17.
With reference to the device of the new coin it is considered that the obverse should represent Her Majesty's effigy with the words "Victoria Queen", and the drawing, which I enclose, furnished to me by the Master of the Royal Mint, has met with general approbation.
The reverse should be inscribed "Hongkong, one dollar, 1864", in English, and a similar inscription without the year in Chinese. The specimen devised and struck at the mint in London, which I return herewith, is entirely approved of. But it has been suggested to me that the Chinese characters for "one Dollar" might be a little better made, and I therefore send Chinese wooden printing blocks showing the perfect characters both on a large and a small scale which will no doubt enable the engravers at home to make the necessary alteration in the Die.
Drawing of the obverse the new Dollar.
No 2.
Specimen piece showing reverse of proposed Dollar.
Characters for ...
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18. I may add that the only necessary measure which would be required here if Her Majesty's Government should agree to a British Dollar being issued from the London Mint would be for the Governor to declare under the