China (People's Republic), gold 50 yuan (1/2 oz) Panda, 1997, large date (Shenyang mint), NGC MS 69. KM-990; PAN-280B. Only fifteen higher at MS 70 in the current NGC census. Anthony: "The 50 Yuan Pandas are considered to be the scarcest 1997 denomination and are in very short supply." Actual mintage for both mints: 15,483; estimated extant population for this variety