Guide to Detecting Counterfeit Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) Bills

How to Identify Counterfeit HKD (HK$) Currency Notes

Hong Kong is a shopaholic’s paradise, but it’s also home to a highly cash-driven culture. While credit cards are accepted in many places, street markets, taxis, and local eateries often prefer cash. That makes it even more important to know whether that HK$100 note in your pocket is the real deal. Counterfeit Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) notes do circulate, especially in tourist-heavy zones. But the good news? Hong Kong’s banknotes come with multiple security features. You just need to know what to look for.

Current Hong Kong Dollar Banknote in Circulation

Hong Kong doesn’t have just one issuer of banknotes. It has three authorized banks:

HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation)
Standard Chartered Bank
Bank of China (Hong Kong)

Each bank issues its own version of the HK$20, $50, $100, $500, and $1000 notes. The design differs slightly across banks, but the security features are largely the same, as regulated by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The HKSAR also issues the $10 note. Current HKD banknotes are printed on paper, not polymer (except the $10 note, which is printed on both polymer and paper).

A critical point to note about HKD is that while new banknote series are introduced, older series remain legal tender and co-circulating as well. For instance, the 2018 series is the latest series, rolled out from late 2018 through 2020, however, banknotes from series such as the 2010 series and the 2003 series still remain legal tender. While designs vary between banks and series, a general colour scheme helps in the quick identification of denominations:

HK$10: Purple (paper and polymer), older versions green
HK$20: Blue (newer 2018 series are light blue, older 2010 series can be darker blue)
HK$50: Green
HK$100: Red
HK$500: Brown
HK$1000: Gold/Yellow

General Security Features of Hong Kong Dollar Bank Notes

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority promotes a simple yet effective three-step method for checking banknotes: "Feel-Look-Tilt".

1. FEEL

Paper Quality: HKD notes (except the polymer HK$10) are printed on high-quality paper made of cotton. This gives them a unique feel that is different from ordinary commercial paper.

Embossed Printing (Intaglio): Genuine banknotes feature intaglio printing, a process where ink is applied thickly, creating a raised texture on the surface of the note.

2. LOOK

Watermark: When a genuine banknote is held up to the light, a multi-tonal watermark should be clearly visible. This typically includes a Bauhinia flower and the denomination numeral.

See-Through Features (Registration Devices): Genuine notes often have elements printed on the front and back that align perfectly to form a complete image or numeral when the note is held up to the light.

Security Thread: Most HKD banknotes incorporate a security thread. In genuine notes, this thread appears to be woven into the paper (windowed thread) or is fully embedded.

3. TILT

Dynamic Shimmering Pattern: The 2018 series features a prominent dynamic shimmering pattern. When the note is tilted, a shimmering ring within this pattern moves correspondingly.

Windowed Metallic Thread with Moving Elements: The thread on the notes contains elements, such as large and small rings, that appear to move or rotate when the note is tilted.

Concealed Denomination: The denomination numeral (e.g., "1000") is hidden in the design and becomes visible when the note is tilted at a certain angle to the light.

A Detailed Guide to Identifying Counterfeit USD Currency by Denomination

Every US dollar bill comes with its own set of security features, and knowing what to look for in each one makes spotting a fake a whole lot easier.

Denomination	Watermark(s)	Security Thread (UV Glow)	Color-Shifting Ink	Microprinting	3D Security Ribbon
$1	None	None	None	None	No
$2	None	None	None	None	No
$5	Large “5”, Three small “5”s	“USA 5” Blue	None	“Five Dollars”, “E Pluribus Unum”, “USA”, “USA FIVE”	No
$10	Alexander Hamilton	“USA TEN” + Flag (Orange)	Copper to Green	“THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA”, “TEN DOLLARS USA”, “USA 10”	No
$20	Alexander Hamilton	“USA TWENTY” + Flag (Orange)	Copper to Green	“THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA”, “TEN DOLLARS USA”, “USA 20”	No
$50	Ulysses S. Grant	"USA 50" + Flag (Yellow)	Copper to Green	"FIFTY", "USA", "50", "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"	No
$100	Benjamin Franklin	"USA 100" (Pink)	Copper to Green (Numeral & Bell)	"THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "USA 100", "ONE HUNDRED USA", small "100"s	Yes

The $1 Bill

The $1 bill features George Washington's portrait on the front side and the Great Seal of the United States on the back since 1963.
Security features include a black Federal Reserve Bank Seal on the left of the portrait, a green Treasury Seal on the right, and unique serial numbers (a combination of 11 numbers and letters), appearing twice on the front.
Genuine $1 bills also have raised printing that can be felt on the note’s surface along with red and blue security fibers embedded in the paper.
Note that the $1 bill does not have a watermark or a security thread.

