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Great Britain Pound Story

Pound sterling banknote is one of the strong currency in the market. Recently it price has been going down (today I check the price is RM5.16 ; Ringgit to Pound) because of the economic slowdown. The full, official name, pound sterling, (plural: pounds sterling) is used mainly in formal contexts and also when it is necessary to distinguish the United Kingdom currency from other currencies with the same name. Otherwise the term pound is normally used. The currency name is sometimes abbreviated to just sterling, particularly in the wholesale financial markets, but not when referring to specific amounts; for example, "Payment is accepted in sterling" but never "These cost five sterling". The abbreviations "ster." or "stg." are sometimes used. The term British pound is commonly used in less formal contexts, although it is not an official name of the currency. A common slang term is quid (singular and plural).

There is some uncertainty as to the origin of the term "pound sterling". Some sources say it dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, when coins called sterlings were minted from silver; 240 of these sterlings weighed one pound, and large payments came to be made in "pounds of sterlings". Other references, including the Oxford English Dictionary, say a sterling was a silver penny used in England by the Normans, and date the term to around 1300. For more discussion of the etymology of "sterling" see Sterling silver.

The currency sign is the pound sign, originally ₤ with two cross-bars, then later more commonly £ with a single cross-bar. The pound sign derives from the blackletter "L", an abbreviation of Librae in Roman £sd units (librae, solidi, denarii) used for pounds, shillings and pence in the British pre-decimal duodecimal currency system. Libra was the basic Roman unit of weight, derived from the Latin word for scales or balance.

The ISO 4217 currency code is GBP (Great Britain pound). Occasionally, the abbreviation UKP is used but this is incorrect. The Crown dependencies use their own (non-ISO) codes: GGP (Guernsey pound), JEP (Jersey pound) and IMP (Isle of Man pound). Stocks are often traded in pence, so traders may refer to pence sterling, GBX (sometimes GBp), when listing stock prices.



Some of Pound banknote in my collection is old 1982 £1 pound and current £10 pound. £1 poundis in green color and using Sir Isaac Newton as a historical character. It also have a watermark of Sir isaac Newton. I have been reading that a new coin pound is been used to replace this pound and I still don't have any in my possesion yet.


For me, £10 pound is one of the most beautiful banknote in this world. I love the overall design of this banknote. The banknote is using Charles Darwin as the historical character. When I try to edit the front of this banknote, I keep having a reading error that bring me to this website Banknotes & Counterfeit Deterrence. Look like this banknote is one of banknote in this world that have been using counterfit deterrence system (CDS) and it has some rules and regulation on reproduction of this banknote.

10 pound security feature:

Metallic thread - the thread is embedded in the paper in every banknote. This appears as silver dashes on the back of the £10 note. If you hold the note up to the light, the metallic thread appears as a continuous dark line.

Watermark - hold the note up to the light and you will see an image of the Queen’s portrait. This can also be viewed from the back of the note.

Hologram - there is a hologram on the foil patch on the front of the £10 note. If you tilt the note, the image will change between a brightly coloured picture of Britannia and the number ‘10’.


Source: Wikipedia, bankofengland.co.uk

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Bermuda Triangle; from pound to dollar

Have you ever been reading about urban legend The Bermuda Triangle? The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a region of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean in which a number of aircraft and surface vessels have disappeared or are alleged to have disappeared. Some people have claimed that these disappearances fall beyond the boundaries of human error or acts of nature. Bermuda have one of the most beautiful Queen Elizabeth II paper money in this world.

The Parliamentary British Colony of Bermuda, situated in the western Atlantic Ocean 660 miles (1,062 km.) east of North Carolina, has an area of 20.6 sq. mi. (53 sq. km.) and a population of 61,600. Capital: Hamilton. Concentrated essences, beauty preparations, and cut flowers are exported. Most Bermudians derive their livelihood from tourism. The British monarch is the head of state and is represented by a governor.

