Netherlands indies coin: First coinage

one of my hobby is looking for an old coin. Some of them you can buy at a cheap price as long as you know where to look. I bought this coin in penang this year. The condition of this Netherlands indies coin: First coinage ain't very good but still a good collection for me.

The Netherlands Indies is a group of four large and some 3,000 small islands between southeast Asia and Australia. The home of earlier Buddhist and Hindu cultures, it became Islamic after the 12th century and was taken over by the Dutch in the 17th century. Following Japanese occupation during World War II, it became the independent republic of Indonesia in 1945. Capital: Batavia (now Jakarta).

Monetary System
100 cents (sen) = 1 gulden (roepiah)

Source:
A Catalog of Modern World Coins 1850-1964 by R.S Yeoman

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You need extra money right? Check your coin.

You must have many coins in your piggy bank. Some put them in there to use in rainy day. While some just want to bank in them later. Please don't do any of the above before you check that coin. Your coin maybe will help you add up a bit of your money.

This is about Malaysia coin only. If not I need to write a few thousand pages for every coin in the world. Anyway, the concept is almost the same for any coin but please check standard catalogue for your country first.

If you got 1 sen coin, please feel free to check for year 1968 and 1970. This is because the mintage for 1968 is only 10,500,000 and the price for UNC is around RM20 per piece. The mintage for 1970 is 2,535,000 and the price for UNC is around RM50. For year 1976, you need to check for bronze variety. It is extremly rare but totally worth it because the price is around RM800 per piece for UNC. For 1979, you need to check for nickel variety because the price for UNC is RM3,100. A rare item that only a few lucky person can find this.

If you got 5 sen coin, feel free to check for year 1971 (mintage 16,657,712; UNC price=RM6),
1977 (mintage 10,609,162; UNC price=RM6) &
1982 (with extra "dot" on parliment house; UNC price=RM140).

For 10 sen, please don't ever missed 1971 coin because the mintage is only 32,326 and the price for UNC is around RM120.

If you got 20 sen coin, please check for year
1970 (mintage 1,054,000; UNC price=RM22),
1971 (mintage 9,958,000; UNC price=RM10),
1978 (mintage 6,847,000; UNC price=RM12) &
1994 (mintage 2,680,339; UNC price=RM45).

If you got 50 sen coin, please check for year
1969 (mintage 2,000,000; UNC price=RM150),
1979 (extra dot; UNC price=RM150), &
1995 (mintage 1,650,423; UNC price=RM20).
Don't forget to check for security thread for 1967, 1968 & 1969. The coin without the security thread is price around RM1,000 for UNC.

Next time when you want to used that 50 sen coin, 20 sen or 10 sen coin, please check the year it been minted first. If you don't know where to sale your item or how much the value of your item. Feel free to e-mail me with the real picture of your item.

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The Brookes of Sarawak.

Do you know, Sarawak is the only states in Malaysia ruled by a British family; the Brookes, for over a century. The Brookes also minted and issued their own coin and banknote. Long before the present stateborders were drawn, for hundreds of years the land was under the domain of the powerful Sultans of Brunei. The enterprising traveler and trader James Brooke became friends with the Sultan of Brunei and after helping the latter put down a local rebellion, obtained a piece of land from Sultan as a reward. That piece of land was roughly the size of the present 1st division of Sarawak, and from 1841 onwards, when James Brooke became the 1st Rajah of Sarawak, the size of the country gradually became augmented as the power of Brunei diminished.

The second Rajah, Charles, brought up among the Dayak people, was possibly the most popular and also the most extraordinary of all the Brookes. Rajah Charles set out to bring peace to the country, settling disputes between tribes, forbidding the traditional practice of headhunting and banning slavery and human sacrifice. His reign was long, ending in 1917. By the time of his death, many of his ambitions for the country had been realized.

The third Rajah, Vyner Charles, is shrouded in mystery and little is known of him. His short reign was abruptly brought to an end when the Japanese occupied Malaysia during World War II. After the occupation, the Rajah ceded the state to the British Government, who held until Sarawak joined Malaysia in 1963.

Source: Malaysia by MPH Publishing

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You need extra money? check your banknote2.

