It's not a good photo of the 2000, but even at a distance the coin apparently has the "Black Spot of Death" on it which is a very bad sign if you are hoping to get a real coin. I give it a thumbs down. Best wishes, Peter Anthony http://www.pandacollector.com
I agree with all of the above, although number 3 isn't as absolute as 1 & 2. To give an idea how unlikely 3 is to ever occur, I bought the 2000 mirror in my collection around 5 years ago when there was practically no interest in it. I had to order it direct from China because in more than a year of looking not a single one could be found for sale in the USA. These were coins meant for domestic distribution in China, so the odds of one being exported to America, and ending up in an ignorant person's hands; well, you go figure it out. Best wishes, Peter Anthony http://www.pandacollector.com
The coin was sent in for grading and it came back "not genuine" so you folks were correct. :-( Thought I'd give you an update.
That stinks. Unfortunately, these are the risks we take when we try the grading game. That's why I only recommend already graded coins to new/non-professional collectors.
AFter getting the coin back from NGC, it was out of the packaging I could measure it. The dimensions of that fake panda were: 31.4 grams 40 mm in diameter 3.77 mm thick Not sure what they are supposed to be but a SAE is 40 mm wide and 3mm thick so I am assuming they kept everything good except the thickness. Pictures if anyone wants them, PM me with an email.
Hey Guys, This on is not a Mirror, but a frosty. Won this auction a few days back. I know the picture quality isn't great, but just by eye balling it, does it look like the real deal. Thanks in advance. Ebay listing 120848331303 Imaginasian23
Hi there Imaginasian23, welcome! Yeah, the pic isn't very good, and I can't make out the details. But I think the bear is likely to be legit. The seller has a good reputation, and the packaging looks right. BARGAIN! Wish I had more ready access to the Panda bears in the US!
Out of curiosity, how long has the counterfeit 2000 mirror been known to exist. I picked up an ungraded one some 2 1/2 years ago, and at the time, I don't recall the mirror version having a counterfeit variety. (At least there was no version I could find on any of the popular fake lists.) Now a couple years later, I am wondering if I need to pull it out of out its secure location and scrutinize it further.
Thanks tamo & yennus! I have been lurking around these forums since last summer & have learned a lot from the both of you & others. I'll try to post some panda pictures when I can. This Panda is my first 2000 collection. The question is whether to keep it as OMP or have in conserved by NCS, graded, & slabbed by NGC. Decisions, decisions. Somebody here picked up a proof 1989 panda the other day, can't remember who, but I too picked up a double sealed proof 89 panda last yr for $40. The local coin shops are starting to realize that the pandas and chinese coins are worth a lot more =(. Thanks again, Imaginasian
