COPY.
TEN-CENT PIECES from HONG KONG
REC
C.O
170
56512
REG 8 DEC15)
2219/15.
All the four pieces submitted for examination
appear to be genuine, and the statement in paragraph 3 of the
Governor's letter, that a change was made in the ten cent
dies about 1884, is confirmed by our records. It is found
that fresh matrices and punches were prepared in 1883 in
connection with a silver coinage requisitioned on the 4th
June (854/83). Coins of this denomination had been struck
at frequent intervals since 1863, and, in acknowledging on the
7th June the requisition from the Crown Agents, the Deputy
Master stated that there would be some delay in supplying the
coin because the dies and punches were worn and required
renewal. In the accounts rendered at the completion of the
coinage, payments were claimed from the Crown Agents on behalf
of Mr. L. Wyon for engraving and of the Master of the Mint for
preparing punches (see Colonial Coinages Book, p. 27).
It is not possible to say what was done to the
obverse, but in the case of the reverse it was evidently
necessary to grind off the lettering from the punch in order
that the "form" or working efficiency of the dies might be
improved. In replacing the circumscription on a new matrix,
the opportunity was taken to remedy the faulty hyphen, and to
space the letters more evenly and to place them more centrally
between the dotted circles. These minor details, however,
are clearly of the nature of rectification rather than of
deliberate change of an approved design. Such slight
alterations are not of uncommon occurrence, especially when
the issue of coins of a given design is spread over a consider -
able period, The discovery and registration of these minute
differences