Hong Kong five-cent coin facts for kids
 British Hong Kong |
|
| Value | 0.05 HKD |
|---|---|
| Mass | 2.6 g |
| Diameter | 16.51 mm |
| Thickness | 1.73 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Composition | Silver, Nickel-brass |
| Years of minting | 1866–1988 |
| Catalog number | – |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Hong Kong with value in English and Chinese |
The five-cent coin was a small coin used in Hong Kong for many years. It was first made in 1866. Over time, this coin changed its size, weight, and the metals it was made from.
When it was first created in 1866, the five-cent coin was a silver coin. It was quite small, about 15 mm across. It weighed 1.34 grams and had a ridged edge, like many coins today.
This silver version of the coin was made until 1935. After that, the coin's material changed. It was then made from a mix of copper-nickel. This new coin was almost the same, but it weighed a tiny bit more at 1.36 grams.
In 1937, the coin changed again. It became a pure nickel coin. This version was a bit bigger and thicker, with a diameter of 16.51 mm and weighing 2.59 grams. These nickel coins were made until 1941. The coins from 1941 are quite rare because they were not widely used due to the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II.
For eight years, from 1941 to 1949, there were no five-cent coins. Instead, people used banknotes or Japanese military yen. When the five-cent coin returned in 1949, it was made from nickel-brass. It had the same size and weight as the last nickel coin.
From 1949 until 1970, the coin had a special ridged edge for security. After 1970, it just had a regular ridged edge. The five-cent coin was made in many different years until 1988. Some coins from 1964 with an 'H' mintmark are hard to find. The five-cent coin officially stopped being used as money on January 1, 1989.
How Many Coins Were Made?
This section shows how many five-cent coins were made each year. Sometimes, you'll see letters like 'H' or 'KN' next to the year. These are called mintmarks. They tell us which mint (factory) made the coin.
- H = Heaton (a mint in Birmingham, England)
- KN = King's Norton (another mint in Birmingham, England)
| Year | Number of Coins Made |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 6,000,000 |
| 1904 | 8,000,000 |
| 1905 | 1,000,000 |
| 1905H | 7,000,000 |
| 1932 | 3,000,000 |
| 1933 | 2,000,000 |
| 1935 | 1,000,000 |
| 1937 | 3,000,000 |
| 1938 | 3,000,000 |
| 1939H | 3,090,000 |
| 1939KN | 4,710,000 |
| 1941H | 777,000 |
| 1941KN | 1,075,000 |
| 1949 | 15,000,000 |
| 1950 | 20,400,000 |
| 1958H | 5,000,000 |
| 1960 | 5,000,000 |
| 1963 | 7,000,000 |
| 1964H | ??? |
| 1965 | 18,000,000 |
| 1965H | 6,000,000 |
| 1967 | 10,000,000 |
| 1971KN | 14,000,000 |
| 1971H | 6,000,000 |
| 1972H | 14,000,000 |
| 1977 | 6,000,000 |
| 1978 | 10,000,000 |
| 1979 | 4,000,000 |
| 1988 | 40,000 for circulation. 20,000 special proof coins. |
 | William L. Dawson |
 | W. E. B. Du Bois |
 | Harry Belafonte |