This is an update from my previous posting You need extra money? check your banknote. This price is from a standard catalogue of Malaysia Singapore Brunei 18th edition book by Steven tan. You can check How much Malaysia ringgit denomination series current value price.

For 5 ringgit denomination, there is no replacement note price guide in the catalogue. Below is the price for the 1 ringgit denomination signed by Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ali Abul Hassan.

I hope this price guide can help you start your banknote collection. Happy hunting.

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Straits Settlements flag.

I am a fan of straits settlement coin. Been hunting for this coin since I start collecting. Many of you maybe own a straits settlements coin with Queen Victoria (1837 - 1901), King Edward VII (1901 - 1910), King George V (1910 - 1936) or King George VI (1936 - 1952) face. Most of the coin is made from silver thus making it a good collection for investment. Have you ever see straits settlements flag?

I browse for wikipedia and find straits settlements flag by Himasaram . Straits Settlements or Negeri-Negeri Selat is establish in 1826 until 1946 after the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, by which the Malay archipelago was divided into a British zone in the north and a Dutch zone in the south.

most of the picture I found is a drawing not original flag from that time. If any of you found any original flac picture please do share them with me.

You can read more about the flag description here:
http://flagspot.net/flags/my-str.html#des

You can read about Straits Settlements history in here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straits_Settlement

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Learn Banknote Grading via this Banknote Grading Picture

It is very hard to do grading for your banknote if you're newbie's in this hobby. You cannot simply read books and understand what people write about banknote grading. You will only understand grading after many years of collecting and looking and touch so many banknotes in your possession. This pictures in here is just a simple guide to show you, how banknote grading looklike.

Uncirculated: Uncirculated or mint condition. No fold. May have slight sign of counting mark. 100%. As you can see on this 1 cent banknote-King George-Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya; the notes don't have any fold and looklike new.

Extremely Fine: Near uncirculated condition. Slight sign or wear and light folds. One or two corners show sign of wear 85%. As you can see on this $1 dollar banknote-Queen Elizabeth-Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya and British Borneo; it have a light fold on bottom right corner.

Very Fine: With sign of wear and folds, slight wrinkles or traces of dirt. All edges perfect. Corners slightly rounded. 65%. As you can see on this $5 dollar banknote-Queen Elizabeth-Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya and British Borneo; it have some wrinkles and dirt traces.

Fine: Considerably worn and circulated. Creased folds, wrinkles and dirt, minor tear. 50%. As you can see on this 50 cent banknote-King George-Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya; It have some minor tear on the middle but the overall design still can be seen.

Very Good: Obvious damage and dirt. Heavily soiled with edges and torn but the overall design still visible (35%). As you can see on this 25 cent banknote-King George-Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya; The banknotes obviously damaged and torn.

My grading may not be accurate to some collector, you can share it here if you think what I am giving in here not that good. Some people don't mind to collect banknote below then fine condition. I suggest collect for at least Very Fine Condition if you cannot afford Uncirculated condition. It will be easy for you to sell them later on after you upgrade your collection. Wish what you read here will help you enjoy Banknote collecting.

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Spanish Coin: Pillar Dollars

On My trip to Kota Kinabalu recently, I bought this silver coin from one of the coin trader there. I try to google any information on this coin that i can read and I found this article about this item. This is a spanish coin from mexico which were popularly known as'Pillar Dollars'' (from the design) or ''Pieces of Eight'' (from the practice of cutting them in pieces to make change), most often in quarters (two reales), from which we get the expression ''two bits.''

On the obverse, the two hemispheres of the earth represent the Old and New Worlds, with waves below to represent the sea that divided the Old and New Worlds. The Pillars of Hercules represent the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain's gateway to the new world, and the crowns show Spain's power over both the Old and New worlds. The banners on the Pillars show the motto PLUS VLTRA, ''more beyond,'' a reference to the discovery of the New World. At the top is the legend VTRAQUE VNUM, '''both are one,'' an expression of Spain's oneness with its colonies, with the date and mintmarks at the bottom.

On the reverse is the crowned Spanish Royal family's coat of arms, with the castle representing Castile, the lion representing Leon, and the fleur de lis representing the Bourbon dynasty. On the left are the assayer's initials, with the denomination on the right. The legend PHILIP V D G HISPAN ET IND REX, stands for ''Philip V, by the grace of God, king of Spain and the Indies.''

