The two-tone 10 dollars is the highest denomination of Hong Kong’s bauhinia series and an entirely new one for Hong Kong coinage: it was introduced together with the series in 1993.

A brass centre in a copper-nickel ring is the first thing you notice when you pick the coin up. The obverse belongs to the bauhinia, Hong Kong’s emblem, with the legend «香港 HONG KONG»; the reverse to the value: the numeral 10, the date 1995, «拾圓» and «TEN DOLLARS». Both designs are by Joseph Yam.

Coins dated 1995 were issued during the colonial period, under Elizabeth II, although her portrait no longer appears on them: from 1993 the bauhinia took the Queen’s place on Hong Kong coins. In the Krause catalogue this is type KM# 70, struck for only a few years.

Grade VF: wear is visible on the raised parts of the design, but the main details and legends remain sharp. For a Hong Kong collection it is an accessible way to own the bimetallic type of the last colonial years.

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