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500 Yuan Year of the Dragon
| Issuer | People's Bank of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 1988 |
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| Composition | Gold (.999) |
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| Obverse description | A finely detailed high-relief depiction of the Great Wall of China dominates the field, rendered with exceptional sculptural depth as the wall winds dramatically over a rugged mountain ridge from left to right, with a prominent watchtower visible at upper center and a second fortified tower at lower right. The mirror-polished proof field provides a stark, luminous contrast to the frosted architectural detail. The Chinese legend 中华人民共和国 (People's Republic of China) arcs around the upper periphery in bold Chinese characters. The date 1988 appears in large Latin numerals along the lower margin within the border. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | 1988 - Proof; Shenyang Mint - 3,000 |
| Additional information |
The 1988 Chinese Panda gold series marked a deliberate shift in Beijing's strategy toward the international bullion market. Unlike most sovereign gold programs of the period, the People's Bank varied the Panda design annually — a policy that converted what could have been simple bullion into a collector series commanding significant premiums. The 5 oz denomination was the heaviest in the 1988 lineup and was produced in comparatively small quantities relative to the fractional sizes.
KM#199 is occasionally confused with a proof variant issued the same year; the two differ in finish and mintage allocations, and attribution without accompanying documentation can be uncertain.