2013 Panda Coins to Be Released on November 20th, 2012

The 2013 gold and silver panda commemorative coins are to be released by People’s Republic of China on November 20^th, 2012, which include 10 coins, 7 gold and 3 silver.

Patterns 

 

The front side pattern is the Qinian Palace of the Temple of Heaven, Beijing, the country name, and the year; the reverse pattern is the pandas drinking water, face value, weight, and fineness.

 

Specification and mintage 

 

(1)   The 1/20 oz round gold commemorative coins are bullion coins, containing 1/20 oz pure gold, with diameter of 14mm, face value of RMB20 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, and max. mintage of 800000.

(2) The 1/10 oz round gold commemorative coins are bullion coins, containing 1/10 oz pure gold, with diameter of 18mm, face value of RMB50 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, max mintage of 800000.

(3) The 1/4 oz round gold commemorative coins are bullion coins, containing 1/4 oz pure gold, with diameter of 22 mm, face value of RMB100 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, max. mintage of 600000　

(4) The 1/2 oz round gold commemorative coins are bullion coins, containing 1/2 oz pure gold, with diameter of 27mm, face value of RMB200 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, max. mintage of 600000.　

(5) The 1 oz round gold commemorative coins are bullion coins, containing 1 oz pure gold, with diameter of 32 mm, face value of RMB500 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, max. mintage of 600000.

(6) The 5 oz round gold commemorative coins are bullion coins, containing 5 oz pure gold, with diameter of 60 mm, face value of RMB2000 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, max. mintage of 5000.

(7) The 1 kg round commemorative coins are bullion coins, containing 1 kg pure gold, with diameter of 90mm, face value of RMB10000 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, max. mintage of 500.

 (8) The 1 oz round commemorative coins are bullion coins, containing 1 oz pure silver, with diameter of 40mm, face value of RMB10 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, max. mintage of 8000000.

 (9) The 5 oz round silver commemorative coins are proof coins, containing 5 oz pure silver, with diameter of 70mm, face value of RMB50 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, max. mintage of 50000. 　

 (10) The 1 kg round silver commemorative coins are proof coins, containing 1 kg pure silver, with diameter of 100mm, face value of RMB300 Yuan, fineness of 99.9%, max. mintage of 20000. 

The gold and silver commemorative coins referred above are minted by Shenzhen Guobao Mint, Shenyang Mint, and Shanghai Mint.

2013 Lunar Snake One Ounce Silver Coin Canadian $15 legal tender - RCM

Mintage of only 28,888 coins!

That is 20,000 fewer coins than last year's 1oz silver lunar design! This coin captures the true essence of the Snake’s personality, which is graceful and soft-spoken. Coin comes packaged in an attractive Asian-inspired case - a perfect gift for those born in 2013 or a previous Year of the Snake!

The year 2013 is ruled by the Snake. The Year of the Snake also ruled 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001. However, people born in January or February should consult the Chinese lunar calendar. New Year does not automatically fall on January 1st. This celebration is better known as the Spring Festival and coincides with the first day of spring - a date that shifts from year to year depending upon the lunar cycle and solar year.

About the Snake:

People born during the Year of the Snake have a hypnotic beauty and never give themselves totally away. The mysterious Snake is a strategic planner that has everyone guessing its next move. It will keep plotting until it gets what it wants. And when it does, it is not likely to let go. The Snake is a strong individual and is usually destined for great success. Does this sound like someone you know?

2013 Lunar Year of the Snake 10 Euro Silver Proof Legal Tender Coin

Mintage of just 10,000 coins!

This Proof Silver coin contains .642 actual Silver weight! On the obverse, a curled snake is surrounded by a decorative border. The words ""Année du Serpent” and "RF" feature as ideograms. On the reverse, a portrait of Jean de la Fontaine is depicted next to the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Following the Ox, the Tiger, Dragon and the Rabbit, Monnaie de Paris continues its series on Chinese astrological signs with the Snake. This Chinese astrological sign, which is described as intelligent, graceful, independent, analytical and charming, is said to include more of the greatest thinkers than all the other signs of the calendar. Each of these Proof Silver Year of the Snake coins come to you in a box and with certificate of authenticity.

Year: 2013
Grade: Proof
Denomination: 10 Euro
Diameter: 37 mm

Kookaburra Australian Outback 2012 One Ounce Coloured Beijing International Coin Exposition Coin

Beijing International Coin Exposition – Australian Outback Kookaburra 2012 One Ounce 999 Silver Coloured Coin at The Perth Mint, featuring:

• Stunning Outback Coloured Design
• Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver
• Extremely Limited Release – 5,000
• Australian Legal Tender
• 2012 Beijing Exposition Packaging

This stunning individual Exposition Special has been exclusively released by The Perth Mint comprising a 2012 Australian Kookaburra coin.

Struck from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver, this coin is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

Stunning Outback Coloured Designs

The kookaburra coin’s coloured reverse design portrays a kookaburra perched on a tree branch with gum leaves. The design includes the inscription AUSTRALIAN KOOKABURRA, The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark and the 2012 year-date.

Extremely Limited Release

No more than 5,000 of this coin will be released in 2012 Beijing International Coin Exposition packaging.

Australian Legal Tender

The coin’s obverse bears the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination.

2012 Beijing Exposition Packaging

The coin is presented in a vibrantly coloured, slide-out display card and outer shipper.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Silver Content (Troy oz)	1
Monetary Denomination (AUD)	1
Fineness (% purity)	99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g)	31.135
Maximum Diameter (mm)	40.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)	4.00

Fake SJC Gold Bullion Returns to Market

Gold bullion copying SJC, the country’s most popular brand name, has recently re-emerged on the market, dismaying both gold traders and the bars’ authentic producer, Saigon Jewelry Co.

