PMG-graded Hong Kong Banknotes from the 1800s Featured in Spink Sale

Two fascinating and rare banknotes certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) that date from the earliest years of British rule in Hong Kong, China are the top lots in a pair of Spink numismatic auctions. Bidding is already underway for the two sales, being held January 8-9, 2021.

British control of Hong Kong began in 1841, and the colony in southern China rapidly gained population. A Hong Kong, Oriental Bank Corporation ND (circa 1850s) 50 Dollars Proof graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated offers a glimpse into the formative years of what today is a global center of commerce with a population of over 7 million people.

Hong Kong, Oriental Bank Corp. ND (circa 1850s) 50 Dollars Proof graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated Click images to enlarge.

The front of this incredibly rare note shows a lion and a unicorn, heraldry of the United Kingdom. To the left of the lion is the word VICTORIA, which was both the name of the British monarch at the time and the name of the city that served as the capital of the fledgling colony. This note has an estimate of HK$750,000 to HK$900,000 (about $97,000 USD to $116,000 USD).

Amazingly, the auction includes a second note from this same historic era: a Hong Kong ND (1858) 5 Dollars - Remainder graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated. Bearing the name of the Mercantile Bank of India, London & China with the words HONG KONG BRANCH at the top of the front, this note is one of the earliest designed specifically for Hong Kong. It has an estimate of HK$500,000 to HK$750,000 (about $65,000 USD to $97,000 USD).

Hong Kong ND (1858) 5 Dollars - Remainder graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated Click images to enlarge.

Other PMG-certified highlights in the sales include:

• a group of five China, Bank of China 1913 Specimens ($1, $5, $20, $50 and $100) graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated through PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ, with an estimate of HK$500,000 to HK$750,000 (about $65,000 USD to $97,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong ND (ca. 1862) 200 Dollars Proof graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ, with an estimate of HK$400,000 to HK$600,000 (about $52,000 USD to $77,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong 1959 500 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ, with an estimate of HK$360,000 to HK$500,000 (about $46,000 USD to $65,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong, Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation 1916-23 5 Dollars graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated, with an estimate of HK$330,000 to HK$380,000 (about $43,000 USD to $49,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong, Mercantile Bank of India Ltd. 1912 5 Dollars graded PMG 30 Very Fine, with an estimate of HK$300,000 to HK$450,000 (about $39,000 USD to $58,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong 1880-90 25 Dollars Proof graded PMG 61 Uncirculated, with an estimate of HK$250,000 to HK$350,000 (about $32,000 USD to $45,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong, Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China 1903-12 5 Dollars graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated, with an estimate of HK$250,000 to HK$350,000 (about $32,000 USD to $45,000 USD)
• a group of six China Specimens (1914-15 $1, 1914-15 $5, 1914-15 $10, 1915 $50, 1915 $100, 1914-18 $500) graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated to PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated, with an estimate of HK$250,000 to HK$350,000 (about $32,000 USD to $45,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong ND (1912) 50 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 53 About Uncirculated, with an estimate of HK$200,000 to HK$300,000 (about $26,000 USD to $39,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong, Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation 1888-93 5 Dollars graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine NET, with an estimate of HK$200,000 to HK$300,000 (about $26,000 USD to $39,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong, Mercantile Bank of India, Ltd. 1937 10 Dollars graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine, with an estimate of HK$180,000 to HK$240,000 (about $23,000 USD to $31,000 USD)
• a China, People's Republic 1951 5,000 Yuan graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine NET, with an estimate of HK$180,000 to HK$240,000 (about $23,000 USD to $31,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong 1923 5 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated, with an estimate of HK$160,000 to HK$200,000 (about $21,000 USD to $26,000 USD)
• a Hong Kong 1921-25 500 Dollars graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ, with an estimate of $160,000 to HK$200,000 (about $21,000 USD to $26,000 USD)
• a Beijing Banknote Printing Co. 10 Yuan Test Note graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated, with an estimate of HK$150,000 to HK$250,000 (about $19,000 USD to $32,000 USD)
• a China, People's Republic 1951 500 Yuan Front Specimen and Back Specimen, graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated and PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated, respectively, with an estimate of HK$150,000 to HK$200,000 (about $19,000 USD to $26,000 USD)
• a China, Agra & Masterman's Bank, Limited ND (ca. 1862) 10 Taels Proof graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated, with an estimate of HK$150,000 to HK$200,000 (about $19,000 USD to $26,000 USD)
• a China 1909 100 Dollars Front and Back Proof certified by PMG as genuine, with an estimate of HK$140,000 to HK$200,000 (about $18,000 USD to $26,000 USD)
• a group of seven China ND (1999) or 1999 100 Yuan Progressive Proofs graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ to PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ, with an estimate of HK$140,000 to HK$200,000 (about $18,000 USD to $26,000 USD)

All estimates are provided by the auction house.