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United Kingdom of Great Britain, Victoria for Hong Kong, 1 Dollar 1867

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United Kingdom of Great Britain, Victoria  for Hong Kong, 1 Dollar 1867 (obverse) United Kingdom of Great Britain, Victoria  for Hong Kong, 1 Dollar 1867 (reverse)

Today, one pays with Hong Kong dollars in Hong Kong, thanks to the British queen Victoria (1837-1901), who had such dollars minted in the years 1866-1868 as silver trade coins. The Hong Kong dollars were to replace the Spanish-Mexican pesos, the most popular trade coins in China at that time. However, the Hong Kong dollar did not prevail over the peso; after only two years, its coinage had to be ceased. In 1895, a new attempt was made: A trade dollar was issued for East Asia, which eventually evolved into the Hong Kong-dollar still in use today. It bore the image of Queen Victoria on its obverse; the reverse showed ornaments and Chinese and English legends as well as the date of issue.

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