China (People's Republic), gold 100 yuan (1 oz) Panda, 1997, large date (Shenyang mint), NGC MS 69. KM-991; PAN-279B. Only eight higher at MS 70 in the current NGC census. Anthony: "many of these coins have not survived in B.U. condition... still among the scarcer dates." Mintage for both mints: 125,000 planned; 30,457 actual; estimated extant population for this variety