Peter Anthony: The 2002 100 Yuan platinum Panda stands out from all the other six hundred odd Panda coins. This little 1/10 oz. coin is the only one to ever display a Panda on both sides. On one face is a Panda in the same pose as the original 1982 coins. On the opposite side is the image of an adult Panda walking through a bamboo forest. The design is rimless and unmatched for environmental realism by any Panda that preceded it. It’s a Coin-of-the-Year Competition winner that is featured on all 2002 Pandas.

20,000 of the 2002 100Y platinum coins were struck at the Shanghai Mint. It has taken some years for the supply of this coin to be absorbed but it has happened. Today the coin is no longer easy to find and might never be again. If not mishandled it grades fairly well with about half the coins reaching the Proof 69 level. Due to its unique design this coin deserves a place in most everyone’s Panda collection.