I found this info via Google from this website:
mysite.verizon.net/vzeqg1oh/priv-hjd.htm

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You need extra money? check your banknote.

Do you know, some of your current banknote got value that can exceed 200 times then its face value? Have you ever check your banknote before you use them? Do you want to know?

The easiest banknote that can give you extra profit is by finding a replacement note. Current Replacement note is very easy to find and not very hard to spot. Check for serial number beginning from the letter "Z". Its either ZA, ZB or ZC and almost all Malaysia denomination is using the same serial letter "Z" for replacement. Replacement note is banknote that been issued to replace your torn banknote.

The most profitable and hard to find banknote is RM1 denomination banknote that been signed by Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ali Abul Hassan. Make sure if you received any RM1 denomination, please check the signature. The RM1 banknote you see here is signed by Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Zeti Abdul Aziz. The value of the RM1 signed by Tan Sri Ali Abul Hassan can exceed a value of RM500.00 a piece for Uncirculated condition. I know a friend who got lucky and have 200 pieces of this banknote in Uncirculated condition. I don't think he will sell this item until he can get RM1000.00 a piece for the price.

If you ever get your hand on this banknote, please don't put them in your wallet or in your pocket. The banknote may get folded and have sign of wear on them. This will decrease the value of your banknote. Ensure that the surface that you put your banknote is clean and free from liquid and dust. Enjoy your banknote hunting.

I have update about this at: You need extra money? check your banknote2.

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Wisma Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Another good place to look for banknote and coin in Kota Kinabalu is in Wisma Merdeka. This Place is just near Hyatt Hotel and not so far from Gaya Street Tamu. If you already arrived in Kota Kinabalu Town, Just asked local there where is Wisma Merdeka.

There are two shop selling banknote, coin and antique in Wisma Merdeka now. Last time, there are about five of them. This two shops is on second floor near a shop selling Kenwood speaker. Both seller is nice and friendly guy. They have many collection of British Borneo and Rajah banknote and coin series. Both shops also have a big collection of antique from song and ming dynasty.

Why I don't publish their shop picture in here? You need to go to their shop yourself. If you an antique lover like me, you will understand.

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Malaysia Banknote Watermark

One day a friend e-mail me and asked if I have any old Malaysian banknote with Yang Dipertuan Agong Watermark. Do you know what is watermark? Where to find this watermark on your banknote?

Watermark is one of the security feature for banknotes. You can find watermark for Malaysia banknote on the left side of your banknote. Try to look at your banknote thru a bit of light. I think most of you already know this feature in your banknote but don't really sure what it is called.

How about the Yang Dipertuan Agong watermark? Malaysia banknote starting from 1st until 4th series banknote is using tiger watermark for all denomination. Yang Dipertuan Agong Watermark is for 5th until the current issued Malaysia banknote.

I already told that friend regarding this. When I asked him why he want to find old Malaysia Banknote with Yang Dipertuan Agong face, I never received a reply. For me, 24 years old banknote is still consider new and you can easily find this banknote in any local banknote dealers in Malaysia.

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Learn grading your banknote and coin

Uncirculated (UNC), extremely fine (EF), very fine (VF), fine(F) and very good (VG) is some of the term used for banknote and coin. This is called grading, a subjective issue since no machine has been built to do them.

How to learn grading your banknote and coin? Do you know your banknote and coin grade? Reading is the easy way but you will not understand 100% about the grading. You need someone to guide you and teach about grading.

The best way is to find any local numismatic society and join them. Most of them willing to teach you about grading technique. Another way is to find a reputable coin and banknote seller and buy their banknote from very good condition until uncirculated condition. Asked them to teach you a little bit about grading. Make sure they have time to teach you.

If you need to read more about grading, you can try buying a book by KN Boon. His books can help you understand grading the simple way. Standard Catalogue by Steven Tan also a good books for grading and a must for Malaysia, Singapore or Brunei collectors.

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Maybank2u new face lift.

Today Malaysia online bank Maybank2u.com changes their faces after so many years. The page is less yellow then the old one, thank god. Hope this new faces will stay like that because I cannot stand yellow color. I also never see any banknote with yellow color.

