STACKS BOWERS: APRIL 2026 HONG KONG SALE

Our next major world paper money sale is our April 2026 Hong Kong (SAR) Showcase Auction. Offering more than 2,500 lots of world paper money, there many highlights worthy of inclusion in a blog article. However, here I take a look at a small group that stood out to me for one reason or the other. They are not necessarily the most expensive or rare notes; instead, these are notes that I personally like for one reason or the other.

Lot 30036 – CHINA–EMPIRE. Ta Ching Government Bank. 10 Dollars, ND (1910). P-A81r. S/M#T10-42. Remainder. PMG Choice Very Fine 35 EPQ.

That paper money can be art is undisputed, and this note is one of the reasons why that is such a simple statement to make. Printed in black on the front and blue on the back, this was engraved in the United States by L. Hatch, and features the portrait of Prince Chun at left, and a dragon flying over the Great Wall of China as the main design element. A hugely attractive note seen here as a remainder (as is typically the case).

Lot 30276 – CHINA–FOREIGN BANKS. Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation. 10 Dollars, 1.9.1922. P-S317a. S/M#Y13. PMG About Uncirculated 55 EPQ.

Your author has always thought that lightly circulated but fully original notes, such as the piece offered in this lot, offer tremendous value and should be preferred over uncirculated but not original notes. Here is a note that stood out for its originality and color; it is also a very scarce type from HSBC in Chefoo.

Lot 30606 – CHINA–MISCELLANEOUS. Champ de Courses Francais. 1 Chiao = 10 Cents, 1.8.1929. P-Unlisted. PMG Very Fine 20.

A rather obscure small-change issue from the French concession in Shanghai issued in 1929. Unlisted in most (if not all) major references, this appears to have been issued by what was at the time the biggest casino in the region, the Champ de Courses Francaise, in conjunction with greyhound racing. The text on the front includes the line ‘Promises to pay bearer in the Canidrome on racing days or in the Company's office, the sum of ten dollar cents Shanghai currency.' The first we have seen.

Lot 31459 – JAPAN. Great Imperial National Bank. 1 Yen, ND (1873). P-10. PMG Very Fine 25.

This series of Japan was inspired by the National Banknotes of the United States, and the design is rather similar. The notes were even printed in the United States by the Continental Bank Note Company. While few collectors collect these by bank due to their scarcity, every serious collector of classic 19th century notes should have at least one or more denominations of this iconic issue in their collection.

Lot 31485 – NETHERLANDS INDIES. Government of the Netherlands Indies. 5 Gulden, 1846. P-40a2. Recepis Issue. Uncut Pair. PMG Extremely Fine 40 EPQ.

The 1846 issue of the Netherlands Indies is typically encountered either as a remainder, without signatures or serial number, or in heavily circulated condition. This uncut pair of notes was meant to be issued, but was then canceled with a single pen cancel on each note. Amazingly, the pair survived in fantastic condition and was never separated, and these represent perhaps the most attractive surviving items from the rare 1846 issue.

The entire April 2026 Hong Kong (SAR) auction is available for viewing and presale bidding at StacksBowers.com.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web