Wednesday 15 January 2014

The Sky Rocketing Demand For Chinese Gold Coins

By Marissa Velazquez


Chinese gold coins have a rich history dating back to over 3000 years. Minting of the modern coins which are of 99.90% fineness started in 1982. The bullion coin is currently released sizes of 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/10, 1/20 ounce and 1 g by China Gold Coin Incorporation (CGCI). Although larger sizes of up to 12 ounces have been released, they remain very scarce as they are hardly released on circulation. They are named gold pandas after the panda depiction on their reverse.

The bullion is released on different sizes to certify various levels of demand. These sizes are also meant to correspond to the denominations. The most common sizes are 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz and 1/20 which corresponds to 25, 100, 200 and 500 Yuan respectively. Others ranging from 1 to 12 ounce are also minted although they are very rare and hardly on circulation. China Gold Coin Incorporation (CGCI) also made 1 g coin available making this the first bullion in the world to be minted on that size.

The obverse of this coin normally has a depiction of the famous Temple of Heaven with a commemorative event for the ones minted for commemorative purpose. The official name of China worded as (Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo) meaning the Peoples Republic of China and the year of release are also encrypted on the face.

The design of the coin features the renown Temple of Heaven on the face. When minted as a commemorative coin, the event being commemorated is also depicted on the obverse with the best example shown by those minted in 2007 to commemorate 25th Anniversary since their first minting. Other than this, the name (Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo) for Peoples Republic of China and the year of production also appear on the face.

Many collectors admit that it is perhaps the adorable images of panda on the reverse that make them this attractive. What is more intriguing is the fact that it has been made tradition to alternate this panda depiction with every other series that comes every other year. Other than that of 2001 and 2002 that were similar, all other series are unique. The reverse also displays the coin denomination, its size and the fineness of bullion used.

The collectors like them for their monumental value, majority preferring to collect them with date series. In jewelry industry, a collection of these coins is won directly as a necklace. With such high level of fineness, it is also used to manufactures other ornamental items. Investors too are not left behind; they are actively investing in them. They are encouraged by the active market this currency enjoys both locally where it serves as a legal tender and a banker of choice and internationally where it is used as a store of wealth and monumental item.

Investors are perhaps the reason behind their scarcity. The fact that they are always trading at a price above their melt value in addition to high demand from the jewelry industry and collectors, they find ready market both domestically and internationally. China uses them as a legal tender in addition to items store of wealth with Panda America being the sole distributor in America.

Chinese gold coins have proven over and over again as the better investment alternative attracting large pool of investors and collectors all over the globe. The unique panda depiction, limited mintage quantity and over 99.90% fineness are the contributing factors that escalates their demand.




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