Hong Kong ten-cent coin facts for kids
| Hong Kong | |
| Value | 0.10 HKD |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.85 g |
| Diameter | 17.50 mm |
| Thickness | 1.15 mm |
| Edge | plain |
| Composition | Nickel-brass |
| Years of minting | 1863–1905, 1935–1939 and 1948–present |
| Catalog number | – |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Bauhinia |
| Designer | Joseph Yam |
| Design date | 1992 |
| Reverse | |
| Design | 10 with value in English and Chinese |
| Designer | Joseph Yam |
| Design date | 1992 |
The ten-cent coin is the smallest coin you can use in Hong Kong. It's worth 10 cents, which is the lowest value coin in the Hong Kong dollar system. This tiny coin is also the oldest one still used in Hong Kong today! It first came out in 1863. The only time it wasn't used was for a few years between 1942 and 1947.
Contents
History of the Ten-Cent Coin
The ten-cent coin has a long and interesting history. It has changed its look and the metal it's made from many times over the years.
Early Designs and Materials
Before the Second World War, the ten-cent coin was made of silver. It was a small coin, weighing about 2.82 grams. The first ten-cent coin was made in 1863. It had a picture of Queen Victoria on one side. She was the Queen of the United Kingdom at that time. These coins were made until she passed away in 1901.
After Queen Victoria, her son, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, appeared on the coin. This was from 1902 to 1905. Interestingly, he ruled until 1910, but his picture was only on the coin for a few years.
In the early 1900s, people in some parts of China, like Guangxi, preferred the Hong Kong 10-cent coin. They sometimes called it the "kwaitau" or "ghost's head" coin. This was a nickname for the Hong Kong coin.
Changes Over Time
After a break, the ten-cent coin returned in 1935 and 1936. This time, it featured King George V of the United Kingdom. The size stayed the same, but the coin was now made of a mix of copper and nickel.
In 1937, the coin changed again. It became heavier and a bit larger. It was now made only of nickel. The picture of King George VI of the United Kingdom was put on the coin.
A new coin was made in 1948. It was made of nickel-brass. It had a smooth edge. From 1948 to 1951, it still showed King George VI. In 1955, Queen Elizabeth II's picture first appeared on the coin. She became Queen in 1952.
Modern Designs
The ten-cent coin was similar in size to the 50-cent coin. Because of this, it was redesigned in 1982 to have a plain, smooth edge. A new picture of Queen Elizabeth II was used. This picture was designed by Arnold Machin.
On 1 January 1984, the older ten-cent coins were no longer valid for use. In 1985, the Queen's picture on the coin changed again. This new picture was made by Raphael Maklouf. This design was used until 1992. After that, Hong Kong coins no longer showed a British Monarch.
The size and shape of the coin stayed the same when the bauhinia series was launched in 1993. The bauhinia is the flower of Hong Kong. In 1997, a special coin was made to celebrate the handover of Hong Kong to China. This coin showed a traditional Chinese junk sailing boat.
Mintage
"Mintage" means the number of coins made in a specific year. Sometimes, coins have small letters called "mintmarks." These letters tell you where the coin was made.
- H = Heaton (a mint in Birmingham, England)
- KN = King's Norton (another mint in Birmingham, England)
| Year | Mintage |
|---|---|
| 1902 | 18,000,000 |
| 1903 | 25,000,000 |
| 1904 | 30,000,000 |
| 1905 | 33,487,000 |
| 1935 | 10,000,000 |
| 1936 | 5,000,000 |
| 1937 | 17,500,000 |
| 1938 | 7,500,000 |
| 1939H | 5,000,000 |
| 1939KN | 5,000,000 |
| 1948 | 30,000,000 |
| 1949 | 35,000,000 |
| 1950 | 20,000,000 |
| 1951 | 5,000,000 |
| 1955 | 10,000,000 |
| 1956 | 3,110,000 |
| 1956H | 4,488,000 |
| 1956KN | 2,500,000 |
| 1957H | 5,250,000 |
| 1957KN | 2,800,000 |
| 1958KN | 10,000,000 |
| 1959H | 20,000,000 |
| 1960 | 12,500,000 |
| 1960H | 10,000,000 |
| 1961 | 20,000,000 |
| 1961H | 5,000,000 |
| 1961KN | 5,000,000 |
| 1963 | 27,000,000 |
| 1963H | 3,000,000 |
| 1963KN | ??? |
| 1964 | 9,000,000 |
| 1964H | 21,000,000 |
| 1965 | 40,000,000 |
| 1965H | 8,000,000 |
| 1967 | 10,000,000 |
| 1968H | 15,000,000 |
| 1971H | 22,000,000 |
| 1972KN | 20,000,000 |
| 1973 | 2,250,000 |
| 1974 | 4,600,000 |
| 1975 | 44,840,000 |
| 1978 | 57,500,000 |
| 1979 | 101,500,000 |
| 1980 | 24,000,000 (A few coins were released in 1980, but many more appeared later. About 3,500 are known to exist.) |
| 1982 | ??? |
| 1983 | 110,016,000 |
| 1984 | 30,016,000 |
| 1985 | 34,016,000 |
| 1986 | 40,000,000 |
| 1987 | ??? |
| 1988 | 30,000,000 circulating. 20,000 proof. |
| 1989 | 40,000,000 |
| 1990 | ??? |
| 1991 | ??? |
| 1992 | 24,000,000 |
| 1993 | ??? |
| 1994 | ??? |
| 1995 | ??? |
| 1996 | ??? |
| 1997 | ??? |
| 1997 (Establishment of the HKSAR) | Commemorative sailing junk. Unknown circulation. 97,000 proof. |
| 2017 | ??? |
