China's Panda silver bullion series launched in 1982, making 2017 the 35th anniversary — a milestone the People's Bank of China marked by issuing this commemorative alongside the regular annual Panda release. The series is notable for changing its reverse design nearly every year, a deliberate policy that distinguishes it from most bullion programs and has driven a secondary collector market far beyond the coin's melt value.
In 2016, China switched the series from troy-ounce weight standards to metric gram weights, a change that briefly disrupted international dealer pricing structures.
China's Panda silver bullion series launched in 1982, making 2017 the 35th anniversary — a milestone the People's Bank of China marked by issuing this commemorative alongside the regular annual Panda release. The series is notable for changing its reverse design nearly every year, a deliberate policy that distinguishes it from most bullion programs and has driven a secondary collector market far beyond the coin's melt value.
In 2016, China switched the series from troy-ounce weight standards to metric gram weights, a change that briefly disrupted international dealer pricing structures.