Hong Kong five-dollar note
| (Hong Kong) | |
|---|---|
| Value | 5 Hong Kong dollars |
| Width | 142-143 mm |
| Height | 79 mm |
| Security features | Watermark |
| Material used | Cotton |
| Years of printing | various years depending on bank |
The five-dollar note was first issued in 1858 by the Mercantile Bank, 1865 by the Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), 1866 by the Oriental Bank Corporation, 1897 by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and 1894 by the National Bank of China. There was a continuous issue till the Second World War in different colours and dimensions, and this issue was resumed after the war in 1946, by the HSBC and Standard Chartered banks. The various banks' designs were somewhat standardised in 1970 when the Chartered Bank changed the issue from green to brown, as this was the colour of the HSBC issue. The Standard Charted Bank issued two colours from 1967-70, a yellow and green note. These are described as being a yellow and green key in reference to the image of two keys on either side of the banknote. This denomination was replaced by a coin in 1976.
References
Ma Tak Wo 2004, Illustrated Catalogue of Hong Kong Currency, Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., LTD Kowloon Hong Kong. ISBN 962-85939-3-5