1966 Hong Kong $100 Banknote - HSBC - "Big Red" - Fine/Very Fine /w1

A Mid-Century Icon of the Pearl of the Orient

Step back into the bustling 1960s with this authentic HSBC One Hundred Dollar note. Known colloquially as the "Big Red" due to its striking crimson ink, this large-format note was a significant sum during the era. It captures the transition of Hong Kong from a colonial entrepôt to a global financial powerhouse.

Historic & Design Highlights:

• Obverse (Front): Features a seated figure of Britannia on the left, holding a trident and a book, symbolizing British maritime power and law. The center displays the classic HSBC coat of arms with the lion and unicorn, and the promise to pay the bearer on demand at its office in Hong Kong.

• Reverse (Back): Showcases an engraving of the third-generation HSBC Head Office building in Central, Hong Kong. Above the building is a small vignette of a winged angel (the "Angel of Peace").

• Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd., New Malden, Surrey, England.

• Signatory: Features the printed signatures of the Chief Accountant and Chief Manager (J. Saunders).

Item Details:

• Issuer: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

• Denomination: One Hundred Dollars ($100).

• Date: 1st August 1966.

• Serial Number: 958246 UP.

• Condition: Fine / Very Fine (Circulated) – This note has seen honest use in the markets of Hong Kong. It features several vertical and horizontal folds, original paper body with some softening, and typical minor soiling/toning consistent with its age. There are no major tears or missing pieces.

Collector's Perspective: These red $100 notes are becoming increasingly difficult to source as many were exchanged for newer, smaller designs in the 1970s. The 1966 date is particularly interesting, as it was a year of social transition in Hong Kong. For a collector of "Banker's Series" notes, this provides a wonderful opportunity to own a piece of history at a more accessible price point than a Gem-grade example.

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