CO129-430 - Others & Individuals - 1915 — Page 175

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