1986 China Gold 100 Yuan PCGS MS69 Panda Coin Top Pop Very Rare

1986 China Gold 100 Yuan PCGS MS69 Panda Coin Top Pop Very Rare

Offered here is a classic early Chinese Gold Panda: a 1986 People’s Republic of China 100 Yuan, struck in .999 fine gold (1 troy oz) and certified PCGS MS69. This is the business-strike variety PAN-30A, part of the legendary Panda bullion series introduced in 1982.

Authenticity & Specifications

• Country: People’s Republic of China

• Year: 1986

• Denomination: 100 Yuan

• Metal: .999 fine gold

• Weight: 1 troy oz (approx. 31.1 g)

• Variety: Panda Gold PAN-30A (PCGS)

• Catalog: KM#135

• Grading service: PCGS, standard holder, grade MS69

Historical Significance

The 1986 issue represents one of the early one-ounce Gold Pandas, struck during the formative years of the series when mintages were still relatively low. With a reported mintage of around 107,000 pieces, this date is far scarcer than modern bullion issues and is highly sought after by collectors building complete Panda date runs.

Design & Features

• Obverse: The iconic Temple of Heaven in Beijing, encircled by the inscription “People’s Republic of China” in Chinese characters and the date “1986” below. This enduring motif links the series to China’s cultural and architectural heritage.

• Reverse: A charming giant panda among bamboo stalks, with inscriptions denoting purity “.999”, weight “1 oz Au” and face value “100 元”. The softly modeled panda and prooflike fields showcase the elegant artistry that helped make the Gold Panda one of the world’s most beloved bullion coins.

Top Pop Rarity – PCGS Population

This coin is certified PCGS MS69 with a population higher of 0, making it a TOP POP example for this variety in the PCGS census (no coins graded finer). For dedicated Panda specialists, such top-of-the-census pieces are cornerstone holdings and seldom appear on the market at this level.

Important Note About the Holder Crack

As visible in the photos, there is a surface crack in the plastic PCGS holder, not in the coin itself. The crack is confined to the outer slab, does not penetrate to the coin, and the encapsulation remains fully secure. The gold piece inside is completely untouched and protected, and the PCGS certification and grade are unaffected. In numismatic practice, slab-only cracks like this are treated as a cosmetic packaging issue rather than damage to the coin and are not considered to impact the underlying coin’s desirability or value. If desired, the future owner may submit the coin to PCGS for optional reholdering, but it is absolutely not necessary for protection.

Collector’s Value

Early-date one-ounce Gold Pandas combine limited mintage, .999 fine gold content, and beautiful, annually changing designs—a powerful mix for both bullion buyers and serious numismatists. This 1986 100 Yuan stands out even more as a PCGS MS69 TOP POP (Pop Higher: 0) example of the PAN-30A variety, offering a rare chance to secure one of the finest certified pieces of this key early issue. An exceptional addition to any advanced Gold Panda collection or world-gold type set.