China (People's Republic), gold 25 yuan (1/4 oz) Panda, 1997, large date (Shenyang mint), NGC MS 70 ("top pop"). KM-989; PAN-281B. One of only 42 pieces at MS 70 in the current NGC census. Anthony: "among the scarcer dates... only a small fraction of these coins have apparently survived." Actual mintage for both mints: 21,909; estimated extant population for this variety