Q 4
DATES.
PRICE OF SILVER PER OZ.
PRICE OF DOLLARS PER 07.
d.
November
10th
532
18th
JJ
53€
d.
521
52
25th
11
591
"
December
3rd
523
517
10th
524
30th
52%
51
J1
RATES OF EXCHANGE ON LONDON FOR 4 MONTHS' BILLS.
d.
3/10/1
J
99
3/10
3/103
It is worthy of remark that direct shipments of Bar Silver from San Francisco to Hongkong during 1879 were to the value of over five millions of Dollars. Imports of Dollars have fallen off very much, the few imported being on account of Chinese Hongs. Very few Dollars are sent to San Francisco for sale as compared with former years, the bulk of them find their way to the London market,
During the year 1879, money has ruled at from 5 to 8% per annum, which is considered cheap in this part of the world.
J. MUSKETT, Captain,
Treasurer.
COINS.
The Currency of the Colony is now regulated by the Queen's Proclamation issued under Her Majesty's Order in Council of the 9th January, 1863, a copy of which was published in the Hongkong Government Gazelle of the 2nd May, 1863, and anch Currency, as hereinafter stated, was made a legal Tender throughout the Colony, from the 16th February, 1864, as proclaimed in the Gazette of the 23rd January of the same year.
The above Currency consists of the following Coins, viz. :—
1. The Dollar of Mexico.
2. The Hongkong Dollar and Half-Dollar issued from Her Majesty's Mint. 3. Silver Coins issued from Her Majesty's Mint, representing:-
(1.) One-fifth part of the said Dollar, and commonly called Twenty Cent Piece;- (2.) One-tenth part of the said Dollar, and commonly called Ten Cent Piece-and (3.) One-twentieth part of the said Dollar, and commonly called Five Cent Piece.
4. Copper or Bronze Coins, also issued from Her Majesty's Mint representing :-
(1.) One-hundredth part of the said Dollar, and commonly called One Cent, and (2.) One-thousandth part of the said Dollar, and commonly called Mil or Cash.
The Silver coins of Twenty, Tên, or Five Cents value are a legal Tonder of payment for any sum not exceeding Two Dollars, and the Cents or Mile for any sum not exceeding One Dollar.
AMOUNT OF COIN IN CIRCULATION.
$ 355,081.00
Approximate amount of Hongkong Dollars and Half-Dollars struck at the Hongkong Mint,...$1,421,487.00 Approximate amount of Hongkong Silver and Copper Subsidiary Coins (20, 10 and 5 Centį Pieces; and 1 Cent and Mil Pieces) put into circulation up to 31st December, 1878, .............
Hongkong Silver Subsidiary Coins obtained from England in the year 1874, and subse. quently issued,
$ 48,000.00
Hongkong Silver and Copper Subsidiary Coins obtained from England in the years 1875, 1876, 1877 and 1879, and subsoquently issued, deducting the amount in the Treasury on the 31st $288,200.00 December, 1879,
It is impossible to state how many of the above Coins and of Coins of other denominations are in circulation, but the probability is that of the Hongkong Silver Coins there is not 10 per cent. of the total issue at the present time within the Colony.