lunaticg banknote & coin: July 2009 | coin

Friday, July 31, 2009

Toonie; Canada 2 dollar coin story

Do you know that there is a coin called Toonie? It is Canada 2 dollar bi-metallic circulation coin which bears an image of polar bear. The name do not came from that polar bear instead come from Canada one dollar coin "loonie". The Loonie name come from The Great Northern Diver (a bird), known in North America as the Common Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The Toonie name come as it is a two dollar coin. Its weight at 7.3 gram, a bit heavy for a coin. Thanks for the hint from The home remodelling for Toonie coin.

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Toonie; Canada 2 dollar coin

The Canada 2 dollar coin, commonly called Toonie, was introduced on February 19, 1996 by Public Works minister Diane Marleau. The Toonie is a bi-metallic coin which bears an image of a polar bear, by Campbellford, Ontario artist Brent Townsend, on the reverse. The obverse, like all other current Canadian coins, has a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. It is the only coin in Canada to have the "ELIZABETH II / D.G. REGINA" in a different typeface; it is also the only coin to consistently bear its issue date on the obverse. Canada adopted the patented technology to make these coins from Italy. The engineer, and head of the Italian Mint, Dr. Nicola Ielpo, patented the technology of interlocking two metals in coins in 1990.

It costs 16 cents to mint a Toonie, which is estimated to last 20 years. The discontinued two-dollar bill cost six cents to print and, on average, each bill lasted only one year. When the coin was introduced a number of nicknames were suggested. Some of the early ones included the bearie (analogous to the Loonie and its loon), the bearly, the deuce and the doubloonie (a play on "double Loonie" and the former Spanish doubloon coin).

The name Toonie became so widely accepted that in 2006 the Royal Canadian Mint secured the rights to it. A competition to name the bear resulted in the name "Churchill", a reference both to the common polar bear sightings in Churchill, Manitoba and Winston Churchill.

A failure in the bimetallic locking mechanism in the first batch of Toonies caused some coins to separate if struck hard or frozen. Despite media reports of defective toonies, the Canadian Mint responded that the odds of a toonie falling apart were about 1 in 60 million. It is against the law to deliberately attempt to separate a toonie. Defacing coin currency is a summary offense under the Canadian Criminal Code, section 456.

photo by: istock photo.com

Value 2.00 CAD
Mass 7.3 g
Diameter 28 mm
Thickness 1.8 mm
Edge Intermittent milled/smooth
Composition outer ring
100% Ni
inner core
92% Cu,
6% Al,
2% Ni
Years of minting 1996–present

Source: wikipedia

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I thought I have this coin in my collection but I cannot found them yesterday. Maybe it is time for me to do a list for my world coins and paper money. Do you have this Canada two dollar coin in your collection. Do you agree that this coin bit heavy then other coins? Do you have any coin story that you want to share in here? Feel free to give a comment for this story.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Treasure hunting; Klaus Keppler uncovered Forbes vessel

Have you done any treasure hunting before? Most people do treasure hunting for gold artifact. Do you know that you can do a treasure hunting using Google Maps? Google Maps have given the ability to virtually anyone to have eyes across the globe and conduct research into specific points of interest before launching a treasure hunting expedition. This has made it infinitely easier for treasure hunters to do extensive research previously impossible to do without physically going to the specific point of interest, and saved the real life treasure hunters much time and money, even providing for a new level of safety to be incorporated into treasure hunting expeditions.

I read many story about people doing their treasure hunting around this world. Yesterday, I found a story about Klaus Keppler who founds a kilograms of different kind of silver coins in a 10th century wreck ship, the Forbes. The British vessel sailed the seas under a commission from the British king, a kind of pirate with a royal permit. It ran aground on a reef off Belitung island, between Borneo and Sumatra, en route to India on Sept 9, 1806.

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Treasure hunter Klaus Keppler has uncovered cannons and priceless china from ship wrecks in the ocean
TheSundaily.com
by Christiane Oelrich
Updated: 01:21PM Wed, 29 Jul 2009

In the lore surrounding hidden treasures, the gods often see fit to subject the treasure hunter to a long quest before he finds the objects of his desire. Treasure hunter Klaus Keppler knows that only too well. For years, the owner of a salvage company has been looking for the wrecks of ships that had been carrying gold, silver or china. Now, after a long dry spell, he got lucky. Twice.

An old cannon

Keppler showing off a find

Salvage works being carried out aboard a wreck.

