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1 Tael Pattern, Hong Kong Mint, without rays
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 1867 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | Kann#911a, L&M#600, KM#Pn124 |
| Obverse description | The British Royal Arms occupies the central field, comprising the quartered shield of England, Scotland, and Ireland — displaying lions passant guardant and a harp — surmounted by a crowned helm and supported within a garter collar bearing the motto HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE. Below the shield, the fineness and weight specifications are inscribed (982 G566), while a full circular English legend surrounds the entire composition, identifying the denomination, assay standard, mint of issue, and date. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | 1867 |
| Additional information |
Hong Kong's colonial mint operated for only four years, 1866–1868, before being shut down as a commercial failure — the Chinese public widely rejected machine-struck coinage in favor of traditional sycee silver, and the operation never came close to profitability. This Tael pattern was part of a broader effort to introduce a standardized silver trade unit that would function across both colonial and imperial Chinese commerce, a project that never materialized into regular issue.
The "without rays" distinction separates this from the more commonly referenced rayed variety, making Kann#911a the scarcer of the two pattern types from this abortive series.