• Bank of East Asia Currency & Banknote Values

Banknote Book® Price Guide

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Values / World Currency / China Foreign Banks / Bank of East Asia

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The prices listed in our database are intended to be used as an indication only. Users are strongly encouraged to seek multiple sources of pricing before making a final determination of value. CDN Publishing is not responsible for typographical or database-related errors. Your use of this site indicates full acceptance of these terms.

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The Bank of East Asia series of China Foreign Banks in the World Currency contains 18 distinct entries. The Bank of East Asia (BEA) was founded by four Hong Kong families, the Lis, Wongs, Kans and Fungs, in 1918. The bank opened at 2 Queen’s Road,

The Bank of East Asia series of China Foreign Banks in the World Currency contains 18 distinct entries.

The Bank of East Asia (BEA) was founded by four Hong Kong families, the Lis, Wongs, Kans and Fungs, in 1918. The bank opened at 2 Queen’s Road, Hong Kong, on 4 January 1919, with a Shanghai branch established the following year. Later, branches were also established in Saigon and Haiphong in French Indochina. To enhance its standing in the banking industry, the bank made plans to issue banknotes, appointing Waterlow & Sons of London to design and create the plates for five denominations. The project was personally supervised by two of the bank’s founders, Kan Tongpo and Li Tsefong. Unfortunately, a suitable opportunity was never found to issue the notes. The Bank of East Asia prospered, however, and a new headquarters building was constructed in Hong Kong in 1935, underscoring its rise to prominence. Its ambitions as an issuer ended in 1935 when the Chinese government decided to reform the monetary system by giving issuing authority to only four government banks.

For more information, visit www.hkbea.com.

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1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued
1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued
Diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpt front; two diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts back; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpt front; two diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts back; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Diagonal black SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpt front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Diagonal black SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpt front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Yellow and green; no ovpt; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Yellow and green; no ovpt; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued
1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued
Two diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts front/back; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front/back; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Two diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts front/back; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front/back; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Purple and blue; no ovpt; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Purple and blue; no ovpt; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued
1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued
Diagonal red SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpt front/back; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Diagonal red SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpt front/back; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Red and yellow; no ovpt; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Red and yellow; no ovpt; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued
1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued
One diagonal red and one diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts front; two diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts back; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
One diagonal red and one diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts front; two diagonal blue SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts back; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Two diagonal black SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts front; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Two diagonal black SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts front; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Brown and green; no ovpt; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Brown and green; no ovpt; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued
1ST January, 1924 Unconfirmed Unissued

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Diagonal red SPECIMEN ovpt front/back; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Diagonal red SPECIMEN ovpt front/back; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
No ovpts; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
No ovpts; no sig ; all-zero s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Green, orange and yellow Two diagonal red SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts front/back; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH
Green, orange and yellow Two diagonal red SPECIMEN / WATERLOW & SONS LTD ovpts front/back; horizontal black SPECIMEN NOTE, WATERLOW AND SONS LTD ovpt upper left front; no sig ; no s/n Confirmed place of issue: SH

Legal Disclaimer

The prices listed in our database are intended to be used as an indication only. Users are strongly encouraged to seek multiple sources of pricing before making a final determination of value. CDN Publishing is not responsible for typographical or database-related errors. Your use of this site indicates full acceptance of these terms.

Read CDN Terms of Use

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Auction Ends: 6/15/2026

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