Hong Kong 1888 5 cents
This specimen was lot 74271 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2022), where it sold for $384. The catalog description[1] noted, "HONG KONG. 5 Cents, 1888. London Mint. Victoria. PCGS MS-64. A beautiful near-Gem example, this piece has blast white surfaces and is not lacking for luster. A beautiful piece for the condition driven collector." 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 five 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. This bare bust appeared on the five, twenty and fifty cents and a "Gothic" bust of the queen was used on the cent and ten cents.
Recorded mintage: 2,448,000 for 1887-88.
Specification: 1.35 g, 0.800 fine silver, .035 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-5.
- 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 February 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins, Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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