Keppler - who has recovered a 10th-century wreck and the Forbes, a British vessel that ran aground in 1806, off Indonesia – contentedly surveys his treasures in a Jakarta port storehouse, holding up a huge lump of silver coins.

"Hurry up, this thing is incredibly heavy," the 70-year-old German urges a photographer but with a big smile on his face.

The divers of his salvage ship, the Maruta Jaya, have recovered many kilograms of silver coins from the Forbes as well as cannon, gold jewellery, crystal, silverware and 400 bottles of wine.

"Those gentlemen on board knew how to live well," he says.The many different coins will sell well, he believes, spinning a large one between his fingers: "One coin can be worth between US$50 dollars and several thousand."

This is even more so the case if the history of the artefact is known. Keppler hired a young man to scour archives around the world for information about the Forbes.

The vessel sailed the seas under a commission from the British king, a kind of pirate with a royal permit. It ran aground on a reef off Belitung island, between Borneo and Sumatra, en route to India on Sept 9, 1806.

Captain Frazer Sinclair and his crew survived. The Mampango reef was only charted five years later.

Upstairs in Keppler’s storehouse, four archaeology students measure, photograph and describe every recovered coin and enter the results in a databank.

"Everything gets documented," Keppler says. Officials from various Indonesian ministries who must accompany every search trip make sure that no treasures are squirreled away.

The Indonesian state receives 50% of all revenues derived from the treasure hunts in its territory. While it is rumoured among treasure hunters that some officials are not adverse to cutting individual deals, the searchers also eye each other with mistrust.

"Eighty per cent are scoundrels and mountebanks," Keppler says.

Apart from the revenue, Indonesia’s interest is limited, as is obvious with the second wreck Keppler found in a depth of 50 metres off Java island, says Horst Liebner, an expert on Malay culture and history.

"The Karawang wreck is from the10th century," Liebner says. "In Germany, such a find would be a sensation, but in Indonesia, not a single archaeologist stopped by to have a look.

Liebner dated the wreck with the help of Chinese lead coins from the Ming dynasty, which fell in 947. Divers also recovered vases, ewers and plates. "It’s a time capsule," he enthuses.

So far, the treasure hunters have not become rich. The flotilla of salvage ships, equipment, divers and storage all needed to be financed in advance, long before any promising finds were on the horizon. Therefore, investors attracted by a sense of adventure are welcome.

But occasionally there is a wreck that fulfills the treasure hunter’s hopes. "We checked out about 70 wrecks here, but only five of them are probably worth it," Keppler says.

The money only starts coming in when a buyer is found. Keppler’s team is in negotiations with Chinese museums over the Karawang treasure, which he hopes will bring in €1.4 million (RM7 million dollars) with salvage costs amounting to €600,000. The Forbes might prove more profitable, netting €5 million to 10 million, with €400,000 in salvage costs.

"There are more than 30 million coin collectors worldwide," says Keppler. But in the end, he is in it for the search – his eyes already set on future wrecks to be discovered.

Source: TheSundaily.com

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I always wish one day I can make my treasure find using Google Maps. Just look at the open sea on the maps and wish that I can find that treasure. I want to know how it felt recovering kilograms of silver coins, cannon, gold jewellery, crystal, silverware , chinaware and other artifact treasure. Some says you need at least half a million Euro dollar to start a treasure expedition. Sometimes you don't gain anything from that expedition. Almost the same thing with my coin hunting trip. Sometimes I come back from my coin hunting trip empty handed. Do you always browsing the world with Google Maps? Don't forget to look at the open sea, who know one days this kind of treasure will be yours.

Feel free to make comment and share your story on Google Maps and Treasure Hunting.

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Guam Official First Day Coin Cover Available Now

Yesterday, the United States Mint issued the third series of 2009 quater dollar coins. The Guam Official First Day Coin Cover features two Guam commemorative quarter-dollar coins, one each bearing the mint mark from the United States Mint facilities at Philadelphia and Denver. In 2009, the United States Mint will mint and issue six quarter-dollar coins in honor of the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. These coins will be issued in equal sequential intervals in 2009 in the order listed. The image of George Washington as seen on the obverse of the 50 State Quarters® coins will remain unchanged. The reverse of each quarter will be distinctly different with images emblematic of the District of Columbia and each of the territories.

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The Guam Official First Day Coin Cover

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint will begin accepting orders for the Guam Official First Day Coin Cover on July 28, 2009, at noon Eastern Time (ET). Production is limited to 25,000 units.

