Hong Kong five-dollar coin
| Hong Kong | |
| Value | 5.00 HKD |
|---|---|
| Mass | 13.5 g |
| Diameter | 27 mm |
| Thickness | 3.26 mm |
| Edge | plain, lettered "Hong Kong Five Dollars" in English and Chinese |
| Composition | Cupronickel |
| Years of minting | 1976, 78-79 (Decagon) 1980-90, 1993, 1995, 1997-98, 2012-13 |
| Catalog number | - |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | Bauhinia |
| Designer | Joseph Yam |
| Design date | 1992 |
| Reverse | |
 | |
| Design | 5 with value in English and Chinese |
| Designer | Joseph Yam |
| Design date | 1992 |
The five dollar coin is the second-highest denomination coin of the Hong Kong dollar. It replaced the five dollar banknotes 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 handing back 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 | ??? |
| /// = has not been minted, ??? = unknown yet, --- = only minted for sets | |
References
- Ma Tak Wo 2004, Illustrated Catalogue of Hong Kong Currency, Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., LTD Kowloon Hong Kong. ISBN 962-85939-3-5
- ↑ http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img2/84-39&desc=Hong Kong km39 5 Dollars (1976-1979)&query=Hong Kong
- ↑ http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img11/84-56&desc=Hong Kong km56 5 Dollars (1985-1991)&query=Hong Kong
- ↑ http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img2/84-65&desc=Hong Kong km65 5 Dollars (1993--)&query=Hong Kong
- ↑ http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/display.php?image=img14/84-77&desc=Hong Kong km77 5 Dollars (1997) Shou character&query=Hong Kong
- ↑ "Circulating Mintage quantities". Ma Tak Wo 2004, Illustrated Catalogue of Hong Kong Currency, Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., LTD Kowloon Hong Kong. ISBN 962-85939-3-5.
- ↑ Krause, Chester L. (2001). Standard Catalog of World Coins. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 921. ISBN 9780873418843.
| Preceded by Hong Kong five-dollar note |
Hong Kong five-dollar coin 1976–present |
Succeeded by Present |