April 2026 Hong Kong Auction 17-18 Apr 2026
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5 days 20 hr 43 min
5 days 20 hr 43 min
Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
April 2026 Hong Kong Auction 17-18 Apr 2026
April 2026 Hong Kong Auction 17-18 Apr 2026
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- An Incredible Tientsin Branch 25 Mexican Dollars
CHINA--FOREIGN BANKS. Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation. 25 Mexican Dollars, Tientsin, ND (ca. 1880). P-S380s. S/N#Y13. Specimen. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.
25 Mexican Dollars, Tientsin, dated '...... 18....,' the other known specimen dated 1887. Specimen in dark blue and pink, the back orange. Decorative three-sectioned 'protector' overprint in pink, incorporating large numerals '25', of similar style to that first introduced by the bank (elsewhere) in 1884. The engraved central panel reads 'Promises to pay the Bearer on Demand Twenty Five Mexican Dollars at its Office here value received.'
This type was printed on unwatermarked banknote paper, by Barclay & Fry, London, and is seen with four fine 'Cancelled' perforations at different angles. 1887 saw the first issue of Mexican Dollar notes from the Tientsin branch. This was to be this institution's only issue of Mexican Dollars, and of the subsequent Dollar series, only a five-dollar note was (apparently) issued. Offered here is a lovely fresh note and of the highest rarity and desirability; only two pieces are believed to be known in private hands, and this is the only example in the PMG population report as of the time of cataloging.
Joe Cribb, in the important reference work on HSBC called 'Money in the Bank shares the following background information (paraphrased for clarity):
Foreign trade in the north of China was poorly developed, and it was only in 1881 that the Bank first opened an office there in Tientsin in 1881. This was followed by Peking in 1885 and Chefoo (Yantai) in 1901. The Tientsin branch was opened so that money would be available close to Peking, and the Peking branch itself was opened to provide personal banking services for the foreign community based in the capital and to facilitate loans for Chinese officials and Government Departments. A 1901 five-dollar note is in the Bank's Collection, and another 1896 one-dollar note is held in a private collection. Apart from these two notes, only specimen notes of the 5, 10, 25, and 50 Dollars are known for the whole series.
The rarity and significance of this note is clear, especially with the exciting $25 denomination. A once in a life time opportunity for the advanced collector, not to be missed. THE SOLE EXAMPLE GRADED BY PMG. PMG Comments "Perforation Cancelled. Previously Mounted."
Estimate: 50000 - 75000
CHINA--FOREIGN BANKS. Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation. 25 Mexican Dollars, Tientsin, ND (ca. 1880). P-S380s. S/N#Y13. Specimen. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.
25 Mexican Dollars, Tientsin, dated '...... 18....,' the other known specimen dated 1887. Specimen in dark blue and pink, the back orange. Decorative three-sectioned 'protector' overprint in pink, incorporating large numerals '25', of similar style to that first introduced by the bank (elsewhere) in 1884. The engraved central panel reads 'Promises to pay the Bearer on Demand Twenty Five Mexican Dollars at its Office here value received.'
This type was printed on unwatermarked banknote paper, by Barclay & Fry, London, and is seen with four fine 'Cancelled' perforations at different angles. 1887 saw the first issue of Mexican Dollar notes from the Tientsin branch. This was to be this institution's only issue of Mexican Dollars, and of the subsequent Dollar series, only a five-dollar note was (apparently) issued. Offered here is a lovely fresh note and of the highest rarity and desirability; only two pieces are believed to be known in private hands, and this is the only example in the PMG population report as of the time of cataloging.
Joe Cribb, in the important reference work on HSBC called 'Money in the Bank shares the following background information (paraphrased for clarity):
Foreign trade in the north of China was poorly developed, and it was only in 1881 that the Bank first opened an office there in Tientsin in 1881. This was followed by Peking in 1885 and Chefoo (Yantai) in 1901. The Tientsin branch was opened so that money would be available close to Peking, and the Peking branch itself was opened to provide personal banking services for the foreign community based in the capital and to facilitate loans for Chinese officials and Government Departments. A 1901 five-dollar note is in the Bank's Collection, and another 1896 one-dollar note is held in a private collection. Apart from these two notes, only specimen notes of the 5, 10, 25, and 50 Dollars are known for the whole series.
The rarity and significance of this note is clear, especially with the exciting $25 denomination. A once in a life time opportunity for the advanced collector, not to be missed. THE SOLE EXAMPLE GRADED BY PMG. PMG Comments "Perforation Cancelled. Previously Mounted."
Estimate: 50000 - 75000