1 cent 1941

Common. This denomination and issue type shows strong market data supporting common status: eBay price tracking from 2010-2024 demonstrates consistent availability with VF examples regularly selling between $1.29 and $6.50, and even PMG-graded examples reaching only $26.20. The 2016 catalogue value for VF grade of $1.50 further confirms this is a readily available note. The prolific nature of 1 cent notes combined with their utility as fractional currency suggests substantial print runs. Collectors can reasonably expect to find examples of this Pick number without difficulty.

This 1 cent note was issued by the Government of Hong Kong during the early Japanese occupation period of World War II, reflecting Hong Kong's colonial administration structure. The dual English-Chinese bilingual design reflects Hong Kong's status as a British colony with a predominantly Chinese population, while the 'FINANCIAL SECRETARY' signature authority demonstrates the formal governmental structure that managed colonial currency. The note's modest denomination and legal tender limitation to amounts not exceeding one dollar indicate its role as fractional currency for everyday transactions in the wartime Hong Kong economy.

This note features a traditional colonial-era design with symmetrical bilateral layout. The obverse (front) displays a dominant brown/sepia color scheme with an ornamental scalloped oval frame centering the '1 CENT' denomination, flanked by Chinese characters '仙' (sen/cent) and '壹' (one). A crown symbol appears at the top center, reinforcing British sovereignty. The reverse (back) shifts to a red/pink palette with a cloud-shaped ornamental frame around 'ONE CENT,' with denomination markers '1c' positioned in all four corners. Both sides feature fine cross-hatching or wavy ripple patterns as background security design. No portraits appear on this fractional note; instead, the visual emphasis is on ornamental frames, the crown emblem, and bilingual text. The design reflects the austere simplicity appropriate to a low-denomination note during wartime.

Front side: 'GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG' (English) / '府政港香' (Chinese: Hong Kong Government) / '1 CENT' (English: One cent denomination) / '8130813' (Serial number) / 'THESE NOTES ARE LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING ONE DOLLAR. FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG.' (English: Legal tender declaration) / 'FINANCIAL SECRETARY.' (English: Issuing authority signature line). Back side: 'GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG' (English: Government of Hong Kong) / 'ONE CENT' and '1c' (English: One cent denomination, repeated in all four corners) / '仙' and '壹' (Chinese: Cent and One, flanking the denomination frame).

This note was produced using letterpress printing combined with intaglio engraving techniques typical of early 20th-century banknote production. The fine cross-hatching and ornamental filigree work visible throughout indicate engraved plates, while the solid text and denomination areas reflect letterpress application. The security patterns—particularly the detailed background cross-hatching and wavy ripple patterns—are characteristic of anti-counterfeiting measures employed by the British colonial government's designated security printers. The precise registration of the brown and red inks on front and back demonstrates the multi-pass printing process standard for banknotes of this era.

This note is identified as Pick P-313a, which distinguishes it from other varieties in the 1941 Hong Kong 1 cent series. The visual analysis confirms this is the regular issue type without serial number prefix, as referenced in the catalog data. The serial number visible on this example (8130813) and the presence of a signature line for the Financial Secretary are consistent with the standard 1941 Government of Hong Kong issue. No overprints, date changes, or other distinguishing varieties are apparent in this example. The note's status as P-313a (versus potential P-313 variants) should be verified against the specific serial number range and signature combination if detailed variety catalogs indicate such distinctions for this issue.