Bermuda was discovered by Juan de Bermudez, a Spanish navigator, in about 1503. British influence dates from 1609 when a group of Virginia-bound British colonists under the command of Sir George Somers was shipwrecked on the islands for 10 months. The islands were settled in 1612 by 60 British colonists from the Virginia Colony and became a crown colony in 1684. The earliest coins issued for the island were the ”Hogge Money” series of 2, 3, 6 and 12 pence, the name derived from the pig in the obverse design, a recognition of the quantity of such animals then found there. The next issue for Bermuda was the Birmingham coppers of 1793; all locally circulating coinage was demonetized in 1842, when the currency of the United Kingdom became standard.
The pound was the currency of Bermuda until 1970. It was equivalent to the British pound, alongside which it circulated, and was similarly divided into 20 shillings each of 12 pence. Bermuda decimalized in 1970, replacing the pound with the Bermudian dollar at a rate of 1 dollar = 8 shillings 4 pence (i.e., 100 pence), equal to the U.S. dollar. In 1914, the government introduced 1 pound notes. In 1920, 5 shilling notes were introduced, followed by 10 shillings in 1927 and 5 pounds in 1941. The 5 shilling note ceased production in 1957, with 10 pound notes introduced in 1964.

Prior to changing to the dollar, the Government of Bermuda had not issued its own coins, other than commemorative ones (the Bermuda Crowns), since the 19th Century, at the latest. In the 20th centuries, its pound notes were issued in all denominations (and the only coins used were UK ones). In 1970, the government introduced dollar notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 dollars. From 1974, the Bermuda Monetary Authority took over paper money production, introducing 100 dollars notes in 1982 and 2 dollars in 1988, when the 1 dollar was replaced by a coin. 1970 dollar notes are all printed with Bermuda Government across the top. Later notes substitute Bermuda Monetary Authority. In 2008, it was announced that banknotes would be redesigned in celebration of Bermuda's 400th anniversary, the first redesign since the launch of the dollar. The new designs were described as "distinctly Bermudian", with Queen Elizabeth II being relegated to a minor position. This new banknote will be out in 2009.



Great Britain coin; Maundy money


The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, located off the northwest coast of the European continent, has an area of 94,227 sq. mi. (244,820 sq. km.) and a population of 54 million. Capital: London. The economy is based on industrial activity and trading. Machinery, motor vehicles, chemicals, and textile yarns and fabrics are exported.

After the departure of the Romans, who brought Britain into a more active relationship with Europe, it fell prey to invaders from Scandinavia and the Low Countries who drove the original Britons into Scotland and Wales, and established a profusion of kingdoms that finally united in the 11th century under the Danish King Canute. Norman rule, following the conquest of 1066, stimulated the development of those institutions, which have since distinguished British life. Henry VIII (1509-47) turned Britain from continental adventuring and faced it to the sea - a decision that made Britain a world power during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603).

Strengthened by the Industrial Revolution and the defeat of Napoleon, 19th century Britain turned to the remote parts of the world and established a colonial empire of such extent and prosperity that the world has never seen its like. World Wars I and II sealed the fate of the Empire and relegated Britain to a lesser role in world affairs by draining her resources and inaugurating a worldwide movement toward national self-determination in her former colonies.

MINT MARKS
H - Heaton
KN - King's Norton

MONETARY SYSTEM
Colloquial Denomination Terms
Ha’penny = 1/2 Penny
Tanner = 6 Pence
Bob = 1 Shilling
Half a Crown (Half a Dollar) = 2 Shillings 6 Pence
Dollar = 5 Shillings
Half a quid = 10 Shillings
Quid = 1 Pound
Tenner = 10 Pounds
Pony = 20 Pounds
(Until 1970)
4 Farthings = 1 Penny
12 Pence = 1 Shilling
2 Shillings = 1 Florin
5 Shillings = 1 Crown
20 Shillings = 1 Pound (Sovereign)
21 Shillings = 1 Guinea
½ Sovereign = 10 Shillings (i.e. ½ Pound)
1 Sovereign = 1 Pound

9.4500 g., Bronze, 30.8 mm. Ruler: George V Obv: Head left
Obv. Leg.: GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID:
DEF: IND: IMP: Rev: Britannia seated right Note: Fully struck
and orginal mint lustre coins command a premium.


