The Evolution of Hong Kong Dollar Notes: A Comprehensive Guide

The Hong Kong dollar notes have a rich history that spans over four decades. The first Hong Kong dollar note was introduced in 1973, featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

The design of the notes has undergone several changes over the years. The first series of notes, issued in 1973, had a distinctive feature of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side.

The Hong Kong dollar notes are issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and are widely used in the territory. The HKMA is responsible for maintaining the stability of the Hong Kong dollar and the soundness of the financial system.

In addition to the Queen Elizabeth II portrait, the notes also feature various security features to prevent counterfeiting.

The Hong Kong dollar notes have a rich history that spans several decades. The Currency Ordinance of 1935 declared banknotes in denominations of 5 dollars and above issued by the three authorised local banks to be legal tender.

In 1941, the government introduced notes for 1, 5, and 10 cents due to the difficulty of transporting coins to Hong Kong caused by the Second World War. This was a temporary measure to address the shortage of coins.

The 1-cent note issued by the government was demonetised and ceased to be legal tender on 1 October 1995. This marked the end of an era for the small denomination note.

In the 1860s, the Oriental Bank Corporation, the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation began issuing notes.

These banks, including the Oriental Bank Corporation, the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, issued a range of denominations, including 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 dollars.

The 25-dollar notes did not survive beyond the end of the 19th century.

1-dollar notes were issued until 1935 by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

These early bank notes were not accepted by the Treasury for payment of government dues and taxes, although they were accepted for use by merchants.

In the 20th century, Hong Kong's currency underwent significant changes. The Currency Ordinance of 1935 declared banknotes of 5 dollars and above issued by three local banks as legal tender.

The government took over production of 1-dollar notes, and in 1941, notes for 1, 5, and 10 cents were introduced due to the difficulty of transporting coins during World War II.

Just before the Japanese occupation, an emergency issue of 1-dollar notes was made using overprinted Bank of China 5-yuan notes. This was a unique solution to a pressing problem.

In 1945, paper money production resumed, with the government issuing notes of 1, 5, and 10 cents and 1 dollar, and the three banks issuing notes of 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 dollars.

1-dollar notes were replaced by coins in 1960, and only the 1-cent note issued by the government remained in circulation after 1965.

The 5-dollar note was replaced by a coin in 1975, and 1,000-dollar notes were introduced in 1977. The Mercantile Bank was absorbed by HSBC in 1978 and ceased issuing notes.

Here's a brief summary of the key changes to Hong Kong's currency in the 20th century:

The historical denominations of Hong Kong currency are a fascinating topic. The first denominations issued by banks in the 1860s included 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 dollars.

These notes were not accepted by the Treasury for payment of government dues and taxes, but were accepted by merchants. The 25-dollar notes did not survive beyond the end of the 19th century.

One-dollar notes were issued until 1935, and were only issued by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. The government took over production of 1-dollar notes in 1935.

The Currency Ordinance of 1935 declared banknotes in denominations of 5 dollars and above issued by authorized local banks as legal tender. This included notes issued by the Mercantile Bank of India, London and China, Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

Here is a list of the denominations that are no longer issued:

In 1941, the government introduced notes for 1, 5, and 10 cents due to the difficulty of transporting coins to Hong Kong caused by the Second World War.

The design of Hong Kong dollar notes is a fascinating process. The notes are printed on a special paper that is infused with a unique security thread that glows pink under ultraviolet light.

Each note features a distinctive portrait of a notable figure, such as Queen Elizabeth II or a prominent Hong Kong leader. The portrait is surrounded by intricate designs and patterns that are designed to be difficult to reproduce.

The notes are printed in a variety of denominations, including $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000. Each denomination has its own unique design and color scheme.

The production of Hong Kong dollar notes is overseen by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which ensures that the notes meet the highest standards of security and authenticity.

The Hong Kong dollar notes are issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and three commercial banks: HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, and Bank of China.

The HKMA issues the 10-dollar note. The other three banks issue denominations of 20 (blue), 50 (green), 100 (red), 500 (brown), and 1,000 (gold) dollars.

In 2018, the HKMA and the three commercial banks released a new series of banknotes, featuring unique themes and designs. Here's a breakdown of the 2018 series:

The 2018 series of banknotes in Hong Kong was a significant development in the country's currency issuance. The series featured unique designs and themes for each denomination.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation series was one of the notable series in 2018, designed by De La Rue. It included denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000.

The $20 note featured a tea culture theme, with the HSBC lion and the HSBC Building as the identifying device. The $50 note showcased a butterfly and flowers theme. The $100 note highlighted Cantonese Opera as its theme.

The Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) series was another notable series in 2018, designed by Giesecke+Devrient. It also included denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000.

The Bank of China (Hong Kong) series was the third series in 2018, featuring a tea culture theme on the $20 note, a butterfly and flowers theme on the $50 note, and a Cantonese Opera theme on the $100 note.

Here's a summary of the 2018 series:

These unique designs and themes made the 2018 series a notable development in Hong Kong's currency issuance.

Commemorative banknotes have become a unique way for banks to celebrate their anniversaries and special events. In 2009, Standard Chartered Bank issued the world's first 150-dollar denomination banknote to commemorate its 150th anniversary.

Approximately 750,000 notes were sold at above face value, in various combinations and presentations, as a commemorative charity issue. The notes are unlikely to enter circulation due to their rarity and expected higher re-sale value.

In 2012, Hong Kong's Bank of China issued a new 100-dollar note to commemorate the bank's 100th anniversary. 1,100,000 notes were sold as numismatic products packaged in a folder for HK$150.

The notes were also sold in sets of three uncut notes in a folder for HK$600, and 20,000 uncut sheets of 30 notes each were sold for HK$6,000 each. Profits from the sale of the notes were donated to charitable organizations in Hong Kong.

Here is a list of some of the commemorative banknotes issued by Hong Kong banks:

The Hong Kong dollar notes are a great example of how security and visual appeal can go hand in hand. Clemens Berger, the person behind the project, remembers the hard work that went into making it happen, and he's proud of the result.

The notes feature a top-flight security package that protects against forgery and offers a coherent design architecture. This means that the security elements are identical across all three issuing banks, making it easier to produce and verify the notes.

Each note has its own unique design, but the motifs have similar subject matter. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said the designs present the multiple facets of Hong Kong as an international metropolis.

The Galaxy security thread is a game-changer when it comes to security. It features a coded, machine-readable MultiCode feature that's integrated into the thread.

The Galaxy security thread has been rolled out in all the notes from all the issuing banks. This has become a flagship project for Louisenthal, showing why they're a world leader in end-to-end cash cycle management.

The Galaxy security thread technology is based on tiny microscopic mirrors and ColourShift, providing a brilliant visual experience and extreme protection against counterfeiting.