Hong Kong Mint
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Hong Kong Mint (Chinese: 香港造幣廠) was a mint in Hong Kong from 1866 to 1868. It was located in Sugar Street. Mint Dam, on the slope of Mount Butler, was constructed to supply water to the mint.
In early colonial Hong Kong, mixed currencies of various kinds were used. Although British pound was official currency, it was not well accepted by the merchants and residents, especially Chinese, in Hong Kong. Various silver currencies remained medium of trade in the city.
In order to provide a steady supply of silver dollar in Hong Kong. Hercules Robinson, the then-Hong Kong Governor, decided to found Hong Kong Mint in 1864. The mint opened on 1866-05-07 under the rule of William Thomas Mercer but soon closed in 1868 during Richard MacDonnell's governorship. That the coins were not well-received and the devaluation of silver are culprits causing hugh loss. The mint machineries were sold to Osaka in Japan.
