From 1 July 1952 the Government $1 portrait changed to Queen Elizabeth II while the green colour of the late George VI notes continued. Catalogued Pick 324A, the type is nicknamed 英女皇 — “the Queen” — in Hong Kong collecting. It is the last banknote in the Bradbury Wilkinson Government one-dollar series that began with the 1935 Whiskered Man.
Hong Kong collectors often treat Government one-dollar notes as a five-nickname set: 鬍鬚佬 (George V), 紫皇 / 藍皇 / 綠皇 (George VI by colour), and 英女皇 (Elizabeth II). 英女皇 is usually the easiest nickname to find in quantity.
Issue dates and signatures
Printed dates include 1 July 1952, further mid-1950s dates such as 1955, 1 June 1956, and 1 July 1957–1959 (exact lists vary slightly by catalogue). Financial Secretary Arthur Grenfell Clarke signed the series. Early 1952–1954 dates and high EPQ grades still attract set builders even though the type is common in lower circulated grades.
From paper dollar to cupronickel coin
Paper $1 notes wore out quickly in daily change. From December 1960 the Government issued a cupronickel $1 coin (often remembered as the large “大一蚊”) instead of printing new one-dollar notes. Remaining government notes other than the one-cent were demonetised on 1 September 1969, closing the legal-tender life of the Government $1 paper series.
That long afterlife in tills and family drawers explains why 英女皇 notes remain the most familiar Government to older Hong Kong residents. Completing a full date run of 英女皇 is still a relatively easy collecting theme.
Design and production
Same Bradbury Wilkinson format (~126 × 79 mm) as earlier government dollars. The young queen’s portrait is the quick visual ID versus 綠皇. Because both are green, photos alone can mislead — verify the right-hand portrait before you buy, especially on rushed online listings that only show the reverse or a slab label.
Collectors use nicknames like “Queen” (英女皇) based on the portrait and face colour.
Collecting notes
- Standard name: Hong Kong Government $1 “Queen” (英女皇), Pick 324A (1952–1959 dates).
- Common type overall, but early dates and high EPQ grades still interest set builders closing a five-nickname run.
- A full date run plus one coin of 1960 makes a neat “paper to metal” display of how Hong Kong left the $1 note behind.