1.4138 g., 0.9250 Silver 0.0420 oz. ASW, 16 mm. Ruler:
George V Obv: Head left Rev: Crowned denomination divides
date within oak wreath


Maundy Money is a special British coinage given to deserving poor people in a religious ceremony performed by Anglicans on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. The present-day Maundy ceremony has evolved over the centuries and bears little relationship to the original rites to which it owes its origins. A fundamental aspect of the original Maundy service was the washing of the feet of the poor, which has its origins in Jesus' washing of the feet of the Disciples at the Last Supper. In early ceremonies, senior clergymen would wash the feet of lower clergy, while in other ceremonies, the washing would be done by someone higher up the hierarchical order.

King Edward II (1307–1327) seems to be the first English monarch to have been recorded actively taking part in the ceremony, although King John (1199–1216) is said to have taken part in a ceremony in about 1210, donating small silver coins to the poor. King Edward III (1327–1377) washed feet and gave gifts including money to the poor; the practice continued regularly, with the participation of the monarch, until 1698. Edward III (13 November 1312 รข€“ 21 June 1377) was one of the most successful English kings of medieval times. ...

Although the monarch did not participate personally, later ceremonies continued in which a selection of people were given Maundy money consisting of silver pennies totalling, in pence, the current age of the monarch. The washing of feet ended after the 1736 ceremony, until it was re-instated in the 2003 ceremony, when it was performed by the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.

In 1932, King George V agreed to take part personally in the distribution of the Maundy money, while the 1936 set was distributed by King Edward VIII, although the coins bore George V's effigy. By 1953 it had become normal practice for the monarch to distribute the Maundy money, a practice which continues to this day.


Source: Krause Publications, wikipedia, nationmaster.com

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AJMIR Sdn Bhd Money Changer, Jalan Tun H.S Lee


Last place I visit for my 17 January 2009 hunting trip is Ajmir Sdn Bhd Money Changer. Their shop is located at Jalan Tun H. S Lee, beside metro bus stop. It is also near Jalan Yap Ah Loy and Lebuh Pasar Besar where you can find Maybank and RHB bank. They were open everyday from 10.00 am until 7.00 pm everyday. You can contact Mr. Nawab at 019-2795555 or 03-20705555.


They have another shop just near this place and I only gone to this place twice. I don't realize I have been doing business with them for over 3 years now. Only realize that after looking at the banner in front of their shop. They have many old banknote for sale but mostly Malaysia banknote. On that day, they have one Brunei 100 ringgit for sale at RM300 price. They also have some Malaysia uncut banknotes sale at a bargain price (I don't collect uncut banknote). They also selling Malaysia RM50 commemorative Commonwealth banknote at RM120 which is cheaper then market price RM160. They also have 3 running number Malaya & British Borneo banknote (kapal layar) for sale at RM90 per piece.

I want to buy some of coin in their collection (world coins) but need to wait for the owner to come and bargaining the price with him. All the coin already put in their different continent and country in boxes and I can see some old coins in there. I am not keen on the waiting part and maybe will try to asked them again in my next trip there.


Antique Shop-Syarikat Tai fat heng-Jln Tun H. S Lee




Some people may not realize that there is one antique shop that sell banknote and coin along jalan Tun H.S Lee. Syarikat Tai Fat Heng has been around for over 50 years. This shop is just so near to Central Market and Kotaraya building. It is also the same row as where Petaling Street or Chinatown should be. They open their shop everyday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.


This is my hunting trip on 17 January 2009. This shop Sell many antique coins at a bargain price then most antique shop I found in Kuala Lumpur. Last time I found many Strait Settlements coins in this shop but in this trip I can only find one strait settlement coin. I don't realize that this shop also have a medal for sale until I come back and look back at this picture. One of my frequent buyer is a medal collector. Maybe will be checking them out again on my next hunting trip.


