Heritage World Coin Auctions
Hong Kong Signature Currency Sale 3550 7-9 December 2016
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World Currency
Duress Note Hong Kong Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation $50 1.1.1934 Pick 175d. A local bank stamp is seen on the back of this note pressed into service after the World War II Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. As these were actual and ready notes printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and sitting in the vaults, any accountant signature would have made them seem valid. In fact, there are at least three different chief accountants who signed this denomination. The Japanese occupation pressed these "duress notes" into public use and they were also used to buy strategic goods in nearby neutral Macau. As these notes were feared at first to have only a limited exchange period after the war, the majority were quickly redeemed, leaving few larger denominations such as this $50 still in private hands. The serial numbers for $50 denomination "duress notes" are B350,001 through B550,000. This $50 has serial number B531,005. PMG Very Fine 20 Net, foreign substance, splits, and ink stamps.
Estimate: 700-1000 USD
Duress Note Hong Kong Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation $50 1.1.1934 Pick 175d. A local bank stamp is seen on the back of this note pressed into service after the World War II Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. As these were actual and ready notes printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and sitting in the vaults, any accountant signature would have made them seem valid. In fact, there are at least three different chief accountants who signed this denomination. The Japanese occupation pressed these "duress notes" into public use and they were also used to buy strategic goods in nearby neutral Macau. As these notes were feared at first to have only a limited exchange period after the war, the majority were quickly redeemed, leaving few larger denominations such as this $50 still in private hands. The serial numbers for $50 denomination "duress notes" are B350,001 through B550,000. This $50 has serial number B531,005. PMG Very Fine 20 Net, foreign substance, splits, and ink stamps.
Estimate: 700-1000 USD