Peter Anthony: The 1994 5 oz. gold 500 Yuan gold Panda is the key coin in the series. While the actual mintage is not so far below the announced mintage of 99 it has proven to be an extremely difficult coin to locate. When it appears for sale it commands a price that can be as much as twice as high as most other dates.
Like the other 5 oz. gold Pandas, this coin sports a unique design not seen on any other denomination. It features a pair of Pandas on opposite sides of the banks of a stream. The 1994 5 oz. gold Pandas were well-struck and the few that have been graded were all PF-69s. A common flaw on many, if not most, 1994 gold Panda coins is red spots. This is a problem that NCS should be consulted about. Also, if the coin has been mishandled the large open fields of the obverse Temple of Heaven face will show it as will the high points of both faces of the coin. Any 1994 500 Yuan gold should be treated as a rarity regardless of condition.