1982 was the first year that the Gold Panda was minted. At first the available sizes were 1/10, ¼, ½, and 1 ounces but in 1983 there was another size of 1/20 ounce added. Gold Pandas are minted in a variety of Chinese cities but the coins show no indication of what city they originated from.

The obverse side of the coin shows the image of the Chinese Temple of Heaven coupled with an inscription that reads, “People’s Republic of China”, in Chinese of course. Also located on the obverse side of the coin is the year in which the coin was minted. The reverse side of the coin is what intrigues both collectors and investors alike. Each year there is a different image of a panda on the reverse side of the coin. The only time the coin has stayed the same was in the 2001 and 2002 editions.

Gold Pandas have face values of 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500 Yuan respectively; the size of the coin directly coincides with the face value. The diameters of the coins, also in order from smallest to largest, is 13.92mm, 17.95mm, 21.95mm, 27mm, and 32.05mm.  All Gold Panda’s have a fineness of .999 and contain little to no filler metals. The fact that the coin is made of solely gold means that taking care of it carries a lot of importance. Gold is a soft metal and can show signs of wear very easily. When purchasing a Gold Panda it is necessary to consider the condition of the coin as many people try to pass off low quality coins as being in prime condition. This problem can be alleviated with a small amount of research and insight.