HK$10 — Ten Dollars
The artwork
Front: A carp bursting from stylised waves, whiskers trailing and scales cut in fine line-work — the fish of the Chinese legend that leaps the dragon gate and becomes a dragon, a stock emblem of perseverance and success. The bank's name stands in English over the Chinese 香港渣打銀行, with "Ten Dollars" and 拾圓 beneath the promise to pay, dated 1st January 1989 and signed by the Area Financial Controller and Area General Manager. Green and pale rose guilloche ground; serial DW878871 at both lower corners.
Back: Chiefly green. At the left, the bank's own Hong Kong head office on Des Voeux Road Central, the stepped 1959 tower drawn from below. In the centre, the Royal Arms — lion and unicorn, HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE on the garter, DIEU ET MON DROIT below — a reminder of the Royal Charter of 1853. 渣打銀行 in panels above, "Standard Chartered Bank" in a band beneath, 10 and 拾圓 at the corners.
In circulation
One of the Standard Chartered notes of the 1985 family, each denomination carrying an auspicious Chinese creature; this $10 was issued with dates through the early 1990s. Note issue of the tenner then lapsed in favour of the $10 coin introduced in 1994, and the denomination only returned as a Government of Hong Kong note in 2002.
Details
- CurrencyDollar (HK$)
- DenominationTen Dollars
- Collectedon the Hong Kong journey, 1993
- IssuerStandard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong — "Incorporated by Royal Charter 1853"
- Series1985 mythical-creatures issue; carp design, dated 1st January 1989
- SignatureArea Financial Controller and Area General Manager
- SecurityTwo-letter serial prefix, serial repeated at both lower corners; intaglio line-work on fish and buildings