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| Queen Victoria - Hong Kong Silver 10 cents |
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| Ten cents Hong Kong coin |
Obverse: Crowned young bust of Queen Victoria left.
Legend: VICTORIA QUEEN
Reverse: Chinese value within beaded circle.
Legend: HONG - KONG * TEN CENTS 1887 *
References: KM-6.3.
Mint Place: British Royal Mint (London)
Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 2.7 gram of Silver (.800)
The First Hong Kong Coins.
As a result of the Treaty of Nanking, Hong Kong became a British Colony in 1841, but the Hong Kong's own coinage did not come into existence until 23 years later. Sir Hercules Robinson, the Fifth Governor of Hong Kong [1859-1865]. who declared that the commencement of Hongkong's own coinage on 16th February 1864. Though Royal Proclamation had already granted the use of the new coinage in Hong Kong on 9th January 1863.
Before Hong Kong had her own coinage, Hong Kong currency followed the British sterling system with an official gold standard. Although it was unworkable for the trading economy between Hong Kong and Mainland China at that time. Later, as the traders and settlers of Hong Kong were accustomed to the Chinese system of using weighed silver as money, Hong Kong monetary authority had to change its currency standard from gold to silver in order to secure a better trading relationship with the Chinese in Kwangtung Province. So that the using of Hong Kong daily currencies tended to similarity with Mainland China. Traders and settlers of Hong Kong used Spanish or Mexican eight Reales silver coins and Chinese silver bars or ingots for large amount of transactions and used Chinese copper cash, as well as the Indian or British low denomination silver, copper coins for the small payment.
The Official Exchange Rate:
1 Pound Sterling = 5 Mexican Dollars
1 Mexican Dollar = 2 and 1/4 Indian Rupees
1 Mexican Dollar = 1200 Copper cash