Peter Anthony: The 1988 100 Yuan platinum Panda is the second coin of a four-year set. The coin’s design is the same as the one on the 1988 BU gold Pandas.

The mintage is 3,000, a thousand more than in 1987. Despite the higher mintage the 1988 platinum Panda is no easier to find than the 1987. During the mid-1990’s there were times that the platinum content of this coin overshadowed its numismatic worth. One result was that many platinum Pandas were melted and resold as bars. Today the population of platinum Pandas is greatly reduced. Another issue for collectors is that many of the remaining coins suffer from rub on the Panda’s high points. This is sure grade killer.

The short 4-coin set of 1 oz. platinum Pandas is both a challenge and a joy to assemble. All four coins are scarce, or rare. The 1988 1 oz. gold Panda Panda is part of the NGC Registry set: “Platinum 1 Ounce Panda, 1987-1990, Proof.”