HONG KONG.- As the new year draws near, Spink are able to look back at 2015 fondly and with satisfaction, however they will not be nostalgic for long! Spink’s office in Hong Kong will be ringing in the New Year in true to form Spink style. They will be holding four auctions in just three days; which will certainly bring a little festive cheer and excitement back to many after holiday season has finished. Spink are well known for being driven and for sourcing the finest quality material for their auctions, and the Numismatic sale in January 2016 will be no exception. The Banknotes, Bonds & Share Certificates and Coins of China and Hong Kong sale will be on the 16th, and is tightly packed with highly interesting and valuable items that are not to be missed.

Firstly, Spink would like to draw attention to a once in a life time occurrence that will be happening in the auction. There will be a complete set of 1912 specimen notes from The Mercantile Bank of Bombay. The Mercantile Bank of Bombay was founded in 1853 to focus on business in Asia. It was later granted a royal charter in 1857 and renamed as the Mercantile Bank of India, London and China in the same year. The bank went on to expand the business into Shanghai, Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States, later becoming an issuer of Hong Kong’s banknotes from 1859 to 1892. The Bank issued the pictorial series from 1912 in denominations of $5 (lot 2, estimated HK$40,000 – 50,000), $10 (lot 3, estimated: HK$40,000 – 50,000), $25 (lot 4, estimated: HK$200,000 – 240,000), $50 (lot 5, estimated: HK$80,000 -100,000) and $100 (lot 6, estimated: HK$60,000 – 80,000). The $5 and $10 were printed until 1941 but the $25 was only a one year issue (1912), the $50 until 1930 and the $100 until 1960.

The most commonly encountered notes are the 1941 $5, $10 and the 1950’s $100. All the denominations and dates are very rare, but the $25 is an iconic Hong Kong note and the issued note has not been seen in a public auction for many years. A colour trial was offered in our August 2015 Singapore sale and fetched a staggering hammer price of S$52,000. This set is in near pristine condition and probably the only time a complete set has been offered together in one single auction.

Since its first auction in Hong Kong in 1986, and the recent relocation of its global CEO to the city, Spink have continually utilized the driven environment such a buzzing city holds and achieved impressive results. Spink are starting 2016 as they mean to go on, with youthful energy to celebrate its 350th anniversary. With three and a half centuries of experience, Spink are proud to be upholding the tradition of excellence and expertise they have worked hard to achieve. September 2016 will see the celebrations of a company dedicated to providing the best material and service to all who step through the doors. Contact our Hong Kong office on 111 Queens’ Road West in Sheung Wan to book an appointment for viewing the auction lots or to bring your collectables for a free valuation.