Published by: World Tibet Network News, Thursdsay, August 1, 1996

Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1330 gmt 29 Jul 96

Beijing, 29th July: China has issued 11,995 gold and silver souvenir badges to mark the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.

This is the first time that China has made gold and silver commemorative coins for a living Buddha, an event that has attracted great attention from both home and abroad.

Senior lamas and monks from the Zhaxi Lhunbo [Tashilhunpo] Lamasery, the residence for successive Panchen Lamas in Tibet, held an inauguration ceremony for the unveiling of the special Buddha image coins.

The reincarnated boy of the late 10th Panchen Lama was chosen in front of the statue of Sakyamuni [Buddha] last December through the practice of lot drawing from a gold urn strictly in line with religious rituals.

The 11th Panchen Lama was then approved by the central government and enthroned on 8th December last year.

To mark the great event, and advance the Panchens' spirit of loving the country and Buddhism, the Tibetan branch of the People's Bank of China arranged for the minting and circulation of the set of commemorative coins at home and abroad.

Pagbalha Geleg Nemgyai, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and vice-president of the Buddist Association of China, handwrote the name for the badge.

Each set includes a gold and two silver coins. The gold coin carries the image of the late 10th Panchen Lama on the front and his successor, the 11th Panchen Lama on the reverse side.

One silver coin portrays the gold urn on the front and the gold seal of the 11th Panchen Lama on the reverse; the other coin shows Sakyamuni on the front and the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery on the opposite side.