Priced at $14.95 each, the Guam Official First Day Coin Cover features two Guam commemorative quarter-dollar coins, one each bearing the mint mark from the United States Mint facilities at Philadelphia and Denver. The quarters are mounted on a handsome display card in an envelope with a 44-cent United States Flag postage stamp. The postmark of MAY 26, 2009, HAGATNA, GU marks the day the Guam quarters were first released to the Federal Reserve Bank and to the public.

The reverse (tails side) of the Guam commemorative quarter depicts the outline of the island, a flying proa (a seagoing craft built by the Chamorro people), and a latte stone (an architectural element used as the base of homes). Inscriptions include GUAM and Guahan I Tanó ManChamorro ("Guam - Land of the Chamorro").

Orders for the Guam Official First Day Coin Cover will be accepted at www.usmint.gov/catalog or at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may place their orders at 1-888-321-MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be added to all domestic orders.

Source: usmint.gov

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Here is the story about Guam that I found in usmint website:

The Guam quarter is the third in the 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program. Initial Western contact with Guam occurred when explorer Ferdinand Magellan reached the southernmost Mariana Islands in 1521. From 1668 to 1815, it served as a way station for Spanish Acapulco-to-Manilla ships. Spanish rule of Guam came to an end when American forces secured the island during the Spanish-American War. During World War II, the Japanese seized Guam and occupied it for more than two years, with American forces recapturing it in 1944. Under the Organic Act of 1950, the people of Guam became American citizens and established a local government.

The Guam quarter reverse design depicts the outline of the island, a flying proa (a seagoing craft built by the Chamorro people), a latte stone (an architectural element used as the base of homes) and the inscriptions, GUAM and Guahan I Tanó ManChamorro, which means "Guam - Land of the Chamorro." The proa represents the endurance, fortitude and discovery of the Chamorro people. The vessel, made by expert carvers and sailed by master navigators, is admired as a technical marvel. The latte speaks to a historic icon that hails from the Micronesian area. Chamorro is one of the official languages of Guam, and its usage is enjoying a renaissance there and on the Mariana Islands.

Guam Governor Felix P. Camacho solicited and reviewed reverse design narratives from the public, narrowing hundreds of submissions down to two – the outline of the Island of Guam with a flying proa and latte stone and a flying proa at sail, a coconut tree bending toward the water and Two Lovers Point in the background. These narratives were forwarded to the United States Mint for the production of artistic renderings, which were then proposed to the territory. Through a public vote, the island, flying proa and latte stone design was recommended for the Guam quarter, and the Secretary of the Treasury approved it on July 31, 2008.

Source: usmint.gov

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Do any of you collect quater dollar? Share your quater dollar story or picture in here.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Kids Project; UK one pound coin

Today project is UK one pound or pound sterling coin. Kids Project is a suggestion from me, the best and cheap way to start collecting coin for your kids. This hunting project for your kids will only cost around 50 to 100 ringgit and you do not need to start with a big budget. You can give them a small budget every month and go out together for their coin hunting trip. Some of my Kids project you do not to start with any budget at all. Most of them is a circulation coin that you can find in your pocket. Just make sure every coin that they collect come with a story for your kids to appreciate them more.

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Here are some story I found about British UK one pound in Wikipedia:

The circulating British one pound (£1) coin is minted from a nickel-brass alloy of approximately 70% copper, 24.5% zinc, and 5.5% nickel. The coin weighs 9.50 grams (0.34 oz) and has a diameter of 22.50 millimetres (0.89 in.). The coin was introduced on 21 April 1983 to replace the Bank of England one pound note, which ceased to be issued at the end of 1984 and was removed from circulation (though still redeemable at the Bank's offices) on 11 March 1988. It was given the nickname "round pound" on introduction, although this term did not remain in common use.

The £1 coin has the standard obverse designs used on all contemporary British coins, namely the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin in 1983 and 1984, by Raphael Maklouf between 1985 and 1997, and by Ian Rank-Broadley since 1998. All have had the inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D date.

Uniquely amongst modern British coinage, the £1 coin has a mint mark: a small crosslet found on the milled edge that represents Llantrisant in South Wales, where the Royal Mint has been based since 1968. An interesting feature of this denomination is that the design of the reverse of the coin changed each year between 1983 and 2008 to show, in turn, an emblem representing the UK, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England, together with an appropriate edge inscription.

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What I like most in UK one pound is that it comes with incuse lettering or decoration on the edge.