Maybank2u.com is the 1st choice for all Malaysian to do their online transaction because of it security features. I am also a maybank2u.com supporter since my early day doing business in www.lelong.com.my. For Maybank2u.com customer who still wandering to log in, the log in button is on the upper right corner. There is a choice of online banking, personal banking and business banking.

Since when Maybank2u.com exist I not remember but I think they are the 1st Malaysian Bank who give online banking for Malaysian. If any of you remember since when Malaysia 1st online bank Maybank2u.com exist, please share them here.

http://www.maybank2u.com.my/

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Gaya Street Tamu-5 october 2008

I went to Gaya Street Tamu again on 5 october 2008. I saw another seller beside uncle Lim who sales mostly First Day Cover and Stamp. He also sale banknote and coin. Some of his banknote and coin is not on display maybe because many people is around that Tamu and he afraid if his collection got stolen. If you want to buy, I think you need to asked if he got any banknote and coin for sale.

At the back of his picture you can see a little girl looking and picking First Day Cover and Stamp. For me this is a good indication that teenager nowadays still do collecting as a hobby. I don't have time to browse his collection that day because it already at 10am and he seem to be busy wuth his other customer. Maybe will be coming to this Tamu next time and look for him.

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Gaya Street Tamu-28 september 2008

I am on holiday in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from 27 september 2008 until 12 October 2008. Kota Kinabalu is a best place to go holiday if you a looking for a white sandy beaches and beautiful craft. Kota Kinabalu also a great place for Borneo banknote and coin collector. The important thing is you need to have a good bargaining skill.

28 September 2008, I went to Kota Kinabalu tamu@pasar minggu in Gaya street. It is situated in town, near to state library. Gaya street tamu open once a week on Sunday from 6am until 12pm. If you want to buy your banknote and coin cheap, you need to wake up early and be there at 8am.

Gaya Street Tamu sell many things that produce locally. Most of the items sell here is crafts, food, pets and flowers. Sea shells collecting is a new hobbies that just start booming in Sabah in the last 5 years. This seller sale many sea shells that I never saw anywhere before. I don't know if sea shell collecting is illegal in Malaysia, I don't collect them.

If you want to find a banknote and coin seller in Gaya street Tamu. They're only two frequent sellers in here. One is a Bajau ethnic uncle who is selling Gong, parang, kulintangan and many Sabah musical instruments. You need to listen carefully and find a local music sound, that will be him since he is the only one who sell them. I cannot find him though. Maybe because he is on holiday for a hari raya aidilfitri preparation.

Another one is Uncle Lim a Chinese who sell many stone and other crafts. Most of his banknote and coin already sold out a few months before. I bought 3 RM20 Malaysia ringgit denomination at a cheap price. Will auction them in lelong when I go back to port klang.

Both of this sellers, you need to bargain for a good price. The easy thing to do is to buy their item in bulk. Make sure you asked for the price of one item 1st and asked for discount. After that, add another item and asked for discount again. The price will be lower each time you add one item. This method will not be useful if you are going there after 8am. When both of them already have many customers. The best thing to do is to come early to make sure you're their 1st customer.

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I lose an opportunity

Last night, I took a flight back to Kuala Lumpur after a long holiday at my hometown in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The new Kota Kinabalu International Airport is just a few month Old. It open son 19 August 2008. This is my first time using that airport and I can see some of the building is still under construction. You can read more about this airport here.

I bring back with me many coins and banknote. Over 5 kilogram of them. The airport police who scan my box suddenly asked '' you collect coin and banknote?''. I just nodded and smile. He put " security Check" sticker on my box and I then go to Malaysia Airlines check in counter.

When I on the plane, I just realize I lose an opportunity to take the picture of the airport scan machine. Not everyone bring 5kilo of coin and banknote travelling with them, right? Not everyone have the opportunity to look what their banknote and coin will look like in a big scan machine. Last time in penang, I can see the watermark of the banknote on the scanner screen. Maybe some of you want to share it here, just for fun.

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How to test for silver?

