Hong Kong five-dollar coin

Five dollars
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, 95, 97-98
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 currently 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 that are currently 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].

Face Value [5] $5.00
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
1989 30,000,000 (10,040,000 issued)
1990 Unknown but never issued.
1993 Unknown
1995 Unknown
1997 Unknown
1998 Unknown
/// = has not been minted, ??? = unknown as of 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
  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. ^ "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. 
Preceded by
Hong Kong five-dollar note
Hong Kong five-dollar coin
1976–present
Succeeded by
Present