Here we have the schedule of releases from the Peoples Bank of China for 2015 (they’ve included the just-released Panda, but not next years), and it’s quite an eclectic mix. Just like the Russians, they like to give their coins a long name, and that’s certainly the case many times here. Some of the translations are a little weird, but I’m sure you’ll get the general idea. With ten different series made of a total of 29 gold and 24 silver coins, sizes range from a mere 3.1g, right the way up to 10,000g gold monsters, so something for everyone. We don’t have pictures yet, although we have covered the 2015 Panda earlier. Subjects range from the usual Panda and Lunar ranges, through cultural coins, and on to anniversaries, with three covering Japan, Tibet and the Uigher regions, all current sources of tension. Should be some interesting coins and as we’re going to increase our coverage of Chinese coins, we’ll have all of these covered.

2015 PANDA DESCRIPTION: We’ve already covered the 2015 Panda in a seperate post so head on over there for all the details. AVAILABILITY: Now

SPECIFICATION COMPOSITION FINISH WEIGHT DIAMETER MINTAGE SILVER 0.999 PROOF 1000 g 100.00 mm 20,000 SILVER 0.999 PROOF 155.52 g 70.00 mm 50,000 SILVER 0.999 BU 31.104 g 40.00 mm 8,000,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 1000 g 90.00 mm 500 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 155.52 g 60.00 mm 5,000 GOLD 0.9999 BU 31.104 g 32.00 mm 1,000,000 GOLD 0.9999 BU 15.552 g 27.00 mm 600,000 GOLD 0.9999 BU 7.776 g 22.00 mm 600,000 GOLD 0.9999 BU 3.110 g 18.00 mm 800,000 GOLD 0.9999 BU 1.555 g 14.00 mm 800,000

2015 LUNAR NEW YEAR DESCRIPTION: A celebration of the Chinese New Year, a coin has been issued annually since 2003. “Chinese people love it because of the theme, perfect design, superb casting process became common coin in the boutique sector.” AVAILABILITY: DECEMBER 2014

SPECIFICATION COMPOSITION FINISH WEIGHT SHAPE MINTAGE SILVER 0.999 PROOF 7.776 g ROUND 600,000

AUSPICIOUS CULTURAL DESCRIPTION: A series of 8 coins celebrating traditional Chinese culture, it looks like two sets of three and two individual heart-shaped coins. “Auspicious culture through various means and forms, throughout all aspects of life, is a Thousand Years of Chinese traditional culture in a very important river tributaries. In order to make the public more aware of auspicious culture, understanding of Chinese civilization, People’s Bank of China plans to release an auspicious beginning from 2015 Culture Series coins. This series of gold and silver commemorative coins for the core elements of traditional auspicious, year after year change pattern, and debuted a heart-shaped currency to reflect the warmth and love between people of the issue in mind.“ AVAILABILITY: JANUARY 2015

SPECIFICATION COMPOSITION FINISH WEIGHT SHAPE MINTAGE 3 X SILVER 0.999 PROOF 3 X 31.104 g ROUND 3 X 60,000 SILVER 0.999 PROOF 31.104 g HEART-SHAPED 60,000 3 X GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 3 X 7.776 g ROUND 3 X 30,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 7.776 g HEART-SHAPED 30,000

MODERN CHINESE PAINTER (XU) DESCRIPTION: A series of 4 coins celebrating modern Chinese artists. There will be a pair of 5oz rectangular coins. “Xu is one of modern China’s most highly successful painters, specializing in drawing and painting. He practices Western art painting, creating a new and unique style: (muddy color ink painting, especially in the world of horses. He creates a wide range of subjects, landscapes, flowers, birds, animals, people, history, mythology, all put pen to God, and emphasizing the ideological content of the work) People’s Bank of China has issued Modern painter (Qi) and gold and silver commemorative coins of modern Chinese painter (Chang) in 1997 and 1999.” AVAILABILITY: MARCH 2015

SPECIFICATION COMPOSITION FINISH WEIGHT SHAPE MINTAGE SILVER 0.999 PROOF 155.52 g RECTANGULAR 3,000 SILVER 0.999 PROOF 31.104 g ROUND 20,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 155.52 g RECTANGULAR 1,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 7.776 g ROUND 10,000

CHINESE BUDDHIST SHRINE (JIUHUA MOUNTAIN) DESCRIPTION: Honestly, I just gave up getting my head around the Google translation for this one… “Originally known lingyang Jiuhua Mountain, nine sub-mountain, due to the shape of lotus nine peaks, hence the name. Jiuhua Mountain in Anhui Chizhou Qingyang County, is one of China’s four famous Buddhist, is a big wish the Earth Store Bodhisattva, known as the International Buddhist temple.Earth Store Bodhisattva while “big filial piety” and “big wish” of German industry is widespread spreading the Buddhism, Buddha is one of the four Chinese Buddhism. Following the Chinese Buddhist shrine series of gold and silver commemorative coins Mountain, Putuo Mountain, Emei after issuing commemorative coins, People’s Bank of China will issue wrap up the series in April 2015.” AVAILABILITY: APRIL 2015