Yesterday, a friend of mine asking me how I test my coin for silver or fake silver? Many newbies and collector doesn't know there a special kits for testing your coin and silver. You can easily found them in ebay and the price is around $40 US dollar. Just type silver acid test in search and you can find people who sale them.

You need to file the item using include clip on the coin surface where it cannot be seen. Just put the acid on the coin surface. The acid color will change and you can determine if it is fake or not. Just Follow instruction on the bottle and you will be OK.

Another old method I am using is magnet. Just put your magnet on the coin and if they stick to them, it is 100% fake. Silver cannot be a magnetic.

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What is your coin detail?

How to find your coin and banknote detail? Internet is the best tool to help you identify them with no extra cost. What you need is just a PC and internet connection.

One way to learn about your coin in possesion without buying a book is through website and forum. There isn't many banknote and coin forum out there that can help you identify any coin in the world. Most of the time I browse for this forum:

http://www.coinforum.com/

This forum is about coin and most of them is rare coin. Many people share their coin for public viewing.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/

This forum is about ancient coin, mostly from roman and greek time.

http://www.coinpage.com/nonusalist.html

You can check by looking at the year of your coin but no details, most of the time.

If you cannot find your coin in any books or coin magazine, you can always try to Google them. Just type anything that you see on your coin or banknote and search their image. For example, I am looking for this coin that I just bought 2 days ago, I can read "King Philip 1741 spain" on the coin. I google them and found many thing about my coin (will share the detail I found next time). If your Item is the same as the Image you found, most probably you can read about their detail.

I am avoiding ebay because I found many replica item on sale/auction there (sorry ebay). We need the exact weight and diameter of the real coin to make sure your item is real, I found out some detail been change to favour seller item. This is just my own opinion, please look upon ebay if you want to.

Sometimes, your lucky day is running out and you maybe cannot find any information about your coin or banknote. The only best thing you can do without buying a book is to find your local numismatic or coin dealer and asked about the detail of your coin.

Good Luck.

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Malaysia currency only been issued in 1967

Malaya gained its independent on 31st August 1957. Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Do you know why Malaysia currency only been issued in 1967?

Bank Negara Malaysia has been given the authority to issue Malaysia currency since 1958. This authority was given under Bank Negara Tanah Melayu Ordinance 1958. The Board of commissioners of Currency Malaya and British Borneo still continued to issue currency until 12 June 1967. On 16 January 1969, the old Malaya currency legal tender value been ceased. Before that, it been circulated alongside 1st Malaysia currency since June 1967.

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New RM50 denomination, Commemorative or for circulation?

I think there is a wrong statement by Bank negara about this banknote. You can read the full Bank Negara Press statement here: Bank Negara statement 21 december 2007.

Bank Negara said that "This new design of RM50 banknote is the first denomination of the Fourth Series of Malaysian currency notes which will be replacing the existing series in stages" and "The new RM50 banknotes without special packaging will be available through commercial banks on 30 January 2008 onwards". Today is 7 October 2008, I went to bank to change money for Hari raya aidilfitri celebration and asked for this money, they said RM50 denomination still using the old design. This design only for sale? 50 million pieces of this item suppose to be circulated in their statement. over 10 month and none of it available?

Bank Negara Statement also told us that this banknote is to commemorate Malaysia's 50th Anniversary of Independence. Is this a commemorative RM50 banknotes or banknote for circulation? Bank Negara Malaysia please make your statement a bit clear.

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Malaysian should be more creative

Malaysia has many creative people who can do many creative thing. This Hari Raya Aidilfitri, most Malaysian would hear the bang from the famous meriam buluh. The loud bang sometimes is as loud as a canon and can be heard miles away.

I don't understand why Malaysian cannot be creative in designing a currency. Most Malaysia Banknote design is look to simple and not appealing enough. I wish Malaysia currency look better then Singapore banknotes or at least on par in term of design. Most of Singapore banknote design is beautiful to my eyes. They have orchid’s series from 1967 until 1975, bird series from 1976 until 1984, ship series and the presidential notes series.

Any human being love to see beautiful thing. In my opinion, if Malaysian can be a bit creative and produce a beautiful design. Many collector in the world want to have Malaysia Banknote in their possession. Bank Negara Malaysia, please fulfill my wish.

