2019-09-23 Mon

On September 3rd, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority launched the new HK $100 banknotes. They would be available through the three commercial Hong Kong Banks (The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited) authorized to issue currency notes. A new series of banknotes was initiated last year with the issue of new HK $500 and $1,000 denominations, the notes incorporate new designs, themes, and security features.

The new banknotes have been conversationally nicknamed “golden threadfin bream" (Nemipterus virgatus) by Hong Kongers as a result of their shading and design, which look like the sizes of the local fish. The denominations are issued by each of the three banks which incorporate indistinguishable security highlights, measurements, and hues to recognize them from the different denominations that are currently available for use. The designs are extraordinary and all join a vertically delineated theme on the back of the notes and a flat structure on thefront.

The new $100 notes are measured 153 by 76.5 millimeters and have six key security highlights, including:

Shimmering pattern — on the face, when the note is tilted, a shimmering ring contained in the outline of a zhuihu, a two-stringed bowed Chinese instrument, moves correspondingly. This shape is located in the upper-right half.

Vertical windowed holographic thread — when the note is tilted, large and small rings on the metallic thread move correspondingly.

Enhanced watermark — The theme of the bauhinia flower is used so that the flower, leaves, bud, and denomination numeral can be seen when the note is held up to the light.

Fluorescent see-through denomination — The patterns on the face and back, which are of a single color under normal light, will appear as two fluorescent colors when exposed to ultraviolet light. The patterns on the face and back fit perfectly to form the denomination numeral when the note is held up to the light.

Hidden latent print — on the obverse, when the note is tilted under the light, the denomination numeral hidden in the background can be seen.

Embossed print — raised printing gives the note a strong embossed feel by touch.

The remaining two denominations of HK $50 featuring Hong Kong butterflies and the HK $20, which will highlight the familiar cuisine of dim sum and tea culture, are scheduled for release in 2020.

Image Courtesy: South China Morning Post