Edge inscription: DECUS ET TUTAMEN ("An ornament and a safeguard" – originally on 17th century coins, this refers to the inscribed edge as a protection against the clipping of precious metal. The phrase may be part of a line from Virgil — "viro decus et tutamen in armis" (Aeneid, Book V, L. 262), describing a shirt of golden chainmail awarded as a prize to Mnestheus.)

Edge inscription: NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT ("No-one provokes me with impunity" – the Latin motto of the Order of the Thistle).

Edge inscription: PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD ("True am I to my country" – from the chorus of the Welsh National Anthem).

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This is the complete set of UK one pound chart that you can hunt for.

Date Reverse Description
1983 Ornamental royal arms.
1984 Thistle sprig in a coronet, representing Scotland.
1985 Leek in a coronet, representing Wales.
1986 Flax in a coronet, representing Northern Ireland.
1987 Oak tree in a coronet, representing England.
1988 Crown over the Royal Shield.
1989 Thistle sprig in a coronet, representing Scotland.
1990 Leek in a coronet, representing Wales.
1991 Flax in a coronet, representing Northern Ireland.
1992 Oak tree in a coronet, representing England.
1993 Ornamental royal arms.
1994 Lion Rampant in a double tressure flory,representing Scotland.
1995 Dragon Passant representing Wales.
1996 Celtic cross and pimpernel, representing Northern Ireland.
1997 Three lions passant guardant, representing England.
1998 Issued in collectors' sets only, not for circulation.
1999 Issued in collectors' sets only, not for circulation.
2000 Dragon Passant representing Wales.
2001 Celtic cross and pimpernel, representing Northern Ireland.
2002 Three lions passant guardant, representing England.
2003 Ornamental royal arms.
2004 Scottish Forth Railway Bridge
2005 Welsh Menai Straits Bridge
2006 Northern Ireland Egyptian Arch at Newry
2007 English Millennium Bridge
2008 The shield from the Royal Coat of Arms.

Update: This link is for the complete sets of UK one pound picture pdf. Thanks to Scott Kuperus for giving this link.

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This project will teach your kids how to enjoy a hobby of kings. UK one pound is a currencies that can be found in almost anywhere in this world. At this moment, UK pound currency exchange rates to ringgit Malaysia is at 5.80. You can collect at least 25 kind of UK one pound and it is not easy to collect them all. With a low pound rates to ringgit at the moment. This is the best time for you to start your kids project; UK one pound coin. Do you want your kids to start this project? Do you have any coin collecting project that you can think of? Feel free to share them in here.

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Monday, July 27, 2009

How much this coin worth?

Do you know how much this coin worth? A friend asked me about it in Yahoo Answer last week. I try to get in touch with him by sending him message in his YouTube account but its been almost a week now he don't reply anything. This post is a reply to David question regarding this coin. He is asking if anyone know anything about this silver coin values, mint, what they commemorate for and the story of this coin.

This is what he said in YouTube:

"I was cleaning up my room and I found this coin and wonder what it is, and who made it. I've been doing research, but can't find anything about it. Front of coin: Boeing 1916 1991 75 years One Troy Ounce .999 Fine Silver, Back of coin: Making History Everyday B&W 1916. Anyone know what it is? who made it? Why? and how much its worth? Thanks everyone"

I am making a bit of Internet research about this coin. Which is actually a medal for Boeing Employees Coin Club. It is a B & W 75th anniversary medal and only have 4,900 mintage. It only worth USD$8.00 (based on their sale price). You can check their BECC medal list 1966-2009 and their BECC medal issue price list. You can also check their medal photo to confirm that this is a medal from Boeing Employee Coin Club.

Posted by: nguyendavid12 date added in YouTube: July 21, 2009

This is a little bit about BECC:

"The Boeing Employees' Coin Club has issued distinctive medals featuring a Boeing product or products most years since the 50th anniversary of The Boeing Company in 1966. These medals are issued in silver, pewter, and bronze, all with a proof-like (mirror-like) finish, and are widely collected by BECC members, Boeing employees and retirees, and other persons interested in aviation and coin club memorabilia. Since the BECC is a non-profit organization, the medal prices are reasonable, although higher this year due to higher silver prices and higher production expenses."

This Boeing Employees Coin Club is based in Seattle, United States and I can only find a snail mail address for their club:
Boeing Employees' Coin Club (or B.E.C.C.) c/o Greg Smith, P.O. Box 6314, Kent, WA 98064.
You can try to e-mail their webmaster J. Eric Holcomb at eric@holcomb.com.

