Summary
50 Cents, Issued by, Hong Kong, 1890
Minted by Royal Mint, London
Obverse Description
Diademed head of Queen Victoria, neck bare, facing left; around, VICTORIA QUEEN
Reverse Description
At centre within a line circle 50 / CENTS; around above, .HONGKONG.1890 .; below, four Chinese characters
Edge Description
Milled
Significance
The 1866 - 67 half dollar issue was .900 fine silver and had unlimited legal tender. From 1890 this denomination was given as 50 cents to differentiate it from the earlier coins. The 50 cent was a token coinage, it did not contain the full nominal value of silver, the silver alloy had been dropped to .800 fine (the same as the 5, 10 and 20 cent coins), and unlike the earlier half dollar the new 50 cent had a limited legal tender of $2. The 50 cent coins entered circulation early in 1891.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
1890 AD
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Issued By
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Mint
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Artist
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Denomination
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Material
Silver
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
32 mm (Outside Diameter), 13.391 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
KM#9
[Book] Bruce, Colin R. 2006. Standard Catalogue of World Coins 1801 - 1900.
[Book] Cribb, Joe. 1987. Money in the Bank, The Hongkong Bank Money Collection., 49 Pages
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Keywords
