Hong Kong one-dollar coin facts for kids
| Hong Kong | |
| Value | 1.00 HKD |
|---|---|
| Mass | 7.10 g |
| Diameter | 25.50 mm |
| Thickness | 1.95 mm |
| Edge | Milled |
| Composition | 75% copper, 25% nickel |
| Years of minting | 1866 –1869, 1960, 1970-75, 1978-80, 1987-92, 1993-1998, 2013, 2015, 2017 (new issue) |
| Obverse | |
 |
|
| Design | Bauhinia |
| Designer | Joseph Yam |
| Design date | 1992 |
| Reverse | |
 |
|
| Design | 1 with value in English and Chinese |
| Designer | Joseph Yam |
| Design date | 1992 |
The one-dollar coin is a special coin used in Hong Kong. It's one of the most common coins you'll find there. It's the fourth-highest value coin and also the fourth-lowest value coin in Hong Kong's money system.
Contents
The Story of the One-Dollar Coin
Early Silver Coins
The very first one-dollar coin was made a long time ago in 1866. It was a silver coin, much bigger and heavier than the ones we use today. It was about 38 mm wide and weighed nearly 27 grams. These early silver coins were only made for three years, from 1866 to 1869. About 2.1 million of these coins were made in total.
Changes Over Time
After a long break, the one-dollar coin was brought back in 1960. This time, it was made of a mix of copper and nickel, not silver. It was also a bit smaller than the first silver coin, about 30 mm wide.
In 1978, the coin changed again to become even smaller. The one-dollar coin we see today is about 25.5 mm wide and weighs 7.1 grams. This is the size that is still used.
What's on the Coin?
For many years, up until 1992, the front side of the coin (called the obverse) showed a picture of Elizabeth II, who was the Queen. The coin also said QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND.
The back side of the coin (called the reverse) had the number "1" and the words "one dollar" written in both Chinese characters and English. It also showed an image of a crowned lion, which is a symbol of England.
In 1993, the design of the coin changed. The picture of Queen Elizabeth II was replaced with the beautiful Bauhinia flower. This flower is a symbol of Hong Kong. This new design is still used today.
There was also a special one-dollar coin made in 1997. It had a picture of a Chinese unicorn, called a Qilin, on the back. This coin was made to celebrate when Hong Kong became part of China.
How Many Coins Were Made?
The number of coins made each year is called the mintage. Sometimes, coins have small letters called mintmarks that show where they were made. For example:
- H = Heaton (a mint in England)
- KN = King's Norton (another mint in England)
Millions of one-dollar coins have been made over the years. For example, in 1960, 80 million of the larger copper-nickel coins were made. In 1978, when the smaller coin was introduced, 120 million were made! The exact numbers for some years are not known, but it's clear that many one-dollar coins have been produced for people to use in Hong Kong.