Boeing was incorporated in Seattle, Washington by William E. Boeing, on July 15, 1916, as "Pacific Aero Products Co." following the June 15 maiden flight of one of the two "B&W" seaplanes built with the assistance of George Conrad Westervelt, a U.S. Navy engineer. Many of Boeing's early planes were seaplanes. Correct me if I am wrong, B & W meant for Boeing & Westervelt.

You can read more about Boeing Employees Coin Club at their website www.seattlebecc.org. The BECC publishes a monthly newsletter (the BECC News), holds an annual coin show in January, mints an annual commemorative medal featuring a Boeing product, and promotes numismatics through special programs and activities such as the numismatic display at the Puyallup Fair each September.

I hope David will be reading this post and now how much his medal worth. In cash, its not worth much to some but custom coin is something that not everyone can get hold to since they have a very low mintage. I hope this information is enough for David. Anybody have this some custom coin? Do you have some coin that you cannot find their story or how much their value? Please feel free to contact me via e-mail or post a comment in here.

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Sunday, July 26, 2009

Beautiful coin creations

Have you ever see coin been used to create a fine arts. This beautiful arts compile by Threndhunter magazine in their website. If you're coin collector like me, it is an amazing thing what people do with their coin collection. Threndhunter magazine show 12 coins creation by an artist from around the world. This show how money can be used for things other than spending. From tools made of money and money sculptures to coin operated lighting and portable micro safes, there seems to be a lot of ways coins can be used that don’t involve spending. Here is some of the creations that I like.

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Niso Maman coins sculptures

Niso Maman is a renowned Israeli sculptor often referred to as a modern day Rodin. He captures the curves of the human body through sharp, metal materials. It is his use of contrast between form and medium that makes Maman’s work stand out. His torso sculpture made entirely of coins retains a uniquely human feel, and looks as though a real woman lies beneath the sculpture.

“Niso’s sculptures speak of understated motion and grace,” Onnesimo says. “The three dimensional harmony of Niso’s sculptures have resulted in works of astounding emotion which remain unique in the art world.”

If you have an appreciation for fine art, or simply love the human form, Niso Maman is your man.

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Tools made of Money

Instead of stashing her relatively useless pennies in a jar in the closet, Stacey Lee Webber is creating sculptures from them. In this collection, titled “The Craftsmen Series,” Webber has formed her coins into antique looking hammers, saws and screwdrivers. The details are amazing; check out the saw blade, I think it would actually cut wood.

Stacey Lee has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and currently resides in Chicago.

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Wear your investment

Wear your riches on your sleeve. Japan’s largest bullion house showed off a gleaming gown which is covered with hundreds of gold coins. The 8 kilos (18 pounds) dress was created by Tanaka Kikinzoku Jewellery K.K. using 325 Austrian gold coins issued to commemorate the Vienna Philharmonic and is valued at 30 million yen ($275,000). The bullion house does not plan to sell the gown, but it said it would entertain any serious offers. Two men’s jackets also using gold coins, together valued at about 127 million yen, were created.

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Money sculpture

Effectively showcasing the physical beauty of money, these beautiful sculptures created using coins and banknotes are the work of London-based artist Justine Smith. On her personal website, Smith describes her work as an exploration of our relationship with money and our response to it—politically, morally and socially.

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Penny Jewelry

The recession makes people rethink all of their spending, and no matter how pretty jewelry is, our spending on it takes a hit as well. Designers and DIYers alike have all considered this change and started creating penny jewelry. Stacey Lee Webber, Nina Gibson, Kessef, and Lucky Accessories have all created versions of the look, with necklaces, bracelets and even cuff links made from shiny pennies, as spotted by Trend de la Creme. DIYers with some talents with metal can easily recreate the look for less, making it a great recession look. So ravage your change drawer and make some penny jewelry!

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Furniture made of coins

Chair worth $750 sells for $29,000. How does that happen? When you take 1500 half-dollar coins and make 7000 welds to form the money into a curvaceous 50 cent piece of furniture. There is no form supporting the coins. Think Ole Fitty new about this? The chair weigh 58 pounds. The minimal frame and legs are stainless.

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Pennies as Floor Tiles

The Standard Grill in The Standard Hotel New York has a distinct flooring system, as it is covered in coins. The floor is literally tiled in thousands of copper pennies, adding a unique vibe to the place. I don’t think having a floor covered in coins is very hygienic for a restaurant, but it certainly looks cool! I wonder how much it cost?

