A Rare Hong Kong Specimen Certified by PMG Grabs Attention in Spink Auction
Posted on 9/23/2025
Collectors will be excited to browse hundreds of rare world banknotes that are certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) and coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) in an upcoming Spink auction series. The auction includes Hong Kong, Macau, World Banknotes and Coins in CSS118A on October 8, 2025, and China Banknotes and Coins in CSS118B on October 9. Additional sessions include CSS118C - China, Hong Kong and World Banknotes - e-Auction and CSS118D - China, Hong Kong and World Coins - e-Auction, which are being held October 13 and 14.
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Among the standouts in this auction is a Hong Kong ND (1912) 50 Dollars Color Trial Specimen graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (lot 159), with an estimate of HK250,000 to HK400,000 (about $32,000 to $51,000). This striking rarity from the early 20th century was produced as a test print to experiment with ink and design choices rather than for circulation. Color Trial Specimens like this are prized for their scarcity, as they were typically created in very limited numbers for internal review and approval. There are only two examples of this rare note in the PMG Population Report, with this being the higher graded.
The auction sessions also include nearly 200 NGC-certified lots, including a group of five NGC-certified Great Britain Die Trials for a Copper Nickel Florin (CSS118A, lot 304). Struck to test fonts for the coin's letters, this was one of a handful of sets that were created for review by Queen Elizabeth II. This lot has an estimate of HK200,000 to HK$250,000 (about $26,000 to $32,000).
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Other NGC-certified coins in the auction sessions include:
- a China 1982 Brass Pattern 100 Yuan Panda - Temple of Heaven graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (CSS118B, lot 1568), with an estimate of $350,000 to $500,000 (about $45,000 to $64,000)
- a 19-coin Great Britain 1937 Proof Set including a 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 62 Cameo (CSS118A, lot 303), with an estimate of HK130,000 to HK160,000 (about $17,000 to $20,000)
- a Hong Kong 1891 50 Cents graded NGC MS 60 (CSS118A, lot 52), with an estimate of HK80,000 to HK120,000 (about $10,000 to $15,000)
- a Hong Kong 1863 Copper Cash graded NGC PF 67 BN (CSS118A, lot 29), with an estimate of HK80,000 to HK100,000 (about $10,000 to $13,000)
- a China YR29-dated Mace - Gold Modern Restrike graded NGC PF 67 (CSS118B, lot 1356), with an estimate of HK65,000 to HK80,000 (about $8,000 to $10,000)
Other PMG-certified banknotes from CSS118A include:
- a Hong Kong, Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corp. 1872 1 Dollar graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 185), with an estimate of HK200,000 to HK400,000 (about $26,000 to $51,000)
- a Hong Kong 1906-09 5 Dollars Color Trial Specimen graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated (lot 199), with an estimate of HK180,000 to HK300,000 (about $23,000 to $38,000)
- a Hong Kong, Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corp. 1916-23 5 Dollars graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine EPQ (lot 203), with an estimate of HK150,000 to HK250,000 (about $19,000 to $32,000)
- a six-piece set of Malaysia Bank Negara Specimens (ND 1976 1 Ringgit, ND 1976 5 Ringgits, ND 1976-81 10 Ringgits, ND 1976-81 50 Ringgits, ND 1976-81 100 Ringgits, ND 1976-81 1,000 Ringgits) graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated to PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 406), with an estimate of HK170,000 to HK250,000 (about $22,000 to $32,000)
- a Hong Kong, Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China 1924-29 10 Dollars graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 148), with an estimate of HK150,000 to HK200,000 (about $19,000 to $26,000)
Other PMG-certified banknotes from CSS118B include:
- a China / Empire 1264-1341 Yuan Dynasty 2 Kuan graded PMG 12 Fine NET (lot 1015), with an estimate of HK160,000 to HK200,000 (about $20,000 to $26,000)
- a China / People’s Republic 1953 10 Yuan graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated (lot 1246), with an estimate of HK100,000 to HK160,000 (about $13,000 to $20,000)
- a China, Bank of Central China 1945 100 Yuan graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 1187), with an estimate of HK100,000 to HK150,000 (about $13,000 to $19,000)
- a China 1973 2 Yuan Front Printer’s Model graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (lot 1240), with an estimate of HK80,000 to HK100,000 (about $10,000 to $13,000)
- a China, I Chun Workers, Peasants & Soldiers Bank 1931 30 Cents graded PMG 12 Fine (lot 1185), with an estimate of HK60,000 to HK80,000 (about $7,700 to $10,000)
Estimates are provided by the auction house. The $ symbol indicates US Dollars.
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