China (People's Republic), gold 50 yuan (1/2 oz) Panda, 1993, large

China (People's Republic), gold 50 yuan (1/2 oz) Panda, 1993, large date (Shanghai mint), NGC MS 69. KM-A614; PAN-190A. A characteristically well-struck issue, "among the best looking Pandas of the decade," according to Anthony, who also says: "Despite a large reported mintage this is a surprisingly hard-to-find coin today ... partly because so many were used in jewelry. Another attrition factor was the melting pot." His survival estimate is less than 10%. The difference between the small- and large-date varieties is challenging to discern, as the dates themselves are practically the same, so experts must rely on minor differences in the Temple architecture. Mintage for both mints: 35,000 planned, 31,254 actual, with an estimated extant population of