Minted Hong Kong / Chinese 1996.2 Coin - unable to find value/rarity 0

[BeardedEngineer]

Hi everyone,

First post so let's go easy on me. Basically, I've recently been reunited with some coins my grandparents gave me while I was growing up. 

 

There's only one I have not been able to find any trace of on the internet. 

 

My grandpa did a lot of international travel so I have no idea where or how he came across this. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks!

[VKurtB]

Well, we can read it is a privately issued medal. I don’t own THIS one, but I do own literally hundreds of others. 

Edited October 15, 2022 by VKurtB

[JKK]

There's no reason anyone would be rough on you. You included good photos of both sides, told us what you knew, and asked a question. Rough is reserved for persons_of_minimal_evident_cognitive_capacity. Or for those who just want us to confirm their preconceived notions, and thus get mad when we tell them their coin got that way in a parking lot and is worth face value.

That last is something this lacks, because strictly speaking, I think this is a token or medallion rather than a coin. (No one expects you to have known that because, frankly, it's an esoteric and fussy distinction.) I found one in a group of three on an auction site, the three supposedly valued at HK$1000-1500. I have my doubts. On the other hand, I didn't find it on Numista. Maybe it's rare. The venue was renovated in 1996 so that's probably the reason for the issue. Given the scarcity of references, it is probably a very limited issue (maybe hundreds, maybe thousands) but with limited demand in English-language sources that I can search. Given the number of Hong Kong folks who have emigrated to western North America, I wouldn't die of shock to see one turn up here in Portland (Vancouver BC more probably), but there aren't that many.

[BeardedEngineer]

On 10/15/2022 at 9:21 AM, JKK said:

There's no reason anyone would be rough on you. You included good photos of both sides, told us what you knew, and asked a question. Rough is reserved for persons_of_minimal_evident_cognitive_capacity. Or for those who just want us to confirm their preconceived notions, and thus get mad when we tell them their coin got that way in a parking lot and is worth face value.

That last is something this lacks, because strictly speaking, I think this is a token or medallion rather than a coin. (No one expects you to have known that because, frankly, it's an esoteric and fussy distinction.) I found one in a group of three on an auction site, the three supposedly valued at HK$1000-1500. I have my doubts. On the other hand, I didn't find it on Numista. Maybe it's rare. The venue was renovated in 1996 so that's probably the reason for the issue. Given the scarcity of references, it is probably a very limited issue (maybe hundreds, maybe thousands) but with limited demand in English-language sources that I can search. Given the number of Hong Kong folks who have emigrated to western North America, I wouldn't die of shock to see one turn up here in Portland (Vancouver BC more probably), but there aren't that many.

I appreciate the gold mine of info! My grandpa always enjoyed collecting things. Also, thank you for clarifying it as a medallion/token. Makes sense since I couldn't translate any denomination from the text.