1 dollar 1955
Market Prices
32 salesAbout This Note
This is a Hong Kong Government one dollar note from 1 July 1955, featuring Queen Elizabeth II in profile on the obverse and an ornamental shield design on the reverse. The note exhibits excellent condition consistent with UNC grading, displaying sharp printing, crisp paper stock, and no visible wear, tears, or creases. The fine engraving work by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co is particularly notable, with intricate geometric patterns and cross-hatching throughout the design that exemplifies the security printing standards of the 1950s Commonwealth currency era.
Common. The eBay price history provided shows consistent market activity with numerous sales ranging from $1.99 to $201 (the latter being a particularly high-grade PMG 66 specimen), with most examples trading in the $3-$15 range for average circulated grades and $30-$45 for premium grades. UNC examples have sold for $30-$44.09 historically, indicating steady but not exceptional demand. The 1955 Hong Kong $1 note (Pick 324Aa) was issued in substantial quantities and remains readily available on the secondary market. Print run information and the abundance of examples in circulation support a common classification despite the note's collector appeal.
This note was issued during the early years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, following her accession in 1952. The 1 July 1955 date marks a specific printing of Hong Kong's currency when the territory was still a British Crown Colony, with the Financial Secretary Arthur Clarke's signature representing the colonial government's authority. The bilingual English-Chinese inscriptions reflect Hong Kong's unique position as a British colony with a predominantly Chinese population, and the ornamental design elements (wheat/palm fronds) are typical of Commonwealth currency design conventions from this period.
The obverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in right-facing profile, consistent with Commonwealth currency of the early 1950s, positioned at the right side of the note. The portrait is framed by ornamental borders with floral and geometric patterns at the corners, each corner containing a circular emblem with Chinese characters. The central design area is dominated by bilingual text indicating the denomination and issuing authority, with Arthur Clarke's signature as Financial Secretary positioned near the bottom center. The reverse displays a large, ornate shield design as the focal point, flanked by decorative wheat or palm fronds, with circular emblems containing dollar signs positioned in each corner. The overall design employs classical Commonwealth currency aesthetics with strong emphasis on ornamental and security elements typical of the Bradbury Wilkinson & Co engraving tradition.
FRONT: 'GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG' (English); '香港政府' (Chinese - Hong Kong Government); 'ONE DOLLAR' (English); '壹圓' (Chinese - One Dollar); 'HONGKONG 1st JULY 1955' (English - date of issue); 'THESE NOTES ARE LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT' (English - legal tender declaration); 'FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG' (English); 'FINANCIAL SECRETARY' (English - title); 'Arthur Clarke' (English - signature of the Financial Secretary); 'BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO LTD ENGRAVERS, NEW MALDEN, SURREY, ENGLAND' (English - printer information); Serial number 'IP 698670' (English/alphanumeric). REVERSE: 'GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG' (English); '$1' (English/symbolic); 'ONE DOLLAR' (English); '壹圓' (Chinese - One Dollar); 'BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO LTD NEW MALDEN, SURREY, ENGLAND' (English - printer information).
Intaglio engraving (note engraving) by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd, the renowned security printers based in New Malden, Surrey, England. The visual analysis reveals fine line engraving with intricate geometric patterns, cross-hatching, and complex background detail work characteristic of intaglio printing. The high degree of detail in the border designs, security patterns, and portrait rendering demonstrates the multi-plate engraving process typical of this printer's work during the 1950s. The sharp impression and fine line clarity observed in the note confirm professional intaglio production rather than lithography.
This specific example is dated 1 July 1955 with the signature of Arthur Clarke as Financial Secretary. The serial number prefix 'IP' and the seven-digit serial '698670' are consistent with the 1955 issue series. The Pick 324Aa catalog designation indicates this is the 1955 printing variant of the Hong Kong Government $1 note. Known varieties for this series include different signature combinations (Arthur Clarke was Financial Secretary 1951-1956) and date variants (1952, 1.7.1954, and 1.7.1955 printings exist), with the 1955 date being among the later issues of this design before it was superseded by subsequent issues.
