Modern Chinese Varieties: 1997 Gold 5 Yuan

1997 is a year that saw many issues of Chinese coins and thus a lot of varieties. This month we will feature another Gold Panda variety. Gold pandas were produced in both Shanghai and Shenyang that year. The coins produced at Shenyang have a larger date compared to those struck at Shanghai. Thus, coins from Shenyang are often referred to as Large Date and Small date for Shanghai. Additionally, the railings on the obverse of the coins also are different in that they are rectangular compared to the arched shape of those from Shanghai. The 1997 Gold 5 Yuan coins from Shenyang, Large Date, Pandas can be found with either a Frosted Gap or Mirrored Gap.

The first variety (pictured below) is an example featuring “frosted gap” variety (Photos 1 & 2). The red arrow points to the variety area.

Photo 1 - (left) Frosted gap variety Photo 2 - (right) Close-up of frosted gap variety Click images to enlarge.

The second variety (pictured below) is an example featuring “mirrored gap” variety (Photos 3 & 4). The red arrow points to the variety area.

Photo 1 - (left) Mirrored gap variety Photo 2 - (right) Close-up of mirrored gap variety Click images to enlarge.

Both of these varieties share the same common obverse featuring the date 1997 and the Temple of Heaven (Photo 5).

Photo 5 - Obverse of a 1997 Gold 5 Yuan coin Click image to enlarge.

Look for another interesting variety to be featured next month.