Chinese Bank Notes Top Auction Sale

Vintage bank notes dominated a Heritage Auctions sale on July 6, 2022. The HKINF World Paper Money Signature Auction - Hong Kong featured hundreds of Chinese rarities dating from the Imperial to the modern eras.

The star of the sale, a China / People’s Republic 1956 5 Yuan graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 23253) sold for $78,000. This note is an example of the currency during the early years of the newly established government. This colorful note features a vignette of a group of people, printed in deep burgundy ink with a yellow-green pattern background.

Another top lot was a Hong Kong 1921-23 50 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (lot 23434) that realized $55,200. This rare Specimen, issued by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, is one of only nine examples recorded in the PMG Population Report.