I cannot see any banknote during my visit here. Last time, this shop got some Malaya & British Borneo rare banknotes up for grab. Since I am not the only one looking for banknotes & coins, I guess someone already buy them all. This uncle keep looking at the street every time I take his picture. I also forget to asked for their phone number and their name. If you want to visit this place, just remember to used the same road from Pasar Seni LRT Station to Petaling Street and keep looking at shop on your right.

My 17 January 2009 hunting trip; Central Market, Kuala Lumpur




On 17 January 2009 I am doing some hunting trip for my banknotes and coins collection to Kuala Lumpur. I am using Putra LRT from KL Sentral and stop at Pasar Seni Station. Central Market located along Jalan Hang Kasturi, a few minutes away from Petaling Street.You also can see Pejabat Pos Besar Kuala Lumpur not far from Central Market upon arrival from Putra LRT. Central Market which was built in 1888 was originally a wet market. It has since being classified as a Heritage Site by the Malaysian Heritage Society and it is now a landmark for Malaysian Culture and Heritage displaying a wide variety of Malaysian Arts and Handicrafts, Batek, Antiques and attractive souvenirs. You can Read more about central market history here.


I am a bit lucky that day because I meet Tun Dr. Mahathir, ex Malaysia Prime Minister and world great leader. He is on his way back from central market and everyone is asking him If they can take picture with him. He just finish visiting central market. Taking his picture is already a good thing for me. he is also a fellow blogger now and last year his blog, chedet.com get a Page Rank 5 and get a pageview of over 11 millions. You can read about his blog, here. This one is his new blog and not been rated by google.



They are two Licensed Money Changer who is Selling old banknotes and coins in central Market. I frequently visit Jasa Masyhur Sdn Bhd which is located at the Ground Floor near a place where you can find artist selling potrait. You can contact them at 03-22607777. They are open daily from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm. Most of the time they're selling Worlds banknote and Malaysia old bannkote at cheaper price then catalog if any available. At moment this picture taken, the owner itself is still out there greeting Tun Dr. Mahathir.

I also doing some hunting trip around Jalan Tun H.S Lee that day but will post about it next time.

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The Indonesia Rupiah story

The rupiah (Rp) is the official currency of Indonesia.Issued and controlled by the Bank of Indonesia, the ISO 4217 currency code for the Indonesian rupiah is IDR. The symbol used on all banknotes and coins are Rp. The name derives from the Indian monetary unit rupee. Informally, Indonesians also use the word "perak" ('silver' in Indonesian) in referring to rupiah. The rupiah is subdivided into 100 sen, although inflation has rendered all coins and banknotes denominated in sen obsolete.
The first paper money used in the Indonesian archipelago was that of the United East Indies Company, credit letters of the rijksdaalder dating between 1783 and 1811. Netherlands Indian gulden government credit paper followed in 1815, and from 1827 gulden notes of De Javasche Bank. Lower denominations (below 5 gulden) were issued by the government in 1919-1920 and 1939-1940, due to wartime metal shortages, but otherwise day-to-day transactions were conducted using coinage.Gulden notes were issued by 'The Japanese Government' during the occupation from 1942, becoming 'roepiah' in 1943.

The first truly Indonesian rupiah notes, however were issued in 1946, during the war of independence with the Dutch, following the unilateral declaration of independence by the Indonesians at the end of World War Two on 17 August 1945. This money is known as 'Oeang Republik Indonesia' ('oeang' being the old spelling of 'uang', in English 'money'). Following the negotiated peace treaty in The Hague of 1949, the 'ORI' was withdrawn, to be replaced by an internationally recognised 'Indonesian rupiah'.

The Indonesian rupiah has been subject to numerous devaluations, and in 1965 existing paper was withdrawn, replaced by a new currency at the rate of 1000 to 1.


The Indonesian banknotes have many series of banknote; Gulden/Roepiah banknotes, Republik Indonesia Serikat Money, De Javasche banknotes, Government banknote, Animal series, Birds series banknote, Handicraft series, Soekarno and Sudirman "the new rupiah". Will post some of the Indonesian banknote series next time.