While forged gold bullion used to be produced only under the form of the 1/5-tael, or 0.24 ounce, bar, it is now circulated in the form of one-tael bullion, according to gold traders.

Faking SJC gold bullion will help gold smugglers regularize their contraband raw material gold, and rake in huge profits.

With SJC gold bullion chosen as the national gold brand name, Saigon Jewelry Co has called on the State Bank of Vietnam and police to probe into the case.

Many gold shops in the Mekong Delta provinces have reportedly refused to buy gold bullion, fearing that the metal has not been authentically produced by SJC.

On the fake gold bullion, the first letter of the word ‘tael’ is embedded on its surface in a slightly larger font than that of the authentic bars, according to an owner of a gold shop in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 8, who currently has an allegedly fake SJC gold bar.

“Its purity is also less than 99.99 percent, which an authentic SJC gold bar is supposed to have,” he added.

The fake bullion is made in such a sophisticated way that it is almost impossible to tell it apart from the real deal with the naked eye, gold traders said, adding that even the distinguishing differences on the fake gold bullion have all been rectified.

Gold shop owners are now more wary of customers wishing to sell SJC gold bullion than ever before, and all refuse those with old or torn packaging.

“We only earn a little profit by buying SJC gold bullion. But a fake gold bar will cost us a huge loss,” the owner of a gold shop in District 1 said.

Whopping profits

In response to the market concern, Saigon Jewelry Co said the root of the problem stems from the fact that domestic gold prices are still VND2 – 3 million higher than their global counterparts.

“With such a huge price difference, gold smugglers are willing to spend millions of US dollars investing in machinery to create fake SJC gold bars, as they will soon recoup the investment,” a company chief official who requested anonymity told Tuoi Tre.

Experts also said narrowing the price gap is the only solution to the issue.

“Successfully producing a fake SJC gold bullion will bring in a VND3 million profit to the producer, and with 1,000 bars sold, the figure is an enormous VND3 billion ($143,888),” a CEO of a gold company, who preferred to be anonymous, revealed.

2013 New Century Snake Dance China Coin / Medal

Introducing the 2013 New Century Snake Dance China Commemorative Coin / Medal

 

 The Design: Tong Youming
Diameter: 120mm, 

Material and Colour: Yellow Copper
Quantity: 800 only
Positive Figure: Snake Dance Money Maps and topic text
Back the Figure: Ganzhi Snake Fig.
Casting: Shanghai New Century

  

 

A Rare Chinese Coin: the Fengtien Silver Dollar

Created in 1897 at the instigation of the General Iktangga (依克唐阿), governor of the Fengtien province, the bureau was destined to modernize the provincial coinage. An early set of dies was commissionned from the Anqing (安庆) mint in Anhwei (安徽), and German-made steam-powered machinery were brought from Tianjin.

The early test issues using the An Hui dies were denominated in maces and candareens, and were designed after the Kwantung dollar. With the success of the Peiyang arsenal dollars, subsequent issues were however redesigned and the first emission meant for circulation in 1898 features a reverse bearing the characteristic circular manchu writings in the style of the contemporary Beiyang coins. 

The last emission, in 1899, has a very similar design. As far as I know, three dies were used for the 25th year of Guang Xu series. The coin I bought is of the first type, as seen below:

Fengtien dollar - single ring (单圈版) with error in FUNG

Fengtien dollar (obverse)

The first set of die used has a single dotted ring around the denomination on the reverse (单圈版 in Chinese). The reverse has an obvious error in the typography of the province name, with a huge empty space between the F and U of FUNG TIEN. The strike is also noticeably weak from the G to the T.

On the obverse, this die is very different from the subsequent ones. The dragon face is beautiful, with some relief on the sides of the dragon nose and a large, “smiling” mouth. The fireball at the center is ornamented with a wide, incomplete spiral probably resulting from a weak strike.

The second strike features a new dragon design; the reverse issues were also partially fixed:

 Fengtien dollar - single ring (单圈版)

The province name on the reverse is now correctly typographied, but the strike is still weak on the area from the G to the T. The new dragon design is very different from the previous issue, with a flatter face and a thinner mouth. The spiral on the fireball is complete this time, running all the way to the center.

Fengtien Dollar - double circle (双圈版)

The last emission tries again to correct the problems of the reverse, keeping the new dragon design.

As seen here, the G and T are indeed slightly stronger, but the end of “TIEN” is weaker, while it was crisp in the previous strikes… It seems that like the Kiangnan mint, the early Shenyang mint had troubles with the die adjustement and thus produced weakly struck coins.

A solid circle was added around the denomination, inside the inner dotted circle.

This strike is known as the “Linear circle within dotted circle” die, or 双圈版 in Chinese.

Fengtien dollar - linear circle within dotted circle (双圈版)

After this third strike, the mint machinery was seized by the tsarist Russian army and the Shenyang machine bureau was burned down… The province of Fengtien (nowadays Liao Ning) was indeed going through dark times. Already the theater of the first Sino-Japanese war in 1895, it was then the scene of the conflict between the Russians controlling the leased territory of Liao Tung, and the Japanese army, leading to the Russo-Japanese war. The mint at the Shenyang machine bureau was briefly brought back online in 1903 after years of reconstruction slowed down by the Boxer rebellion.

Eventually, the province fell under Japanese control, later becoming part of the Manchukuo puppet state. The Japanese army and investors continued to develop heavy industries in the region, furthering the move toward automatization that had begun in 1897 with the creation of the Fengtien machine bureau.

See original source for more information