Chinese Bank Notes in Spink Hong Kong Sales

Hundreds of rare bank notes from China and elsewhere were offered in two Spink sales in January. The Chinese Banknotes and Coins auction on Jan. 20 and the World, Macau and Hong Kong Coins and Banknotes auction on Jan. 21, 2024.

Highlighting these auctions was a Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 1921-23 100 Dollars graded PMG 30 Very Fine

(lot 1294), with an estimate of HKD 400,000 to 600,000 (about $51,000 to $77,000). The PMG Population Report records only three genuine issued examples of this catalog number, Pick# 169b, in addition to one from Pick# 169a, which shares the same design but has an earlier date. The example in this auction is the highest graded of these four highly coveted “tea house” notes.

Other notes in World, Macau and Hong Kong Coins and Banknotes auction included:

• A Hong Kong, Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China 1923-29 50 Dollars graded PMG 15 Choice Fine (lot 1213) with an estimate of HKD 270,000 to 400,000 (about $35,000 to $51,000)

• a Hong Kong, Mercantile Bank of India, Ltd. 1941 50 Dollars graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 1188) with an estimate of HKD 100,000 to 150,000 (about $13,000 to $19,000)

• A Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 1930 500 Dollars graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 1306) with an estimate of HKD 100,000 to 150,000 (about $13,000 to $19,000)

• a Hong Kong 1903-12 100 Dollars – Raised from $5 to $100 graded PMG 10 Very Good (lot 1215) with an estimate of HKD 80,000 to 100,000 (about $10,000 to $13,000)

• a Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 194152 500 Dollars graded PMG 30 Very Fine EPQ (lot 1310) with an estimate of HKD 70,000 to 100,000 (about $9,000 to $13,000)

Notes in the Chinese Banknotes and Coins auction include:

• a China / People’s Republic 1951 1,000 Yuan graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated (lot 200) with an estimate of HKD 300,000 to 500,000 (about $38,000 to $64,000)

• a China / Empire 1264-1341 2 Kuan - Yuan Dynasty graded PMG 12 Fine NET (lot 17) with an estimate of HKD 200,000 to 300,000 (about $26,000 to $38,000)

• a China / People’s Republic 1951 1,000 Yuan graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine (lot 201) with an estimate of HKD 180,000 to 260,000 (about $23,000 to $33,000)

Trial Specimen graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated EPQ (Auction 4047, lot 22287), which realized $48,000

• a China, Federal Reserve Bank of China 1938 10 Dollars graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (Auction 4046, lot 24180), which realized $44,400

• a Thailand, Government of Thailand ND (1953) Uncut Sheet of 18 20 Baht graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated EPQ (Auction 4046, lot 24402), which realized $43,200

• a Mauritius, Government of Mauritius ND (1954) 25 Rupees graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (Auction 4047, lot 22301), which realized $31,200

• a Rhodesia & Nyasaland / British Administration 1956-60 10 Pounds graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated EPQ (Auction 4047, lot 22344), which realized $31,200

• a Bahamas, Monetary Authority 1968 100 Dollars graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (Auction 4047, lot 22026), which realized $28,800

• a Southern Rhodesia / British Administration 1954 10 Pounds graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (Auction 4047, lot 22407), which realized $28,800

• a British Caribbean Territories 1953 100 Dollars graded PMG 20 Very Fine (Auction 4047, lot 22093), which realized $28,800

• a Malaya & British Borneo 1953 1,000 Dollars graded PMG 30 Very Fine (Auction 4047, lot 22285), which realized $27,600

• a Malaya & British Borneo 1953 10,000 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated (Auction 4047, lot 22288), which realized $27,600