Hong Kong fifty-cent coin facts for kids
| Hong Kong | |
| Value | 0.50 HKD |
|---|---|
| Mass | 4.92 g |
| Diameter | 22.5 mm |
| Thickness | 1.72 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Composition | Nickel-brass |
| Years of minting | 1866 –1905, 1951 - presentsome years not minted, see text |
| Catalog number | - |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Bauhinia |
| Designer | Joseph Yam |
| Design date | 1992 |
| Reverse | |
| Design | 50 with value in English and Chinese |
| Designer | Joseph Yam |
| Design date | 1992 |
The fifty-cent coin is a coin from Hong Kong. It's worth half of a Hong Kong dollar. This coin has changed a lot over the years, from its size and weight to the metal it's made from. It also features different designs, like Queen Victoria and the Bauhinia flower.
Contents
History of the Fifty-Cent Coin
Early Silver Coins (1866-1905)
The very first fifty-cent coin was made in 1866. It was a "half dollar" coin and was mostly made of silver (90% pure). These early coins were quite large, weighing 13.41 grams and measuring 32 mm across. They had ridges on their edges, which is called a "reeded" edge.
The design on these coins was similar to a British "trade dollar." However, instead of the image of Britannia, they showed Queen Victoria. Not many of these coins were made, only about 59,000 in 1866 and 1867.
A second version of the fifty-cent coin came out in 1890. It was still a silver coin, but with 80% silver. This coin was a bit smaller, at 30.5 mm wide, but slightly heavier at 13.48 grams. It also had a reeded edge. These coins were made in several years between 1890 and 1905.
Modern Coins (1951-Present)
After 1905, no more fifty-cent coins were made for a long time. They reappeared in 1951. This new coin was made of a mix of copper and nickel. It was smaller and lighter than the old silver coins. It measured 23.5 mm across and weighed 5.81 grams.
From 1951 to 1971, these coins had a special "security edge" with unique ridges. After 1971, they just had regular reeded edges.
In 1977, the coin's metal changed again to nickel-brass, and its size became even smaller. A big change happened in 1993 when the "bauhinia series" was released. These coins featured the Bauhinia flower, which is the symbol of Hong Kong, instead of the Queen's portrait.
In 1997, a special fifty-cent coin was made. This was to celebrate when Hong Kong became part of China. This special coin had an ox design on it.
Fifty-cent coins have been made in many different years since 1951. Some of these years include 1951, 1958, 1960–61, 1963–68, 1970–75, 1977–80, 1990, 1993–95, 1997-98, and 2015.
Mintage
Mintage refers to how many coins were made in a specific year.
Mintmarks
Sometimes, coins have small letters called "mintmarks." These letters tell you which mint (factory) made the coin.
- H = Heaton (a mint in England)
- KN = King's Norton (another mint in England)
| Year | Mintage |
|---|---|
| 1951 | 15,000,000 |
| 1958H | 4,000,000 |
| 1960 | 4,000,000 |
| 1961 | 6,000,000 |
| 1963H | 10,000,000 |
| 1964 | 5,000,000 |
| 1965KN | 8,000,000 |
| 1966 | 5,000,000 |
| 1967 | 12,000,000 |
| 1968H | 12,000,000 |
| 1970H | 4,600,000 |
| 1971KN | ??? |
| 1972 | 30,000,000 |
| 1973 | 36,800,000 |
| 1974 | 6,000,000 |
| 1975 | 8,000,000 |
| 1977 | 60,001,000 |
| 1978 | 70,000,000 |
| 1979 | 60,640,000 |
| 1980 | 120,000,000 |
| 1988 | 40,000 circulating. 20,000 proof. |
| 1990 | 27,000,000 |
| 1993 | ??? |
| 1994 | ??? |
| 1995 | ??? |
| 1997 | Ox commemorative. ??? circulating. 97,000 proof. |
| 1997 | Unknown |
| 1998 | Unknown |
| 2015 | Unknown |
| 2017 | Unknown |
