The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation issued a HK$150 commemorative banknote in 2015 to celebrate its 150th anniversary in Hong Kong. Together with Standard Chartered’s earlier HK$150 charity note, it helped establish the HK$150 denomination as a distinctive commemorative format in the city.
HSBC in Hong Kong
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation opened in Hong Kong in 1865 and has been one of the city’s three note-issuing banks for generations. Its 150th anniversary in 2015 was celebrated with a HK$150 denomination — a face value that had already been pioneered by Standard Chartered’s 2009 charity note and would become a recognisable commemorative format in Hong Kong numismatics.
Two million notes were printed under Pick P210. The lion-and-shield heritage design connects the issue to HSBC’s broader note series while the non-standard denomination signals its commemorative purpose. Today the note trades mainly on folder condition, grading and attractive serial numbers rather than any scarcity of supply.
Why collectors notice this issue
- Approximately 2 million notes were issued — a relatively accessible modern commemorative by Hong Kong standards.
- The note is legal tender but was sold above face value and is rarely seen in daily change.
- Folder completeness, serial numbers and grading all influence secondary-market pricing.
