could never collect all the ones I like. Maybe I'll finally break down and start picking up the Britannias.

2nd installment: China and the Panda



Chinese Silver Panda
Composition: 999 Ag
Size: 40.00 mm x ~2.37 mm
Face Value: $10 CYN
Mintage: varying - lowest ~1,000s (2000 variety), highest ~6,000,000 (2011 target), most around 20,000 - 200,000
Date of first issuance: 1987
Mint: Chinese Mint (Shenyang and Shanghai branches)

China began planning a bullion coin in the 70s and gave collectors something to drool over in 1982, when the first Gold Panda was issued. The first Pandas did not have a face value since the arguably thousand years of tradition in using weighted (in Liang or Tael) gold and silver boats and pieces as currency required no further assignment of value for the Chinese. Face values were later assigned mainly to placate foreign collectors, many of whom categorize the 1982 Gold Panda as a medal while the Chinese insist it is a coin. Gold values were flat-lining at around $300 in the mid 80s, but 1oz Gold Pandas were traded at $3000-4000. It was not long before silver pandas were minted in odd 28g wights and 5oz commemorative pieces. But, 1987 was the first year that a full 1 troy oz Silver Panda was issued.

Silver (and Gold) Pandas remain extremely collectible today, with a devout collector base of all its own driving prices of rare 1oz silver variations to literally thousands of dollars. Two main forces are in play behind this. First of all, the mintage figures of the vast majority of issues remain obscure. The Chinese mints had published targets for the pandas but did not release actual mintage numbers until 2007. Prior to gold and silver's recent decade-long bull run (and still today), Pandas were treated as straight up bullion by dealers and jewelers, and were either unceremoniously stored, melted, or otherwise had their numismatic value rendered worthless. Estimated surviving coins for many years now number in the low tens of thousands and fewer still from key dates like 2000. At best we have only estimates based on sales volume.

Secondly, inconsistencies between the 2 Chinese mints that were producing silver Pandas added varieties within each yearly issue. These inconsistencies include different fonts or sizes of lettering, as well as blatant omissions or additions in the design itself. For example, the 1995 1oz Silver Panda comes in 3 varieties, the Large Twig and Large Date from Shanghai mint (estimated mintage ~60,000 ), the Short Twig and Small Date (~30,000), and Short Twig and Micro Dates (~4,000) from the Shenyang mint. What is considered an issue of quality is happily sought out by collectors. It was not until after the turn of the millennium and the upgrading of the Shanghai mint that inconsistencies were nearly abolished and quality increased and sustained.




Even the earliest Pandas were issued with capsules and sealed. Above is an example of the only of the earlier Silver Pandas. The finish used borders on proof but not quite and these earlier Pandas did came in both proof and B.U. finishes (I think the one I have pictured is a proof one...).

The design used on these earlier Pandas was quite flat and more cartoon-like, but the pandas are such amazing creatures that it is hard to find an artistic take on it that isn't adorable. This is not to say that these earlier coins were poorly designed. It is a shame that information on the artists that designed the pandas are not made readily available. I was not able to find one name listed anywhere, and their beautiful work deserves much praise.




Later Silver Pandas are essentially all proof finished, exploiting the bi-coloured pandas with alternating use of mirror and frosted finishes. A perfect combination that I feel is not as striking in the yellow-gold colour of the Gold Pandas. Panda bears are perfect for silver coinage! The designs started to become more life-like and detailed in these later Pandas. The last few issues (like the 2010 Panda pictured at the beginning of the post) are especially intricate, not even overlooking/sparing the background to give the whole coin a very layered and substantial look.


It is unfortunate that many replicas of Silver Pandas exist. The Chinese mints have been combating the forgers by changing design details on the obverse of the coin between issues, using diagonal rim edging, and housing the coins in unique capsules and seals. There is also a very knowledgeable community of collectors that diligently report auction listings for fake coins and publish guides. The optimistic and eager collector also sees this as a challenge, but, understandably, the market can be daunting to the uninitiated, however profitable this line of collection can be.

Any guesses where this one is from

@samsnate: hahaha, that was you?! I eventually sold that 10oz Maple, but definitely not for 10 1oz maples :)

poboxw, What ever happened to this thread?





I would like to get ahold of the 1988 or 1989 Maple Leaf for my World Bullion accumulation!