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1000 Yuan Year of the Dragon
| Issuer | People's Republic of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 1988 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese |
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| Reverse description | Two magnificent Chinese imperial dragons rendered in high sculptural relief face each other in a dynamic, symmetrical composition across the central field, their sinuous scaled bodies coiling in opposing spirals. Between them, at the centre of the design, a flaming pearl — the traditional symbol of wisdom and good fortune — is depicted in low relief. Stylised crashing waves and cloud scrolls fill the lower portion of the field, adding vigour and energy to the composition. The denomination and issue identifier appear in the lower centre field, inscribed as 1000元·龙 (1000 Yuan · Dragon), with decorative dot separators. The overall design reflects the classical Chinese imperial decorative tradition, executed with exceptional engraving detail befitting this large-format proof issue. |
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| Additional information |
Issued as part of China's Lunar Gold series, the 1988 twelve-ounce dragon piece was produced by the People's Bank of China during a period when Beijing was aggressively expanding its bullion coin program to attract foreign hard currency. The series had launched only in 1981, and by 1988 mintages on the larger denominations were being kept deliberately low — this 12-oz piece was struck in quantities of just a few hundred, making surviving examples genuinely scarce rather than artificially so.
The Chinese Gold Panda program's early high-denomination issues were not widely distributed through domestic channels; most moved through Hong Kong dealers and international numismatic wholesalers.