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Source: ThrendHunter magazine

I like the Pennies as the floor tiles. I am imagining now how my house will be with Malaysia 1 sen as a tiles. I think the cost would be most cheaper then other kind of tiles in the market nowadays but the only problem is how to clean it? Sorry if I am talking about fine art in my blog for today. I just love to see this creation by other people using money as their medium. I know one Shop in Malaysia create a ring from a coin. Will be sharing a story about that shop later if I am lucky enough to take picture of their creation. So which one of this fine arts do you like the most? Do you have something similar in your collection?

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Saturday, July 25, 2009

Rare Roman Coins of emperor Carausis (AD 286-93)

Yesterday, I am looking for any news regarding US Mint suspension on sales of silver coins and bullion coins. The U.S. Mint has "temporarily" suspended sales of almost all of its gold uncirculated and proof coins, along with nearly all of silver uncirculated coins because of the limited availability of blanks. Unprecedented demand and a shortage of blanks becoming a reason for the chronic shortage of gold and silver coins authorized by the U.S. Mint. Nowadays, look like everyone is looking for silver and gold as an investment. Some of my coin friends already e-mail and phone me asking if I have any silver coins stock for sale. While searching for that story, I found a news about a rare Roman coins that is worth to read.

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Rare Roman Coins Acquired for British Museum and Derby with Art Fund Help
Artdaily.org
Saturday, July 25, 2009

LONDON.- Two very rare gold coins of the little known Roman emperor Carausius (AD 286-93), found in the North Midlands in 2007, have been acquired by the British Museum and Derby Museum and Art Gallery. Both feature an image of the emperor Carausius, who lead a breakaway 'mini-empire' of Britain and Gaul in the late third century.

The first coin is a unique piece struck in London which has been acquired by the British Museum thanks to the generosity of funders including £43,500 from independent charity The Art Fund, the British Museum Friends and the Bottoms Bequest. The second coin was struck early in Carausius’ reign at Rouen and has been acquired by Derby Museum and Art Gallery, once again with grants from The Art Fund (£30,000) as well as the Victoria and Albert Fund, the Headley Trust, the Friends of Derby Museum and Art Gallery and Enlightenment – Collecting Cultures. The British Museum coin is on display in the Roman Britain gallery (Room 49, Case 14); the Derby coin will go on display in the near future.

The coins were found in spoil created by construction work by Derrick Fretwell. They were reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and declared Treasure in 2008. Gold coins of Carausius are extremely rare, until now only twenty-three have been found. The last example found was in 1975 in Hampshire and it is quite possible that we will have to wait for over thirty years before another one sees the light of day.

Carausius was a Menapian (from modern Belgium). In the AD 280s he was a leading general in the Roman army, possibly with authority over the Roman Fleet ("Classis Britannica") that patrolled the English Channel and North Sea. The fleet was commanded from Boulogne. One of its major functions was to defend Britain and Gaul (France) from Saxon raiders; it also probably escorted barges that took British grain to the Roman army on the Rhine. Carausius fell foul of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian, supposedly because he allowed the Saxons to raid and only intercepted them afterwards, keeping the stolen loot for himself! Rather than hand himself over, Carausius declared himself emperor of Northern Gaul and Britain and set up his own mini-empire.

The earlier of the two coins comes from Carausius’ mint at Rouen. Carausius only managed to maintain control of Northern Gaul for a few years and coins from Rouen are very rare. This is only the tenth gold coin recorded for the mint. It shows the emperor shaking hands with Concordia with the inscription "in harmony with the army". This coin was probably struck to pay Carausius’ followers a ‘bounty’ on his accession, a practise carried out by all emperors. The second coin comes from the mint of London which struck many coins throughout Carausius’ reign, though this is a unique type. It shows Carausius wearing a helmet decorated with an animal design with an inscription that praises the emperor’s courage (virtus). The reverse trumpets ‘Imperial Peace’, something that Carausius tried to achieve by gaining the approval of the central emperors on the Continent – he even struck coins in the names of Diocletian and Maximianus to curry favour with them. Carausius successfully defended Britain against the central empire; however, he did not survive a coup d’état by his chancellor Allectus, who was to rule Britain from 293 to 296. The Roman emperor Constantius I finally retook Britain in 296, killing Allectus and bringing an end to Carausius’ breakaway realm.

We cannot be sure why these coins were buried, but whatever the reason the finder failed to recover them. A Roman soldier might expect to earn twelve gold coins a year before deductions were made for his expenses. The wheat he needed to make bread for a year would have cost almost 2 gold coins. For one gold coin, someone could have bought almost 100 bottles of wine or about 50 litres of olive oil. However, ten gold coins would have been needed to buy a pound of white silk.

