Set Description:
The 1/10th oz Gold Pandas have been a fun set to put together. Because of the large numbers of varieties a collector can have a basic year mint state set, variety set or proof set or some combination of the three. I like the 1/10th oz pandas for several reasons:
They are a small size but the images on the coin are still clearly visible. Although they have a higher actual mintage than some of the larger sized gold pandas, quite a number of these coins were destroyed through their use in jewelry. This makes their true surviving populations somewhat of a mystery.
Another great thing about the 1/10th pandas is there are very few MS70 coins; however, there are enough to allow various collectors to create unique sets with multiple MS70 coins. This also gives collectors with MS69 coins the ability to upgrade to an MS70 if one comes available, thus continuing the joy of collecting.
Lastly, because of a smaller base cost for the amount of gold in the coin, it allows the 1/10th oz gold pandas to carry a possible larger percentage numismatic premium. And because of the smaller gold amount, the ongoing cost of collecting the newest year is much lower than some of your larger sized gold pandas.
UPDATE 2013: This year I was able to obtain some of the tougher 1980's dates. The 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1989 LD. All of these years have MS70 populations of 1-3. Of the years where MS70s exist, this set only lacks the 1988 in Mint State and the 1988 & 1991 in PF70.
UPDATE 2014: This year I was able to obtain the 1988 and 1991 LD (Pop 1) in MS70. I was unable to add the 1991 LD MS70 to the registry due to a glitch on NGC's website registry website. I am left only needing the 1982 and 1986 for a full MS70 Date Set. No 1986 MS70 exist.
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