In 2012, Bank of China (Hong Kong) issued a HK$100 commemorative banknote celebrating the centenary of Bank of China, founded in 1912. Although the note is legal tender in Hong Kong, it was marketed primarily to collectors in presentation folders rather than for general circulation.
Historical background
Bank of China was founded in Shanghai on 5 February 1912, shortly after the fall of the Qing dynasty, and grew into one of China’s largest state-owned banks. By 2012, the centenary was a natural occasion for a commemorative issue — and Hong Kong, where BOCHK operates as one of three note-issuing banks, became the platform for a legal-tender HK$100 note rather than a mainland renminbi product.
The note entered a crowded field of modern Hong Kong commemoratives alongside HSBC and Standard Chartered anniversary issues. Its red celebratory palette, folder packaging and relatively modest print run of 1.1 million singles helped it stand out in dealer inventories and remain a staple reference piece for BOCHK collectors.
Design highlights
The face blends the Great Wall of China into the Bank of China building in Beijing, while a stylised “100” reads almost like a brush stroke. The back features the Bank of China Building in Hong Kong set against the waterfront skyline — a familiar motif for Hong Kong note collectors.
Issue format and collecting notes
- About 1.1 million single notes were offered in commemorative folders.
- Uncut sheets of 3 notes and 30-note sheets were also sold to advanced collectors.
- Folder condition, note centreing and paper quality matter more than face value on the secondary market.