Source: artdaily.org

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While I am in Penang a few years back, I heard how people found buried treasure in old building and houses. Most of the owner of this treasure is Chinese who afraid that their belonging confiscated by Japanese during world war 2. Maybe that is the reason why buying coins and banknotes in Penang is far more cheaper then other places in Malaysia. Do any of you knew any such story happen in your place? Please share them in here.

I welcome everyone to comment on my post. Just make sure your comment is related to my post, more then 3 words long and do not spam me with your link. I don't mind any language used but English is the main language in my blog.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Pekan Rabu in Alor Setar, Kedah

Have you ever been to Pekan Rabu in Alor Setar? Pekan Rabu which literally means Wednesday Market is located in the middle of Alor Setar is well known among the local population and tourists from outside Kedah. Its open everyday from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. The fourth Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir, once was a trader in Pekan Rabu. This year I already visit this place twice to look for an antique seller who sell antique keris, vintage watches and old coins. I received this information via e-mail that there is one old guy who sell antiques in this complex.

I have been searching for almost every part of the old business complex but I cannot find anyone selling banknotes, paper money, coins or any antiques. Most of the stall in here is selling textiles or Malay clothes. Some are selling craft like keris, Metal craft, pottery, kompang, traditional cookies, Ikan Pekasam, jewelery, dried seafood and mostly other item that related to the Malays. I even go walking around shops near this Pekan Rabu business complex but I still cannot find the said seller.

This is some information I found in PekanRabu.com:

The complex costing RM 3.2 millions and was built in 1975 and renovated in 1995 with cost RM 6.5 millions. Phase 2 complex was built in 1990 with cost RM 2 millions. Pekan Rabu complex has 347 stalls with a variety of business and it has become one of the important landmarks of Alor Setar. This shopping Complex which is situated in Jalan Tunku Ibrahim was officially opened on 25th. February 1978. Prior to the construction of this complex, the traders did their business in on open building with no walls and trading stalls were not properly arranged and scattered.

If any of you know about this old guy who is selling antiques in Pekan Rabu Shopping Complex please e-mail me via lunaticg@gmail.com. To anyone who have a question about banknotes and coins, I also willing to help you but please do e-mail me with a clear picture of your coin.

Source: pekanrabu.com

Related Posts:

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Rare silver 1 penny coin could be worth £7k

Rare coin become a hot story in UK recently. After a 20 pence phenomenon, now it is a time for a 1 penny silver rare coin. Yesterday, I found a news about a grandmother from Bridgwater, Somerset found a rare 1 penny silver coin. Unwittingly handed over to Tania Simmonite at the market stall where she sells cheese, the piece appears to have been released into circulation without undergoing the usual copper-plating process. Royal Mint had confirmed that this is a genuine monetary unit. If the undated rare 20 pence coin can go as far as £7,000 this coin for sure will be worth much much more.

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Pensioner's rare SILVER penny could sell for thousands... so have you got one in your pocket?
Daily Mail UK
By Luke Salkeld
Last updated at 9:59 PM on 22nd July 2009

Look after this penny, and the pounds will definitely look after themselves. The rare silver 1 penny coin could be worth up to tens of thousands of pounds thanks to its peculiar colouring. Unwittingly handed over to Tania Simmonite at the market stall where she sells cheese, the piece appears to have been released into circulation without undergoing the usual copper-plating process.

Precious penny: Tania Simmonite's granddaughter Amy Baker holds the rare silver 1p piece that is set to earn her grandmother thousands.

After finding it in her till, Mrs Simmonite, 69, contacted the Royal Mint who confirmed it was a genuine monetary unit. What they did not tell her, however, was how much the penny might be worth. But after a 20 pence coin without a date mark on its surface was sold earlier this month for £3,500, the grandmother is feeling optimistic about putting it up for auction and could receive an even higher price because of its scarcity.

She said yesterday: 'I was really surprised when I found the penny in the till.

'When I first saw it I thought it must be a fake but I decided to investigate.

'I phoned the Royal Mint and they said they would look at it - and they confirmed it was genuine, sending me a letter telling me how it came about. But I haven't a clue what it's worth.'

Last month it emerged that a rare error at the Royal Mint caused tens of thousands of 20p coins to be produced without their year of manufacture stamped on them. Experts had predicted that the coins could be worth £50 each, but soaring demand pushed the price of a single coin up to £7,100 on eBay. The coins were left dateless when the 20p piece was redesigned. The Mint does not know how many undated coins were released into circulation, but estimates range between 50,000 and 200,000.

