XN000022-1993-12-22 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1993

HK ISSUES FIRST-EVER TWO-GOLD ALLOY COIN

THE FIRST-EVER TWO-GOLD ALLOY COIN IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG'S COINAGE WILL BE ON SALE IN THE TERRITORY EARLY NEXT MONTH.

IT IS THE HONG KONG COMMEMORATIVE $10 GOLD COIN. ONLY 20,000 PIECES WILL BE SOLD WORLDWIDE, OF WHICH 18,000 ARE ALLOCATED FOR HONG KONG.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE GOLD COIN WAS TO COMMEMORATE THE INTRODUCTION OF HONG KONG'S NEW DESIGN COINAGE BEARING THE BAUNINIA FLOWER. BEFORE 1997.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS COMMISSIONED THE ROYAL MINT то STRIKE A LIMITED EDITION OF THE PROOF GOLD COIN.

"OF THE SAME SIZE AND DESIGN AS THE NEW HK$10 COIN WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED INTO GENERAL CIRCULATION NEXT YEAR, IT IS HONG KONG'S FIRST-EVER TWO-GOLD ALLOY COIN, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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THE OUTER RING OF THIS ISSUE IS CAST IN A BLEND OF HIGH-QUALITY GOLD AND SILVER, WHILE THE CENTRE SECTION CONSISTS OF 22-CARAT GOLD.

"THE $10 GOLD COIN, DATED 1994, IS PRICED A'T $2,888," SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE

THE HIGHLY-PRIZED PROOF COINS HAVE BEEN METICULOUSLY PRODUCED AND ARE BOTH A COLLECTOR'S ITEM AND A PERFECT LUNAR NEW YEAR GIFT FOR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.

EACH COIN IS PROTECTED WITHIN A PLASTIC CAPSULE AND SUPPLIED WITH AN ATTRACTIVE, RED PRESENTATION CASE, AND COMES WITH A NUMBERED CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

KONG.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOLD COIN WAS ALSO LEGAL TENDER IN HONG

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AS DEMAND IS EXPECTED TO BE HIGH, AN APPLICANT CAN ONLY BUY ONE COIN. IN THE EVENT OF OVER-SUBSCRIPTION, A BALLOT WILL BE HELD, HE SAID.

APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED, BETWEEN JANUARY 3 AND 8 ONLY, FROM DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE 10 DESIGNATED HONGKONGBANK BRANCHES AT HONG KONG MAIN OFFICE, CHINA BUILDING, WAYFOONG HOUSE, DES VOEUX ROAD WEST, PATERSON STREET, KWUN TONG, MONG ROK, NORTH POINT, TSUEN WAN AND YURN LONG.

COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED TO ONE OF THESE BRANCHES BEFORE 12.30 PM ON JANUARY 8 (SATURDAY).

HONGKONOBANK

THE COINS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FROM JANUARY 31 ONWARDS AND MUST BE COLLECTED IN PERSON. THE APPLICANTS MUST THEIR HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD.

(MONDAY) PRODUCE

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