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500 Yuan Founding of Hong Kong Admin Region
| Issuer | People's Bank of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 1997 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | KM#1046 |
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| Reverse description | The reverse features a prominent portrait of Deng Xiaoping in right-facing profile occupying the upper central field, set against radiating sunburst lines symbolizing a new era. Below the portrait, a panoramic skyline of Hong Kong is depicted in high relief, showcasing the city's modern architecture and Victoria Harbour. The denomination 500元 appears prominently in the lower central field. The circular legend 中华人民共和国香港特别行政区成立 arcs around the upper periphery in Chinese characters, with the English legend THE FOUNDING OF HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF P.R. CHINA inscribed along the lower border. |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
Issued to mark the handover of Hong Kong from British administration on July 1, 1997, this coin was produced at a politically charged moment — the transfer ending 156 years of colonial rule following the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration negotiated by Thatcher and Zhao Ziyang. The People's Bank struck several denominations in this series, with this five-ounce piece sitting at the top of the range.
Mintage for the gold issues in this series was tightly controlled, and the 1997 handover coins collectively attracted significant speculative buying in the months surrounding the transfer — demand that quickly outpaced production allocations from authorized distributors.