Source: Wikipedia



More M’sians buying into pound as currency weakens

Yesterday, I found this in local newspaper (The Star), about How More Malaysian buying pound sterling as currency weakens nowadays because of the economic slowdown. I have some old and New Pound Sterling in My collection and i do think that it is one of the Beautiful banknote in this worlds. Will try to find them and post about pound paper money next time.

Here is the news about the weakening pound.

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The Star, Wednesday January 14, 2009

PETALING JAYA: The weakening of the pound is prompting more Malaysians to buy into the currency, especially parents with children studying or about to study in Britain, checks at money-changers showed. And yes, say economists, now is a good time to buy the pound although there could be further weakening.

“Don’t try to find a bottom because you will never find it. The current level of 5.24 (ringgit to the pound) is not bad,” said CIMB Group Sdn Bhd group treasury and investments deputy chief executive officer Lee Kok Kwan.

Since the beginning of the credit crisis about 18 months ago, the pound has plunged 25% against the local unit and 28% against the US dollar. Since the beginning of the credit crisis 18 months ago, the pound has plunged 25% against the ringgit and 28% against the US dollar — AFP

Lee believes that the pound would continue to fall, given that Britain was going through a protracted slowdown.


“But anyone buying for ‘real’ use, like parents who intend to send their children to Britain for studies, can buy now, given that the pound has depreciated significantly.

“They should start buying now, if they have not started, and average out their cost ,” he said.

In relative terms, the average tuition costs for a British undergraduate degree of about £9,000 have dropped by a substantial RM10,000 now compared with a year ago. With the ringgit at 6.36 per pound then, a parent would have probably paid RM57,240 in tuition fees for the duration of his child’s tertiary studies. At the current rate of 5.24, a parent would only have to cough up slightly over RM47,000. RAM Holdings Bhd chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng concurred with Lee that the pound could continue to weaken until there was “recovery in sight” for the British economy.

The Bank of England’s monetary policy committee cut rates by one percentage point to 2% in December, the lowest since 1951, and expectations are that rates will continue to fall close to zero as the central bank and Treasury strive to save the ailing economy. A cut in interest rates will weaken further the pound. “Yes, it should continue to weaken as it suffers the direct impact of the financial crisis,” Yeah said. Still, at current levels, the pound appeared to be relatively cheap compared with other currencies, he said.

The sterling pound hit its lowest against the ringgit in 1997 at 3.97 while the highest was 7.56 in 1998 after Malaysia introduced capital-control measures.
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I try checking the price of pound for today with XE converter on the bottom of my page and the price is 5.21796 (Ringgit to Pound). You can try to convert the price of your own monetary system with this XE converter. It is a good news for some but also a hard time for some of us.


The People Republic of China "People Currency"; Chinese yuan (Renminbi)

The People Republic of China is located in Eastern Asia, has an area of 3,696,100 sq miles, including Manchuria and Tibet. Their capital is Beijing (Peking). The Communist People Republic of China was proclaimed on 2 September 1949. China emerged as independent center of Communist power in 1958. Upon the defeat of the Kuomintang & the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China, the communist government issued a new form of currency, the "Peoples Currency" or Renminbi as a replacement for all other notes in an effort to inject a stabilizing influence into the disorganized economy. People currency, Foreign Exchange Certificates and certain level or emergency issues are the only Forms of Paper money permitted by the communist government.


The fourth series of the renminbi was the series introduced between 1987 and 1997, although the banknotes were dated 1980, 1990, or 1996. Unlike the second and the third series, they are still legal tender. It features 14 person of China Various Communities.

1 jiao - 2 taiwanese men
2 jiao- Pu Yi & Korean Youth
5 jiao-Miao & Zhuang children
1 Yuan- Dong & Yao Youth
2 Yuan-Hygur & Ye Yin Youth
5 Yuan- Old Tibetan man & Young Islamic women
10 Yuan-Elder Han & Youthful Mongolian.

