2016 30g Silver Panda Bullion Coin

The 2016 Panda silver 30g coins are eagerly sought after by coin collectors each year. Issued by the China Mint, each year these silver bullion coins bear a new exquisite panda design on the reverse. Struck in 999 fine silver, these silver Panda coins are individually capsulated. If you order in quantities of 15, we will supply the coins in the storage holder for no extra charge.

• Each coin cointains 30g silver struck in 999 silver fineness
• Coin comes in a protective capsule
• Buy 15 and get a free storage holder

Metric Pandas

Until 2015, the silver pandas contained one troy ounce of silver. However, from 2016 onwards, these bullion coins contain 30 grammes of silver (instead of 31.1035g).

This is because the Chinese gold and silver panda coins are now measured in the metric system, rather than the troy ounce system which most precious metals are measured in. The differential between the one ounce coin and the 30 gram coin is 3.548%. If you bought one of the metric coins as a one ounce coin, you would have overpaid by 3.68%.

Customary Vs Decimal Weights

We're not sure why the Mint of China decided on this change. It may be a 'noble' cause to push metrication, which could be traced back to having started in 1585. The metric system was officially introduced in Revolutionary France in December 1799, and was adopted in some other European countries during the nineteenth century. China started metrication in 1925.

Our feeling is that, because precious metals are still traded internationally in troy ounces, it makes sense to retain the troy ounce for at least some bullion coins. This need not preclude using metric weights for others. The UK and Australia both successfully issue bullion coins from a fractions of a troy ounce up to multiples, at the same time producing kilo versions.

The obverse shows the Temple of Heaven in Peking, like in previous years.

The reverse of the coin shows an adult panda on a branch.