Economic powers and countries usually do something extraordinary to further showcase their strength and prestige. Either they make huge monuments in praise of their heroes or national achievements or they mint gold bullion or coins as commemorative pieces and as backup to their own national treasuries. This is the case for the so called Chinese gold coins or panda mint editions that are currently becoming popular.
The Krugerrand rand started the craze in the trade and collection of gold coins and bullion when it was the first to be minted as a one ounce coin. This was done first in 1967 and the years that followed smaller ounce sizes were minted in one half, one fourth and one of a tenth ounce content denominations. The panda coin, like the first Krugerrand also comes in a one ounce size.
The distinction of the panda coin or Chinese gold coin of China is that it is also minted in one ounce sizes. However, unlike the Krugerrand they are minted in families. This basically means that you can get an entire design or set of coins with the same design but with differing weights, being one ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce, tenth ounce and twentieth ounce. The ability of a collector or investor to buy an entire set of different weights makes the coin popular.
The panda coin, despite its achieved distinction next to the Krugerrand does not outdo the Krugerrand in beauty. Most think that the Krugerrand is already not so attractive compared to other coinage in the world, and these same people would also probably find the panda coin pretty much boring in terms of design. The front or obverse side contains an etching of the Temple of Heaven and other side has the distinct panda design which gives the coin its name. Each year China mints a coin with changes to the reverse but not the obverse side, thus giving the collectible characteristic to the coin.
The most popular sizes for investors and collectors are the one ounce sizes. The smaller sizes are more popular with artisans like jewelry smiths and designers. Most of the smaller coinages end up as pendants, earrings or even charms.
Most pundits of the panda Chinese gold coin will say that its low premium over gold content is comparable to that of the popular Krugerrand. However there are also others who would beg to differ. Whatever the real case is in which is the better buy, everyone is entitled to their own opinion in the end, especially when it comes to decisions on whether or buy or not, or to invest or not.
Should one be interested, there are many sites on the internet that do offer these for sale and selling practices do differ. Some will sell by pure gold content with no regard to what date will appear on the items you buy. Others will sell you by specific date that you want. The latter practice is mostly for collectors who want the rare date mints or the ones in demand, as seen in the 1982 series ones that fetched up to 3000 dollars per unit at any one time.
It is also best that you protect yourself from criminal activity and scams related to Chinese gold coins sales and investments. Be extra vigilant in doing background checks on those prospective sellers. Also train yourself also in knowing more history of what you are buying, as well as the ability to know distinct physical characteristics of the coinage that you buy like the number of serrations, special markings and other such characteristics.
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