Hong Kong One Dollar

The 1997 Hong Kong One Dollar coin is a copper‑nickel circulation commemorative issued for the 1997 handover, featuring the Bauhinia flower on the obverse and a Qilin (Chinese unicorn) on the reverse. 1 2 3

🪙 Identity & Significance

The Hong Kong 1 Dollar (1997) marks one of the most historically important transitions in modern Asian history: the Retrocession of Hong Kong to China. It is the first circulating coin of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and symbolizes the shift from British colonial rule to Chinese sovereignty. 4

This coin is widely collected because it represents the beginning of a new political era and introduces a fully local design—no monarch, no British symbols—reflecting Hong Kong’s new identity.

🧭 Specifications

• Issuer: Hong Kong (China)

• Year: 1997

• Denomination: 1 Dollar

• Composition: Copper‑nickel

• Weight: 7.1 g

• Diameter: 25.5 mm

• Thickness: 1.9 mm

• Shape: Round

• Edge: Reeded

• Orientation: Medal alignment (↑↑)

• Mint: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, UK 4

🎨 Design Details

Obverse

• Features the Bauhinia blakeana, Hong Kong’s emblematic orchid flower.

• Lettering: 香港 / HONG KONG

• Designer: Joseph Yam 4

This design replaced the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, marking a complete visual break from colonial iconography.

Reverse

• Depicts a Qilin (Kirin) — a mythical creature symbolizing good fortune, virtuous leadership, and auspicious beginnings.

• Lettering: 壹圓 / 1 / ONE DOLLAR / 1997

• Designer: Lady Haddon‑Cave 4

The Qilin was chosen to represent hope and prosperity under the new administration.

🏛 Historical Context

The 1997 series was released to coincide with the 1 July 1997 handover, when Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China. Unlike earlier coins, which featured British royal portraits and heraldry, this design expresses a neutral, local identity suitable for the new political structure. 5

This coin is part of the first full redesign of Hong Kong’s circulating currency since the 1950s.

UK Size	US Size	EU Size	Inside Diameter (mm)	Inside Circumference (mm)
A	0.5	38	12.04	37.8
B	1	39	12.45	39.1
C	1.5	40	12.85	40.4
D	2	41	13.26	41.7
E	2.5	42	13.67	43.0
F	3	44	14.07	44.2
G	3.5	45	14.48	45.5
H	4	46	14.88	46.8
I	4.5	47	15.29	48.0
J	5	49	15.49	48.7
K	5.5	50	15.90	50.0
L	6	51	16.31	51.3
M	6.5	52	16.71	52.5
N	7	54	17.12	53.8
O	7.5	55	17.53	55.1
P	8	56	17.93	56.3
Q	8.5	57	18.34	57.6
R	9	59	18.75	58.9
S	9.5	60	19.15	60.2
T	10	61	19.56	61.4
U	10.5	62	19.96	62.7
V	11	64	20.37	64.0
W	11.5	65	20.78	65.3
X	12	66	21.18	66.6
Y	12.5	67	21.59	67.9
Z	13	68	21.99	69.1
Z+1	13.5	69	22.40	70.4
Z+2	14	70	22.81	71.7
Z+3	14.5	71	23.21	72.9
Z+4	15	72	23.62	74.2