Got Change for a $150 Bill?

To celebrate its 150th year of business in Hong Kong, Standard Chartered Bank has printed the world's first $150 banknote.

$150 banknote

One million of them, to be precise, to be sold as commemorative bills even though they could be used as legal tender. I say could because no one would dream of actually spending one. And forget about sticking one into an Octopus Card Add Value machine, unless you're trying to choke it.

Collectors speculators will be out in force to snap up as many notes as they can afford in the hopes of unloading them for profit.

Nearly 740,000 banknotes will go on sale from October 1, at HK$280 each ...

There will be 10,000 sets of "four-in-one uncut" banknotes, to be sold at HK$1,888, while "35-in-one uncut" notes will cost HK$18,888, with 6,000 sets to go on sale.

Another 100 banknotes with lucky serial numbers such as 888888 or 666666 will be opened for public bidding at a minimum of HK$3,000. The public can also apply to buy a note with a self-selected serial number for HK$888.

I will not be among the hoard, I couldn't care less. But you can expect queues of elderly grandmothers outside selected distribution branches at 3.00am.

Never be surprised by what people in this town will do to make a buck.

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