...Macau, 中國银行 Banco Da China - 2020 Series ND2026 500 And 1000 Patacas

 中華人民共和國澳門特別行政區

(Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China)

 

中國银行

(Banco Da China / Bank of China, Est.1950)

Currency - Patacas (MOP)

 

 

Posted here are the final two notes of the current series first introduced on 01.02.2024:- 

01.02.2024 - 10 and 20 patacas both dated 18.05.2020;

20.01.2025 - 50 and 100 patacas both dated 18.05.2020; and

06.02.2026 - 500 and 1000 patacas both dated 18.05.2020.

 

The theme for this 2020 dated series is Southern Lion on the front (culture and heritage) and on the backs showcasing Macau's iconic landmarks and symbols. As expected, the design on the front is the same for all notes, except for the denomination values and signatures. This entire series is dated 18.05.2020. 

 

As there are two banknotes issuing authorities in Macau (Bank of China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino), each bank is allowed to issue up to the following quantities for these two denominations: -

 

500 Patacas - 24 million pieces; and

1000 Patacas - 12 million pieces

 

All notes issued since 2024 are dated 18.05.2020. However the signatures are not the same. The first two notes were signed by Li Guang, and the two notes issued in 2025 were signed by Jia Tianbing. These final two notes bear a different signature too. 

 

Five Hundred Patacas 

Front - Southern Lion (represents the spirit of Macau). Bank of China building in Macau. To the top right is an image of a lion head printed in optically variable ink (OVI). 

Director-Geral Da Sucursal de Macau - 范耀胜 Fan Yaosheng*

Date - 二零二零年五月十八日 (2020 year Fifth month 18th day)

Watermarks - Lotus flower and electrotype 500

Dimensions - 159mm x 79.9mm

Note* - I can't be sure, but I believe both notes bear the signature of Fan Yaosheng, who is a senior banking executive. He also serves as the General Manager/President of the Bank of China (Macau) Branch and Chairman of the Macau Banking Association from 2025. Previous General Manager was Jia Tianbing 賈天兵 and he left the position in 2025. This is unconfirmed yet. 

 

Back - It depicts the front entrance of the A-Ma temple 媽閣廟. The A-Ma temple has been appearing on Macau's banknotes issued by Bank Of China (Macau) since 1996 and those banknotes issued by Banco Nacional Ultramarino since 1945. This temple is located in Sao Lourenco in Macau Peninsula, which is the south-west of the peninsula. This temple was built in 1488. It is also one of the oldest temples in Macau, if not the oldest.

 

One Thousand Patacas

 

Front - Southern Lion (represents the spirit of Macau). Bank of China building in Macau. To the top right is an image of a lion head printed in optically variable ink (OVI). 

Director-Geral Da Sucursal de Macau - 范耀胜 Fan Yaosheng

Date - 二零二零年五月十八日 (2020 year Fifth month 18th day)

Watermarks - Lotus flower and electrotype 1000

Dimensions - 164mm x 82mm  

Back - On the back it depicts a Chinese chuan (船). The name 'Chuan' simply means 'boat' or 'ship', and it is also sometime referred to as 'fanchuan' (帆船). The word 'Fan' means Sail(ing). The Chinese have been building Fanchuan since the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Since then, the Chinese have used this type of ships and sailed as far as to the east coast of Africa. Later, East Asian countries, notably Japan, adopted such technology and built them as merchant ships to trade goods with China and Southeast Asia. To the western world, the Fanchuan is more commonly known as Chinese junk, a derogatory term/name that came from the Portuguese and Dutch.