Hong Kong 1990 50 cents
This specimen was lot 72308 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2019), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, ""HONG KONG. 50 Cents, 1990. PCGS SPECIMEN-64 Gold Shield. A fully brilliant and blazing Near Gem, yielding intense radiance and charm. Ex: King's Norton Mint Collection." Silver fifty cents were struck for Hong Kong until 1905. When the denomination resumed in 1951, it was a much smaller coin in copper-nickel. Copper-nickel was used 1958-75, then nickel brass for 1977-90, then brass plated steel for 1993-98. This type was struck 1988-90 and is worthless in all grades. In 1997, the territory was returned to China.
Recorded mintage: 27,000,000 plus a few specimens.
Specification: 4.9 g, nickel-brass, reeded edge, 22.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-62.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Illustrated Catalog of Hong Kong Currency, Hong Kong: Mars Numismatic Co., 2012.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The October 2019 Collector's Choice Sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
Link to: