Hong Kong five-dollar coin

Five dollars
Hong Kong
Value5.00 HKD
Mass13.5 g
Diameter27 mm
Thickness3.26 mm
Edgeplain, lettered "Hong Kong Five Dollars" in English and Chinese
CompositionCupronickel
Years of minting1976, 1978–79 (Decagon) 1980–90, 1993, 1995, 1997–98, 2012–13
Catalog number-
Obverse
DesignBauhinia
DesignerJoseph Yam
Design date1992
Reverse
Design5 with value in English and Chinese
DesignerJoseph Yam
Design date1992

The five-dollar coin is the second-highest-denomination coin of the Hong Kong dollar. It replaced the five-dollar banknote in 1976.

It was first issued as a 10-sided coin in 1976, under British rule. The coin was also made of copper-nickel but weighed 10.76 grams, was 31 mm in diameter and 2.08 mm thick. The obverse featured Arnold Machin's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the inscription Queen Elizabeth II. Its reverse featured a crowned British lion and the year of minting, as well as the country's name and the coin's denomination in both English and Chinese.[1]

In 1980, the current round coin was issued, being slightly smaller and heavier. This coin replaced the lion on the reverse with a number five, but retained Machin's portrait. In 1985, the portrait of the Queen was changed to the one by Raphael Maklouf, introduced to British coins in the same year.[2]

In 1993, the image of the Queen on the obverse was replaced by a Bauhinia flower. Since that year, the flower features on all of Hong Kong's coins in circulation. The name of the country in both English and Chinese has been moved onto the obverse.[3]

A commemorative issue was released in 1997 to commemorate the handover of Hong Kong to China from the United Kingdom. It had five bats of happiness on the reverse, surrounding the shou character of longevity. The date was split on each side of the character and the denomination moved to the top.[4]

Mintage

Year [5][6] Mintage
1976 30,000,000
1978 10,000,000
1979 12,000,000
1980 40,000,000
1981 20,000,000
1982 10,000,000
1983 4,000,000
1984 4,500,000
1985 6,000,000
1986 8,000,000
1987 ???
1988 16,000,000 circulation. 20,000 proof.
1989 37,000,000 (10,040,000 issued)
1990 Unknown but never issued.
1993 10,000,000
1995 50.000
1997 Shou character commemorative. Unknown circulating. 97,000 proof.
1998 Unknown
2012 40,000,000
2013 ???
2015 Unknown
2017 Unknown
/// = has not been minted, ??? = unknown yet, --- = only minted for sets

References

Sources
  • Ma Tak Wo 2004, Illustrated Catalogue of Hong Kong Currency, Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., LTD Kowloon Hong Kong. ISBN 962-85939-3-5
Notes
  1. ^ http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img2/84-39&desc=Hong Kong km39 5 Dollars (1976-1979)&query=Hong Kong
  2. ^ http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img11/84-56&desc=Hong Kong km56 5 Dollars (1985-1991)&query=Hong Kong
  3. ^ http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img2/84-65&desc=Hong Kong km65 5 Dollars (1993--)&query=Hong Kong
  4. ^ http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img14/84-77&desc=Hong Kong km77 5 Dollars (1997) Shou character&query=Hong Kong
  5. ^ Ma Tak Wo (2004). Illustrated Catalogue of Hong Kong Currency (6 ed.). Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., LTD Kowloon Hong Kong. ISBN 962-85939-3-5.
  6. ^ Krause, Chester L. (2001). Standard Catalog of World Coins. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. pp. 921. ISBN 9780873418843.
Preceded by Hong Kong five-dollar coin
1976–present
Succeeded by
Present


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