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101 years old silver coin

A 100 years old item should be consider as antique. Do you know older time wasn’t the only thing to consider before you invest on antique item? .only a true collector will appreciate its values.

Like this 101 years old one dollar silver coin for Straits Settlement. This coin minted in 1907 and been used in Malaya during British occupation. This silver coin value $200 ringgit Malaysia only. Even though I bought them at a cheaper price (RM50), the current value is not very good.

Is this because of Malaysia banknotes and coins collectors a decreasing? Most of my buyer in lelong.com.my is collectors who just start collecting again after stopping for certain time. If you one of the newbie’s in coin collecting, collect silver coin for a start. If many people collect silver coin, this coin price of mine for sure can go skyrocket.

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Malaysia create another history

On 8 October 2007, Malaysia create another history. Bank Negara Malaysia, presentation album of the first Malaysian Banknotes were sold for £115,100. four time the original estimate (£20,000-£30,000) which broke Spink’s previously held record for the most expensive Asian Banknotes sold ever at auction. This item won by Malaysia company CIMB.

The banknotes were a gift presented by Ismail Mohd Ali, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Bank Negara Malaysia, to the (fourth) King of Malaysia, Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah. They are preserved in a blue leather presentation album with the title Bank Negara Malaysia and arms in gold on the front cover. The folder contains the following: 1 ringgit, blue and multicoloured, 5 ringgit, green and multicoloured, 10 ringgit, blue and multicoloured, 50 ringgit, blue and multicoloured and 100 ringgit, purple and multicoloured, all ND (1967), serial number A/1 000001, all with portrait of Yang Di- Pertuan Agong, TuAnku Abdul Rahman, first King of Malaysia, at right, all are signed by Ismail Mohd Ali, value at centre and at each corner, all notes are mounted in card with gold border (Tan M 27, 28, 29, 30, 31). There is also a second presentation album containing 1000 ringgit, ND (1968), serial number A/1 000001, purple and multicoloured, portrait of Yang Di- Pertuan Agong, TuAnku Abdul Rahman, first king of Malaysia at right, signed by Ismail Mohd- Ali, value at centre and each corner, mounted in card with gold trim (Tan M 32).

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World's First banknote: Song Dynasty, Jiaozi

Do you know what is the world first banknote? I found a story about the first money, jiaozi banknote. It started when people used paper money as a circulating medium after a shortages of metal for coins. In ancient China coins were circular with a rectangular hole in the middle. Several coins could be strung together on a rope. Merchants in China, if they became rich enough, found that their strings of coins were too heavy to carry around easily. To solve this problem, coins were often left with a trustworthy person, and the merchant was given a slip of paper recording how much money he had with that person. If he showed the paper to that person he could regain his money. Eventually from this paper money jiaozi originated.

In the 600s there were local issues of paper currency in China and by 960 the Song Dynasty, short of copper for striking coins, issued the first generally circulating notes. A note is a promise to redeem later for some other object of value, usually specie. The issue of credit notes is often for a limited duration, and at some discount to the promised amount later. The jiaozi banknote nevertheless did not replace coins during the Song Dynasty; paper money was used alongside the coins.

The successive Yuan Dynasty was the first dynasty in China to use paper currency as the predominant circulating medium. The founder of the Yuan Dynasty,Kublai Khan, issued paper money known as Chao in his reign. The original notes during the Yuan Dynasty were restricted in area and duration as in the Song Dynasty, but in the later course of the dynasty, facing massive shortages of specie to fund their ruling in China, began printing paper money without restrictions on duration. By 1455, in an effort to rein in economic expansion and end the new Ming Dynasty ended paper money, and closed much of Chinese trade.

I try to find a new picture and story of jiaozi banknote, world first banknote but I cannot found any.



Source: wikipedia


Related posts:

• Worlds first coin
• Worlds smallest banknote
• Worlds expensive coin
• Worlds first braille coin?
• Worlds first coloured circulated coin

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World's First Coin: The Lydian Lion

Do You know what is the worlds first coin? Lydian third stater, or trite, minted sometime around 600 BC in Lydia, Asia Minor (current-day Turkey), a country in close geographic and cultural proximity to the Greek colonies in Asia Minor Is the world 1st coin. It's made of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver called "white gold" in ancient times (50-60 percent gold with these coins). One of the many fascinating aspects of this coin is the mysterious sunburst above the lion's eye.

