Summary

Proof 1 Dollar, Issued by Hong Kong, 1866
Minted by Royal Mint, London

Supplied to the Sydney Branch of the Royal Mint for their display at the Sydney International Exhibition 1879-80. It is believed the proofs were struck in London (where the dies were made), while the working strikes were from the Hong Kong Mint. This coin was sold to the donor at the closure of the Sydney Mint in 1926.

Obverse Description

Diademed head of Queen Victoria, neck bare, facing left; around within a scroll border of key pattern, above, VICTORIA; below, QUEEN

Reverse Description

At centre a Chinese labyrinth pattern; around within individual compartments four Chinese characters; around, ONE DOLLAR HONG KONG 1866; around all, a key pattern border

Edge Description

Milled

Significance

It was hoped that coins like these would be adopted for circulation in China but this did not happen. Die axis set differently to the Melbourne Mint example - NU 12986

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