number of 96's sold at auction as '93s, 94's or '95s. Twenty-two 1996s graded MS-69s by NGC and four PCGS MS-69 have been offered for sale. There is an interesting schism between the grading services on this date. PCGS places MS-69 1996s among the very rarest in the 1 oz. gold Panda series, whereas NGC-69s are among the most common! Who is right? Maybe both are as they weren't grading the same coins, just the same year. My experience with 1996's has been closer to the PCGS report—I've only come across a single 1996 that didn't have at least minor spotting from copper. (revised 12/1/08) (back)