Collect Rare Hong Kong Paper Money
Hong Kong paper money is produced by three different banks. These banknotes trace their history to the mid-18th century when Hong Kong was under the influence of the British Empire. If you are looking for used Hong Kong paper money, or you're interested in purchasing a Hong Kong banknotes collection, shopping on eBay can help you get a fair deal.
Types of paper moneyHong Kong banknotes are printed in $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000 denominations. Before Hong Kong became part of China, it was also customary to print $1 and $25 bills as well as paper money denominations in cents. Here are the distinguishing features of each generation of paper money:
- British era: Since 1860, British banknotes were accepted by merchants and exchanged in other countries. At the start of the 20th century, the government took over the printing of smaller denominations such as 1-cent, 5-cent, and 10-cent bills, while major banks continued to issue banknotes of greater value. In 1960, smaller amounts were usually replaced with coins instead of banknotes.
- Chinese era: The existing currency in circulation includes the aforementioned dollar notes. These notes are mostly issued by three banks. Almost half of these are issued by HSBC, followed by the Bank of China and Standard Chartered Bank.
Hong Kong banknotes produced to commemorate certain events are highly regarded by collectors. Among the notable collections are 2007 $10 bills printed to commemorate the transfer of Hong Kong to China. Similarly, commemorative notes that have a picture of HSBC or Bank of China headquarters are also well-received by collectors.
You may also get your hands on rare banknotes that were produced by different banks operating in the British era. Banknotes printed by Mercantile Bank of India, London and China; Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China; The National Bank of China; Chartered Bank; Oriental Bank Corporation; the AGRA & Masterman's Bank Limited; The Asiatic Banking Corporation; and The Bank of Hindu will fetch a premium.
Examples of 21st-century banknotesThe existing banknotes are usually divided into three series. The original series of banknotes were printed in 2003, when the identifying devices were an HBSC lion, Bank of China Tower, and different historical pictures.
The 2010 series did not include the $10 note printed by the government in the previous series. The identifying markers on these banknotes remained the same as in the previous design. Identifying devices on the 2018 series of printed paper money comprise pictures of the respective headquarters of the three issuing banks.
Content provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.