Hong Kong 1881 20 cents
This specimen was lot 51023 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $3,360. The catalog description[1] noted, "HONG KONG. 20 Cents, 1881. London Mint. Victoria. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, AU Details Gold Shield. The KEY DATE and RARE in any grade. A well struck coin with light marks from an old cleaning, now beginning to show speckled peacock toning colors." The British set up a mint in Hong Kong in 1866 which struck mils through dollars. It does not seem to have been a success as the mint was closed in 1868. In 1872, Hong Kong began receiving twenty cent coins from the Heaton mint and in 1866 from the Royal mint. This type was minted steadily until the queen's death in 1901 tho it is scarce in nice condition, suggesting hard use.
Recorded mintage: 30,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 5.43 g, 0.800 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-7; Mars-C28.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Illustrated Catalog of Hong Kong Currency, Hong Kong: Mars Numismatic Co., 2012.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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