'Peter Pan' Note to Take Flight as Spink Offers PMG-certified Chinese Banknotes in October Sale

A rare “Peter Pan” banknote from Hong Kong is set to take flight as hundreds of PMG-certified notes are offered in an ongoing Spink auction. Online bidding is already underway for CSS128A – Hong Kong, Macau, World Banknotes and Coins, which is set to end on October 14, 2026, and CSS128B – China Banknotes and Coins, which is set to end on October 15, 2026.

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The Hong Kong, Mercantile Bank of India Ltd. 1948 500 Dollars graded PMG 30 Very Fine (CSS128A, lot 141) is one of only 11 issued examples of this catalog number listed in the PMG Population Report. These 500 Dollar notes are nicknamed “Peter Pan” because of the depiction of Mercury, the Roman god of travel, on the front. The artist’s styling of Mercury, along with his winged hat, makes him resemble early depictions of Peter Pan in literature and theater. The note has an estimate of HKD200,000 to HKD400,000 (about $25,000 to $51,000).

Other PMG-certified highlights in the auction include:

• a Hong Kong, Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China 1934 500 Dollars graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated (CSS128A, lot 192), with an estimate of HKD280,000 to HKD350,000 (about $35,000 to $44,000)
• a group of eight China, International Banking Corporation Yuan Proof notes, each graded by PMG (CSS128B, lot 1070), with an estimate of HKD250,000 to HKD300,000 (about $31,000 to $38,000)
• a Hong Kong, Asiatic Banking Corp. ND (ca. 1800s) 500 Dollars graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (CSS128A, lot 109), with an estimate of HKD200,000 to HKD300,000 (about $25,000 to $38,000)
• a Hong Kong, Chartered Bank 1956 100 Dollars graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated EPQ (CSS128A, lot 175), with an estimate of HKD170,000 to HKD220,000 (about $21,000 to $28,000)
• a China / Empire “Yuan Dynasty” 1264-1341 2 Kuan graded PMG 12 Fine NET (CSS128B, lot 1009), with an estimate of HKD150,000 to HKD200,000 (about $19,000 to $25,000)
• a Hong Kong 1901 500 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (CSS128A, lot 254), with an estimate of HKD150,000 to HKD200,000 (about $19,000 to $25,000)
• a Hong Kong 1904-07 500 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (CSS128A, lot 255), with an estimate of HKD130,000 to HKD200,000 (about $16,000 to $25,000)

All estimates are provided by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.