On 1 October 2009, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) released a HK$150 commemorative charity banknote celebrating 150 years of operations in Hong Kong. It is widely cited as the world’s first banknote with a 150 base-unit denomination.
A world-first denomination
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) has issued Hong Kong dollar notes since the colonial era and remains a note-issuing bank today. Its 2009 HK$150 charity note (Pick P297) was marketed as the world’s first banknote with a 150 base-unit denomination — a clever numismatic hook tied to the bank’s 150 years in the city.
One million notes were sold above face value with proceeds directed to charity. Because the HK$150 denomination appears almost exclusively on Hong Kong commemoratives, this note is often the anchor of a “150 trio” display alongside HSBC’s 2015 issue and other anniversary pieces.
Issue background
Standard Chartered issued about 1 million notes. Like other Hong Kong commemorative issues, the note is legal tender but was sold in presentation packaging above face value, with proceeds supporting charitable causes.
Collecting tip
Because the HK$150 denomination is unique to commemorative issues in Hong Kong, many collectors assemble a “150 trio” set alongside the later HSBC and other anniversary notes for display.