To celebrate the momentous occasion of the centenary of the Bank of China on 5 February 2012, a special commemorative $100 note was issued in Hong Kong. Our design for the new note features landmarks of both Mainland China and Hong Kong to highlight the close ties between the two. On one side of the note is a collage of images of the Great Wall and the Bank of China Headquarters Building in Beijing and a partial newspaper clipping on the establishment of the Bank of China on 5 Feb 1912.

The Great Wall of China was chosen because firstly, it was a formidable fortification protecting the country and its people in ancient China, much like the role of Bank of China in modern China; and secondly, like the Bank of China, it is a symbol of vision for future China. On the other side of the banknote is an image of the iconic Bank of China Building with the Hog Kong skyline as backdrop. The design also features the number 100 written in the artistic style of Chinese calligraphy and in such a way the “00” resemble the symbol of infinity (∞). The infinity symbol carries the auspicious connotation of Bank of China thriving forever and ever. The design successfully struck a balance between aesthetics considerations and the need to incorporate a host of security features, which is a top priority in any currency note design.

As well as the issue of the $100 note in Hong Kong, a coin was issued on Mainland China and a $100 note in Macau, all in celebration of the Centenary. The concurrent issues were a first in the financial history in China. The occasion was marked by a launch ceremony on comprising activities taking place simultaneously in Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau. A live broadcast allowed the audience in one city to see the activities going on in the other two.

Location: 70/F, BOC Tower

Client: Bank of China, Hong Kong