Heritage World Coin Auctions
Hong Kong Signature Sale 3540 10-11 Dec 2015
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Hong Kong Oriental Bank $500 ND (18__) Pick UNL Proof
An excessively rare design in any state, missing from even the most advanced collections. This note will attract many different collectors. Not only is its $500 denomination undeniably high, and represents a major amount of buying power (especially in 1800s Hong Kong), it is also printed by a rather obscure company. While most collectors would hastily connect the style of fine line engraving with that of Bacon, Perkins & Company, this note was actually printed by Batho & Binley, which like the Oriental Bank, pales in the quantity contributed to the growing Hong Kong economy of the late 19th Century when compared to its contemporaries. Issued notes from this bank are excessively rare, as only $5 denominations of the 1866 series are known, with all other denominations and issues known only as Specimens or Proofs. The $1000 Proof has not been offered in almost 15 years, and most recently a $50 Specimen realized nearly $50,000 at auction last year. In 2010, the $100 Specimen topped $85,000. With examples of this bank making only ephemeral appearances on the world auction stage, fierce competition is expected of this lovely rarity. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.
An excessively rare design in any state, missing from even the most advanced collections. This note will attract many different collectors. Not only is its $500 denomination undeniably high, and represents a major amount of buying power (especially in 1800s Hong Kong), it is also printed by a rather obscure company. While most collectors would hastily connect the style of fine line engraving with that of Bacon, Perkins & Company, this note was actually printed by Batho & Binley, which like the Oriental Bank, pales in the quantity contributed to the growing Hong Kong economy of the late 19th Century when compared to its contemporaries. Issued notes from this bank are excessively rare, as only $5 denominations of the 1866 series are known, with all other denominations and issues known only as Specimens or Proofs. The $1000 Proof has not been offered in almost 15 years, and most recently a $50 Specimen realized nearly $50,000 at auction last year. In 2010, the $100 Specimen topped $85,000. With examples of this bank making only ephemeral appearances on the world auction stage, fierce competition is expected of this lovely rarity. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.