Hong Kong, Government of Hong Kong, 1 Cent KNB16a ND (1961-71) Sign 1
Product Overview
This collectible is a 1-cent single-sided subsidiary banknote issued by the British Hong Kong government. It has no year of issue (ND), was officially circulated from 1961 to 1971, has the International Banknote Catalogue number Pick#325a, classification code KNB16a, and bears the Financial Secretary's first-edition signature Sign.#1. It has been certified by the globally renowned banknote grading agency PMG, achieving a top-tier EPQ of 67 (Superb Gem Unc, uncirculated, high-quality original paper).
During the 1960s, Hong Kong faced a shortage of metal subsidiary coins, so the Hong Kong government issued this single-sided small-denomination banknote as legal tender, legally usable for all transactions up to HK$1. The banknote features only text and images on the front, with the back completely blank. It is a unique single-sided circulating banknote in Hong Kong monetary history, and high-grade EPQ banknotes are extremely rare, making it a classic collectible item from colonial Hong Kong banknotes.
Front and Back Details
Front (Printed Main Side)
| Title Text | Horizontal English "GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG" at the top, mirrored with Traditional Chinese "香港政府" (Hong Kong Government); Denomination Layout: "1c" in English and "壹分" (One Cent) in Traditional Chinese vertical characters at each corner; Large spiral anti-counterfeiting engraving surrounds the large "壹分" (One Cent) on the left; Legal Terms Area: English text in the middle indicating legal tender status: "THESE NOTES ARE LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING ONE DOLLAR"; prominent English "ONE CENT" in the center, paired with the corresponding Traditional Chinese "壹分" (One Cent) below; Issuer information at the bottom: "FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF The inscription "HONGKONG" and the signature of the Financial Secretary are displayed. |
|---|---|
| Portrait Design | A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in her youth is printed within an oval border on the right, representing the earliest classic portrait version in this series. |
| Printing Process | Monochrome brown intaglio printing with a full-page intricate anti-counterfeiting pattern, featuring complete and three-dimensional lines, and saturated ink without fading. |
Back (Blank Side)
The back of the banknote has no printed patterns, text, or background patterns, retaining only the original light off-white special cotton banknote paper. The absence of watermarks, security threads, and other anti-counterfeiting devices is the most distinctive feature of this one-cent banknote.
Product Specifications
| Issuing Authority | Hong Kong Government |
|---|---|
| Circulation Period | 1961–1971 (No year of printing on the banknote) |
| International Catalogue Number | Pick #325a |
| Face Value | 1 Cent (One Cent), the lowest denomination banknote in Hong Kong history |
| Printing Method | Single-sided intaglio printing, blank reverse side |
| Paper Material | Professional cotton banknote paper |
| Grading Condition | PMG 67 EPQ, Brand New, Uncirculated |
| Signature | First-issue Financial Secretary's signature, Sign. #1 |
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