The People’s Bank of China has issued a series of commemorative coins to mark the 2013 Year of the Snake. The program includes 8 gold coins, and 7 silver coins across a variety of sizes and shapes, with two primary designs.

The obverse design used for all coins features the national emblem of the People’s Republic of China with lotus and fish symbolizing surplus. The inscriptions include the title of the PRC and the “2013″ date. The reverse design which is used across eleven different coins includes a depiction of a snake against a background with a decorative snake pattern. The inscriptions include “Gui Si” (Snake) in Chinese and the legal tender denomination.

The different shapes utilized include round, fan shaped, scallop shaped (or plum blossom), and rectangular.

The eleven different coins featuring this design are the following:

• 50 Yuan Gold Coin: 1/10 oz. Round in Proof quality with 120,000 Mintage
• 10 Yuan Silver Coin: 1 oz. Round in Proof quality with 200,000 Mintage
• 150 Yuan Gold Coin: 1/3 oz. Fan Shaped in Bullion quality with 30,000 Mintage
• 10 Yuan Silver Coin: 1 oz. Fan Shaped in Bullion quality with 80,000 Mintage
• 200 Yuan Gold Coin: 1/2 oz. Scallop Shaped in Proof quality with 8,000 Mintage
• 10 Yuan Silver Coin: 1 oz. Scallop Shaped in Proof quality with 60,000 Mintage
• 2,000 Yuan Gold Coin: 5 oz. Rectangular in Proof quality with 2,000 Mintage
• 50 Yuan Silver Coin: 5 oz. Rectangular in Proof quality with 20,000 Mintage
• 10,000 Yuan Gold Coin: 1 kg Scallop Shaped in Proof quality with 118 Mintage
• 300 Yuan Silver Coin: 1 kg Round in Proof quality with 3,800 Mintage
• 100,000 Yuan Gold Coin: 10 kg Round in Proof quality with 18 Mintage

The second design utilized features a traditional folk design of a colored snake in the foreground with a flower design in the background. Inscriptions include “Gui Si” and the face value. The obverse is the same as previous.

The four different coins featuring this design are the following:

• 50 Yuan Gold Coin: 1/10 oz. Round in Proof quality with 120,000 Mintage
• 10 Yuan Silver Coin: 1 oz. Round in Proof quality with 220,000 Mintage
• 2,000 Yuan Gold Coin: 5 oz. Round in Proof quality with 3,000 Mintage
• 50 Yuan Silver Coin: 5 oz. Round in Proof quality with 30,000 Mintage

This line up of 15 different coins and the respective mintage levels appear to be the same as used for last year’s China 2012 Year of the Dragon Coins.

Many coin dealers and bullion dealers have started accepting orders for the Chinese 2013 Gold Panda and 2013 Silver Panda bullion coins. This series features a design which changes annually, adding to its popularity with both bullion investors and coin collectors.

The common obverse design features the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (The Temple of Heaven), the title of the People’s Republic of China in Chinese characters, and the “2013″ date. The newly designed reverse features three pandas drinking at a stream with bamboo stalks in the background. The inscriptions indicate the denomination, bullion weight and fineness. This is the first time that three pandas have appeared on the coin design.

Ten different options are available for the 2013 Pandas. This includes seven gold options with weights ranging from 1/20 troy ounce to 1 kilo and three silver options with weights ranging from 1 troy ounce to 1 kilo. Both the gold and silver coins are struck to .999 fineness.

Maximum mintage levels are established for each option. These levels established match those of the prior year.

2013 Chinese Gold Panda Coins

• 20 Yuan: 1/20 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 800,000.
• 50 Yuan: 1/10 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 800,000.
• 100 Yuan: 1/4 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 600,000.
• 200 Yuan: 1/2 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 600,000.
• 500 Yuan: 1 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 600,000.
• 2000 Yuan: Proof quality 5 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 5,000.
• 10000 Yuan: Proof quality 1 kg with maximum mintage of 500.

2013 Chinese Silver Panda Coins

• 10 Yuan: 1 troy ounce with maximum mintage of 8,000,000.
• 50 Yuan: Proof quality 5 troy ounces with maximum mintage of 50,000.
• 300 Yuan: Proof quality 1kg with maximum mintage of 20,000.

The most widely collected option is the 1 ounce silver coin, which has a maximum mintage of 8,000,000 for this year. In recent years, the maximum mintage for this option have increased dramatically. From 2003 to 2010, a mintage of 600,000 pieces was established for this option. In 2011, a mintage of 3,000,000 was initially announced, but this was later raised to 6,000,000. For 2012 and 2013, the mintage has been announced as 8,000,000.

Today, March 30, 2012 marks the release of five gold and silver commemorative coins to mark the 30th anniversary of the issuance of the Chinese Gold Panda.

The coins feature a common obverse design depicting the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (The Temple of Heaven) and the words “30th Anniversary of the Issuance of the China Panda Gold Coin” in Chinese. Five different reverse designs feature one or more Pandas with inscriptions indicating the weight and fineness in silver or gold and the legal tender denomination.

The 5 oz gold coin shown above has a face value of 2000 Yuan and total mintage of 3,000 pieces.

The 1 oz gold coin has a face value of 500 Yuan and total mintage of 30,000 pieces.

The 1/10 oz gold coin has a face value of 50 Yuan and total mintage of 100,000.

The 5 oz silver coin has a face value of 50 Yuan and total mintage of 30,000.

The 1/4 oz silver coin has a face value of 3 Yuan and total mintage of 300,000.