SPECIFICATION COMPOSITION FINISH WEIGHT SHAPE MINTAGE SILVER 0.999 PROOF 1000 g ROUND 6,000 SILVER 0.999 PROOF 62.208 g ROUND 60,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 1000 g ROUND 200 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 155.52 g ROUND 2,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 7.776 g ROUND 40,000

70TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN WWII DESCRIPTION: The actual title of this one is long enough to do even the Central Bank of Russia proud. It’s full name is “Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-Fascist War 70th anniversary of the victory”. With the current tensions in the region, perhaps a less confrontational name would have sufficed. “Victory of the Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-Fascist War was a triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and progress over reaction oVictory of the Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-Fascist War was a triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and progress over reaction of the great victory. 70 years ago that decided the destiny of the world’s great victory, forever engraved in the hearts of all the people who love peace and justice. To commemorate this great victory, the People’s Bank of China will be released in June 2015 the Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-Fascist War 70th anniversary of victory in a set of gold and silver commemorative coins, a total of three varieties. Prior to the Chinese People’s Bank of China in 1995 over the issue of the 50th anniversary of the victory and the gold and silver commemorative coins issued in 2005 through the Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-Fascist War 60th anniversary of gold and silver commemorative coins.” AVAILABILITY: JUNE 2015

SPECIFICATION COMPOSITION FINISH WEIGHT SHAPE MINTAGE SILVER 0.999 PROOF 155.52 g ROUND 3,000 SILVER 0.999 PROOF 31.104 g ROUND 60,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 7.776 g ROUND 30,000

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF AUTONOMOUS TIBET DESCRIPTION: Again, the actual title is a long one, “50th anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region.” and again it’s a contentious subject. Will probably make a nice coin given how nice Tibet is, both culturally and geographically. “September 1, 1965, the first session of the Conference of the Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Congress held in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region was established, marking the establishment of the Tibetan people’s democratic regime, began full implementation of regional ethnic autonomy. 50 years since the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region, has made remarkable achievements in political, economic, cultural and other aspects of life of the Tibetan people has been significantly improved and enhanced. To celebrate the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region, People’s Bank of China had been issued in 1985 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region of silver. July 2015, the People’s Bank of China issued the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region of gold and silver commemorative coins.” AVAILABILITY: JULY 2015

SPECIFICATION COMPOSITION FINISH WEIGHT SHAPE MINTAGE SILVER 0.999 PROOF 31.104 g ROUND 20,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 7.776 g ROUND 10,000

60TH ANNIVERSARY OF AUTONOMOUS XINJIANG DESCRIPTION: Full title is “Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region’s 60th anniversary.” One of the largest regions of China at 1.6 million square km, it’s largely Islamic and the source of much internal strife. “Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was officially established on October 1, 1955, the region’s total area of ​​1,660,400 square kilometers, is China’s largest provincial-level administrative regions. 60 years, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region peoples shoulder to shoulder, and jointly promote the economic and social development in Xinjiang and made remarkable achievements, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.” AVAILABILITY: AUGUST 2015

SPECIFICATION COMPOSITION FINISH WEIGHT SHAPE MINTAGE SILVER 0.999 PROOF 31.104 g ROUND 20,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 7.776 g ROUND 10,000

2015 BEIJING INTERNATIONAL COIN EXPO DESCRIPTION: A simple commemorative released every year to mark the Beijing Coin Expo. Some of these like the 2012 have been beautiful coins, so one to look out for. “Beijing International Coin Exposition commemorative silver coins to commemorate the Beijing International Coin Exposition held since 1995, publishes an annual series of commemorative coins, from 1995 to 2006 the average annual increase is based on the word panda coin form, to the east of 2007-2011 Western money culture of each historical period to reflect a representative coins and ancient coins outline the course of development as the theme, has completed a series of issue. From the beginning of 2012, with a new theme for the beginning to separate themes, innovative and unique design to form a new series. People’s Bank of China scheduled to be released in September 2015 Beijing International Coin Exposition 2015 Round 1 ounces of refined silver one, the largest circulation of 30,000.” AVAILABILITY: SEPTEMBER 2015

SPECIFICATION COMPOSITION FINISH WEIGHT SHAPE MINTAGE SILVER 0.999 PROOF 31.104 g ROUND 20,000 GOLD 0.9999 PROOF 7.776 g ROUND 10,000

2016 LUNAR YEAR OF THE MONKEY DESCRIPTION: The latest set of lunars and one we’re looking forward to as one of the more interesting animals. There are 17 coins for 2016 compared to just 16 for the Goat this year, the addition being a half-kg gold coin for those paupers too poor to run to the 10kg gold… We’ve covered the 2015 range in our Year of the Goat Superguide, just click the Bank of China tab. “Lunar New Year series of gold and silver commemorative coins issued since the beginning of 1981, the majority of the collection community loved and respected, is one of the precious metal commemorative coins issued in the history of China’s most important project continuity, People’s Bank of China has been the issue as a key project of the year . Zodiac culture is an important part of traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese Lunar New Year gold and silver coins for its unique artistic style and ethnic characteristics famous. 2016 China Bingshen (monkey) in gold and silver.” AVAILABILITY: OCTOBER 2015