The first metal coins are regarded by some as having been invented in China. The earliest known Chinese metal tokens were made ca. 900 BC, discovered in a tomb near Anyang. These were replicas in bronze of earlier Chinese money, cowrie shells, so they were named Bronze Shell. Most numismatists, however, regard these as well as later Chinese bronzes that were replicas of knives, spades, and hoes as money but not as coins because they didn't at least initially carry a mark or marks certifying them to be of a definite exchange value.

Coins originated independently in Anatolia, with most numismatists regarding Lydia as the birthplace of coinage. The Greeks soon adopted the Lydian practice and extended it to commerce and trade, with coinage following Greek colonization and influence first around the eastern Mediterranean and soon after to North Africa (including Egypt), Syria, Persia, and the Balkans.

The first Lydian coins were made of electrum, an alloy of silver and gold. Many early Lydian coins were undoubtedly struck (manufactured) under the authority of private individuals and are thus more akin to tokens than true coins, though because of their numbers it's evident that some were official state issues, with King Alyattes of Lydia being the most frequently mentioned originator of coinage.

Most of the early Lydian coins have no writing on them, just images of symbolic animals. Therefore the dating of these coins relies primarily on archeological evidence, with the most commonly cited evidence coming from excavations at the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, also called the Ephesian Artemision (which would later evolve into one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world).

A small percentage of early Lydian coins include writing, called a "legend" or "inscription." Another famous early electrum coin with a legend is from nearby Caria, Asia Minor, with the legend reading, "I am the badge of Phanes." Nothing is known about who Phanes was, but one logical assumption is that he was a wealthy merchant.

The Lydian’s invented a way to verify if gold was pure or not, they used a black stone that was like jasper and later became known as the touchstone. The goldsmiths would rub the gold object against a set of 24 needles containing varying amounts of the 3 metals: gold, silver, and copper. The 24th needle of course was pure gold, thus creating the system to show that 24 carats is pure gold, (carat is a word derived from the Greek word Keration.)

Source: rg.ancient info, www.coinace.com, wikipedia

Related posts:

• Worlds first banknote
• Worlds smallest banknote
• Worlds expensive coin
• Worlds first braille coin?
• Worlds first coloured circulated coin
  

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oldtimer in Malaysian got a bigger wallet?

Do all Malaysian have a bigger wallet in the past? Bigger wallet because they have more money or big money? People who live in the 70' should know better. Do you know old Malaysia banknote very big in size compare to what we used now? From 1967 until 1983, the size of all denomination is slightly bigger then what we used currently. Do old time Malaysian have a bigger wallet?

$1 ringgit denomination during that time has a 121mm x 64mm compare to current size 120mm x 65mm. The currency on the lowerside is the current $1 ringgit notes. The currency on the upperside is the Malaysia 1^st series (1967) $1 ringgit notes.

$5 ringgit denomination during that time has a 127mm x 71mm compare to current size 135mm x 65mm. The currency on the lowerside is the current $5 ringgit notes. The currency on the upperside is the Malaysia 1^st series (1967) $5 ringgit notes.

$10 ringgit denomination during that time has a 133mm x 80mm compare to current size 140mm x 65mm. The currency on the upperside is the Malaysia 2^nd series (1967) $10 ringgit notes. The currency on the lowerside is the current $10 ringgit notes.

$50 ringgit denomination during that time has a 146mm x 87mm compare to current size 145mm x 69mm. The currency on the upperside is the Malaysia 4th series $50 ringgit notes. The currency on the lowerside is Malaysia 5^th series $50 ringgit notes. $100 ringgit denomination during that time has a 165mm x 95mm compare to current size 150mm x 69mm.

$1, $5 and and $10 current currency look a bit longer then the old one. Maybe Malaysian who live during that time got a shorter wallet but wide in size. Thank god, Malaysia new currency is a bit smaller in size. If not I don’t know what kind of bag I need to bought.

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Canada coin making video

This is some of video I found on how coin made. You can see how shinning the coin before been produce. This video is about canada coin though. Just want to share them with you.

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