TNAG-0455-FCO40-520-Minting-of-new-coins-for-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 14

GR 250

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 130940Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

IN

10 IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 12520F 13 DECEMBER,1974

25

”ནྡྲ、」

ROYAL VISIT.

TODEC 1974

HKK 224 57 38

ник

CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO THE MINTING OF A GOLD COIN

TO COMMEMORATE THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO HONG KONG AND ARE IN

CONSULTATION WITH THE ROYAL MINT.

2. WE HAVE IN MIND A 22 CARAT GOLD COIN OF A 1.118 INCH DIAMETER,

WEIGHING 261.818 GRAINS WITH A MILLED EDGE. THE DESIGN WILL BE

AS FOLLOWS: ON THE OBSERVE SIDE, THE STANDARD EFFIGY AND INSCRIPTION OF OUR OTHER NEW COINS, AND ON THE REVERSE, THE FULL COAT OF ARMS AS DESCRIBED IN THE ROYAL WARRANT OF 21 JANUARY 1959. THE COINS WILL BE IN BOTH PROOF AND ORDINARY QUALITY. WE HAVE NOT DECIDED ON THE FACE VALUES BUT INTEND THAT THE COIN BE LEGAL TENDER.

3. AS THE COINS WILL BE UNIQUELY CONNECTED WITH THE QUEEN, WE INTEND, AS A MATTER OF COURTESY, TO SHOW THE DESIGN TO THE ROYAL MINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE DESIGN OF COINS OF WHICH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IS PRESIDENT. ONCE DESIGN IS PROVISIONALLY AGREED, WE SHALL ASK YOU TO SEEK THE QUEEN'S FORMAL APPROVAL IN THE USUAL

WAY.

4. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME DOUBTS AS TO WHETHER SUCH A COIN COULD

BE ISSUED UNDER THE HONG KONG COINAGE ORDER. DOWLING OF THE ROYAL

MINT HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND THE TREASURY AND WE UNDERSTAND

YOUR VIEW IS THAT THE HONG KONG COINAGE ORDER COULD NOT BE USED TO

COVER THE MINTING OF GOLD COINS. DOWLING SUGGEST THAT THERE WOULD

BE ADEQUATE TIME FOR A NEW ORDER TO BE PREPARED FOR GOLD COINS. AS THE ROYAL MINT REQUIRE FIRM ORDER INSTRUCTIONS BY THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THIS COULD BE

CONFIRMED. PLEASE ALSO ADVISE WHETHER YOU CAN SEE ANY OTHER

OBJECTIONS TO OUR PROCEEDING WITH THE ISSUE OF THIS COIN.

5. IN VIEW OF THE TIME FACTOR, WE SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU

COULD REPLY TO-DAY PLEASE.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKIOD (4) MR MALE P&CD

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CONFIDENTIAL