Han Chinese constitute about 92 percent of the population of the People's Republic of China and about 19 percent of the entire global human population. In Malaysia, there is about 6.5 million Han Chinese. Besides the majority Han Chinese, China recognizes 55 other "nationalities" or ethnic groups, numbering approximately 105 million persons, mostly concentrated in the northwest, north, northeast, south, and southwest but with some in central interior areas. Some famous Han Chinese are Sun Yat-Sen, Qin Shi Huang, Jackie Chan and Yao Ming.
Source: wikipedia & Krause Publication Standard Catalog of world Paper Money 1998.



Worlds most expensive coin; USA 1933 gold double eagle


In 1933, 445,000 gold Double Eagle coins were minted. At this time, during the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt took the U.S. off the gold standard. People were ordered to turn in their gold and no more gold coins were to be issued for circulation. All of the 1933 Double Eagles were ordered to be destroyed. Some of these coins escaped the melting. Two were given to the Smithsonian Institute for the U.S. National Numismatic Collection. In the 1950’s the Secret Service confiscated eight more of these 1933 Double Eagles.

The true story may never be known as to how they left the mint, but a coin dealer sold at least nine of them and one ended up in the collection of King Farouk of Eqypt. 40 years later, the coin showed up in New York in the possession of a coin dealer. The Secret Service seized the expensive coin and a legal battle began in court. During the several years of litigation, the expensive collectible was stored in the Treasury vaults at the World Trade Center, but after the lawsuit was finally settled in 2001 the coin was moved and later auctioned off on July 30, 2002 for $6.6 million, plus a buyer’s fee of 15% for a total price for the world’s most expensive coin $7,590,020.

In 2004. ten more specimens of the gold Double Eagle coins were discovered among the effects of the coin dealer who sold the previous specimens. One of his heirs sent all ten to the U.S. Mint to be authenticated and the Secret Service seized them. They now reside in Fort Knox while a new legal battle is fought over their ownership of these copies of the most expensive coin ever sold.

source: http://most-expensive.net/coin-world

This record has already been beaten by The Neil/Carter/Contrusi 1794 flowing hair dollar, sold for $7.85 million to the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation of Sunnyvale by Steven L. Contursi.

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Kelantan & Terengganu; Pitis or Keping coin

I try to find any bit history and information about this coins but it is very hard to find valuable one. What most website is talking about Terengganu and Kelantan Pitis or Keping coin is that this coin is made following the Chinese Merchants copper cash that been used in Malay Peninsular in 8th century AD. Pitis or Keping, cast from tin is then produced during last two decade of the 18th century. I think thats why this Kelantan Pitis has a hole on its center.

Several types of tin pitis, which were cast in the form of “coin trees” were also issued. The tin coin trees were produced by the use of moulds adapted from those used by the Chinese to cast copper coins. The coins were broken off from their branches to be used as cash, and the unused metal of the tree was then re-smelted in the next casting. All issues of Kelantan local coinage were discontinued in 1909 when the Straits Settlements coinage was introduced.
Kelantan Pitis or Keping
It is probable that the name "Kelantan" on this coin is the name of the long forgotten ruler of the early Kelantan-Patani period and not a reference to the state of Kelantan.

Obverse : In Arabic "Khalifatul Muminin" (ruler of the faithful). Crude inscription.
Reverse : In Arabic "Al Julus Kelantan" (The accession year of Kelantan).
Edge : Plain
Weight : 3.70 grammes, 4.70 grammes
Diameter : 26 mm, 27 mm
Composition : Tin (round central hole)

Terengganu Keping or Pitis
Several varieties exist of this coin in varying diameters.

Obverse : In Arabic "Kali Malik Al Adil (The reign of the Just Ruler).
Reverse : Blank.
Edge : Plain
Weight :1.10 grammes, 2.20 grammes, 3.80 grammes
Diameter : 17.5 mm, 20 mm, 21.5 mm
Composition : Tin