Peter Anthony: From 1983–2000 all 1/20 oz. Pandas were denominated with 5 Yuan. The 2001D 20Y 1/20 oz. B.U. gold Panda is part of the first year of new, higher denominations for the series. It features a very medal-like rimless design on the Panda side. This contributes to the feeling that the bamboo forest stretches on far beyond the coin’s edge.

This 1/20 oz. coin has a face value of 20 Yuan. 2001 was a year in which gold’s price touched its modern lows below $300/oz. There were other negatives affecting demand for gold Pandas: the effects of the Asian Crisis lingered as well as a lack of excitement after the millennium hoopla the year before.

Many people think the “D” on the 2001D coins is a mintmark but it isn’t. Rather than a place the “D” stands for “Domestic.” These Pandas were originally intended for sale within China and not other countries.

The 2001D 20Y 1/20 oz. B.U. gold Panda has no announced mintage and it is a fairly scarce coin today.

This coin can suffer from red spots but aside from that it usually grades well; around two out of three graded coins are MS-69 or better. This isn't as good as the 2001 20 Yuan coins. The luster of the 2001D is usually duller. Wear or rub, if present, is usually seen on the head or body of the bear.

The 2001 20 Yuan gold Panda is part of three NGC Registry sets: "Gold 1/20 Ounce Panda, 1983-Date, Mint State," "Gold 1/20 Ounce Panda, 1983-Date, Mint State (Incl. Varieties)" and "Gold 1/20 Ounce Panda, 1983-Date, Mint State and Proof."