Scarce PMG-certified Hong Kong Banknote Realizes Over $200,000

An elusive Hong Kong 1912 500 Dollars certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) sold for HK$1.62 million (about $207,700 USD), dominating a series of Spink sales held on January 7-11, 2022.

Hong Kong, Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China 1912 500 Dollars graded PMG 15 Choice Fine. Realized: HK$1.62 million (about $207,700 USD) Click images to enlarge.

Graded PMG 15 Choice Fine (Auction CSS73C, lot 5508), this Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China note is the only example certified in the PMG Population Report. According to Spink, fewer than five are known to exist. Notes like this one were created by the London-incorporated bank to capitalize on trading between British territories in Asia.

Other PMG-certified highlights in the sales included:

• a Hong Kong 1919-23 50 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (CSS73C, lot 5483) that realized HK$324,000 (about $41,500 USD)
• a China, Banque de L’indo-Chine 1902 100 Dollars = 100 Piastres Specimen graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (CSS73A, lot 2170) that realized HK$240,000 (about $30,700 USD)
• a China / People’s Republic 1953 10 Yuan graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine (CSS73A, lot 2346) that realized HK$204,000 (about $26,100 USD)
• a China / People’s Republic 1949 100 Yuan graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (CSS73A, lot 2298) that realized HK$180,000 (about $23,100 USD)
• a China / People’s Republic 1953 10 Yuan graded PMG 25 Very Fine (CSS73A, lot 2347) that realized HK$144,000 (about $18,400 USD)
• a Hong Kong, Mercantile Bank of India, Ltd. 1937 10 Dollars graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine (CSS73C, lot 5438) that realized HK$132,000 (about $16,900 USD)
• a China / People’s Republic 1953 10 Yuan graded PMG 25 Very Fine NET (CSS73A, lot 2348) that realized HK$126,000 (about $16,100 USD)

All prices realized include the buyer’s premium.

Related Link:

PMG Population Report: China – Hong Kong SAR 500 Dollars