Coin Collecting－夢想出走、夢想吾撈、夢想美食

This blog... is dedicated to my dear sister (and her valued client [note: this is singular] from Europe).... who always indulges me ...

I started coin collecting about 2 years ago... in other words, I am still an amateur.... be that as it may, I have learnt a bit about coin collecting...from all those dealers who are, as expected, keen on selling me their collection.....

For the time being.... our coin collecting interest is only confined to coins mint in China... and preferrably by the People's bank of China.

Ok... here is a brief summary of what we've learnt .....

China started minting collectible coins (.999 gold or silver) in 1979. The maiden sets include a 4-gold-coin set to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, gold and silver coins set celebrating the International Children Festival, etc...

And, like most collectibles, the market value of coins is determined by, among others, the design, craftsmanship and its rarity. Take the 1979 coins as example, current market price of the 1oz .90 gold coin for the Children Festival is several fold more expensive than the 30th anni coins set (which, if we talk about gold content, the 30 anni set (comprising 4 coins set each 1/2 oz with .916 gold) more than doubles the children festival coin). Yet, if I tell you the Shanghai Mint then only issued 500 pieces of gold coins for the Children Fest (and I must say, I like the design far better), but 70000 sets for the 30th anni, you will say "no wonder!".....

Apart from the commemorate sets, the current main streams coin minting in China include panda coins and Chinese Zodiac coins... For some unknown reason, the market value of zodiac coins always outbeat that of panda coins.... but who cares, we collect as a hobby.... not as an investment... and the appreciation of coin price is merely a bonus....

This plum blossom series is the second blossom series and probably the last set with a 1/2 oz .999 gold coin. Price for a normal set used to be under HKD$10000 in 2009 but now, some, could go up to $50000....

must say, we love the dog and rooster set best... look at the details... wow...

8000 sets issued

this bull/cow... set is the most sought-after set in the series.... (I hope the dragon set will out perform this set....)

this rabbit set is not performing well... Chinese people are not fans of such timid animal

these panda coins are relative "new"

500000 coins issued (yes, not much investment value)...the "older" panda coins are better... e.g. only 20000 coins issued for the year 1991

this is another series.... coloured coin set... also the second series of the type...

80000 sets issued

this is the 30th anni set.... must say... love the box even better....

this silver set depicts the profile of the two great Chinese artists, Xu Bei-xiong and Chi Bai-shi

this 5-oz silver coin...only 8800 issued (note: for the year of the rabbit... the issuance increased to 11800... and for the year of the dragon.... if I remember correctly.... 30000 coins will be issued

only 60000 sets issued

also 60000 sets.... second coin-set commemorating the shanghai expo

this.... is the first gold piece I bought.... shouldn't buy this... as (1) not mint on behalf of the People's Bank of China...(2) bears no "face value".... but still, we learnt from mistake...