The $2 Bill

The $2 bill features a portrait of Thomas Jefferson on the front and a vignette depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the back side.
Similar to the $1 bill, its security features include a black Federal Reserve Bank Seal and a green Treasury Seal, serial numbers, raised printing, and embedded red and blue security fibers.
Like the $1 bill, the $2 bill does not have a watermark or a security thread.
Another interesting point to note is that the design of the $2 bill has remained largely unchanged since 1976.

The $5 Bill

The modern $5 bill (post-2008 design) features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the front and the Lincoln Memorial on the back.
Key security features include two watermarks: a large numeral 5 in the blank space to the right of the portrait and a column of three smaller numeral 5s to the left.
It also has an embedded security thread running vertically to the right of the portrait, which glows blue under UV light and has the letters "USA" followed by the numeral "5" printed on it.
Microprinting, featuring the words "FIVE DOLLARS" inside the left and right borders, "E PLURIBUS UNUM" at the top of the shield on the Great Seal, and "USA" between the columns of the shield, is also present.
Raised printing and red and blue fibers can also be checked.
Note that the $5 bill does not have color-shifting ink.

The $10 Bill

The redesigned $10 bill (post-2006) features a portrait of Alexander Hamilton on the front and the US Treasury Building on the back.
Security features include a watermark of Secretary Hamilton to the right of the portrait and an embedded security thread that glows orange under UV light, with "USA TEN" and a small flag printed on it.
The numeral 10 in the lower right corner on the front exhibits color-shifting ink, changing from copper to green when the bill is tilted.
Microprinting, including "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "TEN DOLLARS USA" below the portrait and inside the borders, and "USA 10" beneath the torch, is also present.
Raised printing and red and blue fibers can also be checked.

The $20 Bill

The $20 bill (post-2003 design) features a portrait of Andrew Jackson on the front and the White House on the back.
Its security features include a watermark of President Jackson to the right of the portrait and a security thread that glows green under UV light with "USA TWENTY" and a flag printed on it.
The numeral 20 in the lower right corner on the front has color-shifting ink that changes from copper to green when tilted.
Microprinting, featuring "USA20" within the numeral in the lower left corner and "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 20 USA 20" in the border below the Treasurer's signature, is present.
Raised printing and red and blue fibers are also incorporated.

The $50 Bill

The $50 bill (post-2004 design) features a portrait of Ulysses S. Grant on the front and the United States Capitol on the back.
Its security features include a watermark of President Grant to the right of the portrait and a security thread that glows yellow under UV light with "USA 50" and a flag printed on it.
The numeral 50 in the lower right corner on the front exhibits color-shifting ink, changing from copper to green when tilted.
Microprinting, including "FIFTY," "USA," and "50" inside two of the blue stars to the left of the portrait, "FIFTY" repeated within both side borders, and "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" in President Grant's collar, is present.
Raised printing and red and blue fibers are also present.
A large green numeral 50 is printed on the back to aid individuals with low vision.

The $100 Bill

The redesigned $100 bill (post-2013) features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the front and Independence Hall on the back.
Its advanced security features include a blue 3-D security ribbon with images of bells and "100"s that move when the bill is tilted.
It also has a watermark of Benjamin Franklin to the right of the portrait and a security thread that glows pink under UV light with "USA 100" printed on it.
The numeral 100 in the lower right corner and the "Bell in the Inkwell" both exhibit color-shifting ink, changing from copper to green when tilted.
Microprinting, including "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" on Franklin's jacket collar, "USA 100" around the watermark space, "ONE HUNDRED USA" along the golden quill, and small "100"s in the borders, is present.
Raised printing and red and blue fibers are also there.
A large gold numeral 100 is printed on the back for those with visual impairments.

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