The Hong Kong fifty-cent coin was first introduced as a .900 purity silver half dollar in 1866. These coins were 13.41 grams, with a diameter of 32 mm, thickness of 2 mm, and a reeded edge. The design was similar to the British trade dollar, except the image of Britannia was replaced by Queen Victoria. The dates of issue were 1866-67 with only 59,000 issued for both dates combined.
In 1890, a second issue of this coin was made, this time as a fifty-cent piece. The mintage years was from 1890–94 and 1902, 1904-05. The coin was reeded but reduced in size to 30.5 mm in diameter, but with an increase in weight to 13.48 grammes, but the thickness stayed the same at 2 mm. Metal composition was .800 silver.
No more of this denomination was minted until 1951 when a copper-nickel coin was issued. It was 23.5 mm in diameter, weighed 5.81 g and 2 mm in thickness. Until 1971, the reeding was with a security edge and from then onwards was just reeded. In 1977 a nickel-brass coin was issued which reduced the size of the coin. The bauhinia series, without the queen's portrait, was issued in 1993. In 1997 a commemorative coin was issued for the hand over of Hong Kong to China. It featured an ox.
Mintage years are as follows: 1951, 1958, 1960–61, 1963–68, 1970–75, 1977–80, 1990, 1993–95, 1997–98 and 2015.
Mintage
Mintmarks H = Heaton KN = King's Norton Year Mintage 1951 15,000,000 1958H 4,000,000 1960 4,000,000 1961 6,000,000 1963H 10,000,000 1964 5,000,000 1965KN 8,000,000 1966 5,000,000 1967 12,000,000 1968H 12,000,000 1970H 4,600,000 1971KN ??? 1972 30,000,000 1973 36,800,000 1974 6,000,000 1975 8,000,000 1977 60,001,000 1978 70,000,000 1979 60,640,000 1980 120,000,000 1988 40,000 circulating. 20,000 proof. 1990 27,000,000 1993 ??? 1994 ??? 1995 ??? 1997 Ox commemorative. ??? circulating. 97,000 proof. 1997 Unknown 1998 Unknown 2015 Unknown 2017 Unknown
References
Ma Tak Wo 2004, Illustrated Catalogue of Hong Kong Currency, Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., LTD Kowloon Hong Kong.