2012 1/2 oz Chinese Gold Panda Coin

We are excited to introduce the new and highly anticipated 2012 ½ Ounce Chinese Gold Panda to our fine gold bullion investors. The 2012 Gold Panda is an extraordinary coin that is valuable for both its worth to collectors and the purity of its gold content. It contains 1/2 Troy ounce of 99.9% pure gold and is often quite literally a coin that is worth more than its weight in gold. A people well-grounded in their ancient traditions from the teachings of Confucius to their grand celebrations of the New Year, the people of China take great care in creating fitting tributes to their country’s history. Well known for their fine and delicate artistry, China employed some of its most talented new artisans in creating the first Gold Panda in 1982. China has been able to trade their Gold Pandas at a higher rate than the market price of gold because they were very shrewd in pioneering a new but simple marketing strategy for making a modern coin collectible: cap its mintage while changing its design yearly. In fact, the Gold Panda is so prized as a collectible coin that they are they are often set into high-end, fine jewelery such as rings, tie tacks, bracelets, and necklaces. The Chinese Gold Panda was first issued in 1982, and by 1987, such was their demand by that some of the one-ounce 1982 Gold Pandas traded for over three thousand dollars. After achieving such a singular success with the Gold Panda’s first release, China realized the immense future potential of the coin. Capitalizing on the immense popularity of the gold series, China introduced the Silver Panda series the very next year. The Chinese Gold Panda eventually became one of the most successful gold coins of the 1980's. Offering outstanding investment flexibility, the 2012 Gold Panda is made of 99.9% pure gold and is usually struck in five denominations: 1 Troy ounce, 1/2 Troy ounce, 1/4 Troy ounce, 1/10 Troy ounce, and 1/20 Troy ounce. Because their stated face values are far below their actual value in gold bullion--500 Yuan, 200 Yuan, 100 Yuan, 50 Yuan, and 25 Yuan respectively--these coins have never been intended for circulation. They are, however, legal tender in China that can be used for the purchase of goods and services. The Gold Pandas tend to retain their untouched, mint state over time and are likely to increase in value every year. Each 2012 Gold Panda will arrive in the Original Shenzen Guobao Mint Sealed plastic!

The design of the Half Ounce 2012 Gold Panda follows in an admirable lineage of predecessors but features a new strike of the lovable panda every year. The ancient Chinese nobility considered, panda to be rare and noble creatures. So prized were these elusive bears that Emperor Wen is said to have buried his mother with the skull of her panda companion. They were often offered as gestures of good will to visiting royalty. Today, China still offers her pandas to many countries, making the panda an unofficial diplomat to the world. Pandas are now fiercely protected as endangered species, and the panda has become an unofficial national symbol of China. The reverse side of the Gold Panda features a new strike of a generally playful panda living in her natural habitat: sometimes she is watching over cubs, sometimes she munches on her favorite food of bamboo, sometimes she is depicted sitting by the water’s edge or walking through the forest. In addition, the panda is often struck in interesting finishes, adding to the anticipation of each new release. Because every issue features a very distinctive variation from previous designs, each new issue stirs much anticipation in the collectors’ world.

The design of the front of the 1/2 oz 2012 Gold Panda is always handsome. Per tradition, the obverse is engraved with an intricate rendering of China’s magnificent Temple of Heaven. The temple was constructed between 1406 and 1420 during Emperor Youngle’s reign to celebrate the annual harvest during Winter Solstice. The temple has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization which described the temple as "a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design.” The Panda’s design struck in fine bullion is no less a masterpiece than the temple that inspired it. The People’s Republic of China is inscribed across the top in the Chinese characters 中華人民共和國, and the year of issue is labeled across the bottom. Each 1/2 ounce Gold Panda weighs 15.5515grams, measures 27.00mm in diameter and has a thickness of 1.85mm. We know you will find the 2012 Gold Panda a fine addition to your gold bullion portfolio, and investors will appreciate that each Gold Panda will arrive in brilliant, uncirculated condition!