Hong Kong Government 5 Cents 1961–65 PMG 64
Product Overview
This collectible is a 5-cent single-sided subsidiary banknote from the British Hong Kong government. It lacks the year of issue (ND), circulated from 1961 to 1965, and is listed in the International Banknote Catalogue (Pick#326) and KNB17a. It is the first signed edition of this series, and has been graded 64 Choice Unc (Fine Uncirculated) by the internationally renowned appraisal agency PMG.
This 5-cent banknote is the earliest issued version of the Hong Kong government's 5-cent subsidiary banknote. Its early issuance and high circulation volume make it extremely rare in mint condition. The banknote is printed on only one side, with the reverse completely blank, making it a unique single-sided circulating banknote in Hong Kong monetary history and a core starting point for collectors of colonial Hong Kong banknote varieties.
Front and Back Details
Front (Main Printed Side)
| Title Text | The top horizontal English text reads "GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG," with the corresponding Traditional Chinese characters "香港政府" (Hong Kong Government) on the reverse. |
|---|---|
| Denomination Layout | The four corners are marked with the English "5c" and the vertical Traditional Chinese characters "伍分" (Five Cents). A large spiral anti-counterfeiting engraving surrounds the large characters "伍分" on the left. |
| Legal Terms Area | The middle section states "THESE NOTES ARE LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING TWO DOLLARS" in English. The center prominently displays "FIVE CENTS," with the Traditional Chinese characters "伍分" below. The bottom features the issuing authority's name and the first Financial Secretary's handwritten signature. |
| Portrait Design | An early standard portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in her youth, dated 1960, is printed within an oval border on the right. Early 1950s portrait printing plate; Printing process: monochrome green intaglio printing, full-page intricate anti-counterfeiting background pattern, three-dimensional and complete lines, even and full ink without fading. |
Back (Blank Side)
The back of the banknote has no patterns, text, or background patterns, only retaining the original light off-white special cotton banknote paper. It lacks watermarks, security threads, and other additional anti-counterfeiting devices, which is a unique identifying feature of this series of five-cent banknotes.
Product Specifications
| Issuing Authority | Hong Kong Government (British) |
|---|---|
| Circulation Period | 1961–1965 (No year of issue printed on the banknote) |
| International Catalogue Number | Pick #326 |
| Face Value | 5 Cents, Early Hong Kong Low-denomination Paper Notes |
| Printing Method | Single-sided intaglio printing, blank reverse |
| Paper Material | Professional cotton banknote paper |
| Grading | PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (Exquisite, Brand New, Uncirculated) |
| Signature | Original signature from the first issue in 1961, KNB17a (earliest issue in the series) |
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