In 1982, China authorized the mint of Legal Tender Bullion Coins. They started as 99.9% 24- karat gold, featuring the Giant Panda, China's most famous, lovable bear.

These coins were created with the intent for coin collectors and investors, but they were still legal tender, weighing from 1 ounce to 0.10 ounce.

The gold panda coins show off China's history and workmanship throughout the years. Each coin is handled with care during minting and packaging, as to not harm the works of art.

With each year China's Panda Coins continue to show beauty and value.

The once only gold coin, is now minted in silver and platinum, as well.

You can purchase these collector coins in groups by the year from the mint company, or individually. As a coin collector, collector of Chinese memorabilia, or collector of Giant Pandas, you can find these coins on Ebay or on coin collector websites.

Depending on the coin that you seek, websites may be out of stock, as the coin may be rare and high in value.

The Chinese Panda coins can be a big investment if you stick with it. As a world coin, the gold and silver panda coins change every year, which just increases their collectability, attraction, and value.

By holding on to last years coins, and the year before, and the year before that, one day you'll have a nice collection of valuable coins.

On one side, the coins feature various panda images and scenes, and on the other side of the coin, the Chinese Hall of Prayer for Abundant Harvests in the Temple of Heaven.

Try to get your hands on older versions of the coin, so that you can see how the images have changed throughout the years.

But, the Panda Coin isn't just a collector's piece. The coins are used by the World Wildlife Fund to help bring more notoriety and awareness to the Great Panda. As a national treasure to China, the Great Panda is both unique and rare, but endangered, as well.