Asked about the value of the silver penny from 2003, Jeffrey Day, a coin specialist at Lawrences auctioneers, said: 'If the undated 20ps were selling for thousands of pounds then this coin has to be rarer.

'But there is no way of knowing how many of these are in circulation and the only way of finding out its true value is at auction.'

Mrs Simmonite, from Bridgwater, Somerset, added: 'I can't even remember who gave it to me - I feel so lucky.

'I have kept it wrapped up in a bit of tissue but at my age I think it would be a good idea to sell.'

Source: Mail online.UK

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I wish her good luck on selling her rare 1 penny silver coin. For me that is a very Extremely rare coin and should worth at least 5 figure pounds. For anyone who found a rare 20 pence coin, my advice keep them for at least 5 years. It not easy to sell them at such high price at the moment since there is already to many people selling them. Expert only put their value at £50. Its not that much.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

World 1st Coloured circulation coin: The Poppy Coin

Do you know what is the world first coloured circulation coin? Many countries mint have produced coloured coin not many of them goes into circulation. On October 21, 2004, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a 25¢ poppy coin. This coin features a red-coloured poppy embedded in the centre of a maple leaf above a banner reading "Remember - Souvenir". The red poppy stamped on the reverse in pressurized ink has an innovative fluorescent security coating. While some countries' mints have produced colorized coins for market to collectors, this is the first colorized coin in general circulation in the world.

The Royal Canadian Mint states that, with normal wear and tear, the colour should remain for a number of years, although this claim was quickly disproved. The colouration compounds are attached to the metal on a specially prepared 'dimpled' section of the coin, and seem to come off easily if deliberately rubbed. The coin will retain its full value even if the red poppy has worn off or been removed. Today. a fully coloured coin specimens is a collectible item and you still can find them in e-bay selling for USD$6.

Originating as a symbol of remembrance in early 19th century Europe, the poppy became its international symbol when Canadian Lieut. Col. John McCrae penned his timeless poem In Flanders Fields during the First World War. To commemorate the men and women who have given their lives to secure Canada freedom, millions of scarlet poppies are distributed by The Royal Canadian Legion and blossom on the lapels of Canadians each November.

Specifications

Date: 2004

Mintage: 28,500,000

Face value: 25 cents
Obverse: Crowned head right

Reverse: Red Poppy in center of maple leaf

Edge: serrated
Composition: multi-ply plated steel
Weight (g): 4.4
Diameter (mm): 23.88
Finish: circulation

In 2007, in the United States these coins were briefly reported as a possible 'spy tool' by some US Defense Contractors unfamiliar with the odd-seeming coin and raised espionage warnings until the situation was clarified. This is one of the story mention found in a news in FOXnews.com released 9 May 2007.

~The odd-looking but harmless "poppy coin" was so unfamiliar to suspicious U.S. Army contractors traveling in Canada that they filed confidential espionage accounts about them. The worried contractors described the coins as "anomalous" and "filled with something man-made that looked like nano-technology," according to once-classified U.S. government reports and e-mails obtained by the AP.~

Is there any coloured circulation coin in other country? I try to find anything other then this poppy coin but this is the only story about circulation coloured coin I can find.

Related posts:

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Coin

Yesterday is the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned mission to land on the Moon. It was the fifth human spaceflight of Project Apollo and the third human voyage to the Moon. Launched on July 16, 1969, it carried Mission Commander Neil Alden Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr. On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to land on the Moon, while Collins orbited above. I found two website offering coins for the 40th anniversary of the Apollo mission. One is from the NASA Kennedy Space Center website and the other one is from The Royal Australian Mint.

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Official Apollo 11 40th Anniversary coin

NASA Space Kennedy Center minted two coin which is in Silver .999 pure Silver and bronze coin. Both of them don't have coin denomination. The design is similar on both coin.It come with the official 40th anniversary apollo 11 insignia and some picture of apollo 11 history; lunar rover, Apollo 11, and man landing on the moon.

This finely detailed bronze coin features the official NASA 40 Years of Apollo logo on one side, and famous Apollo images on the other. Each coin is finely detailed with the official 40 Years of Apollo insignia. It is price at US$5.99.

This commemorative 40 years of Apollo coin contains one troy ounce of .999 pure silver. Each coin is finely detailed with the official 40 Years of Apollo insignia and comes with a certificate of authenticity and a blue velvet presentation case. It is price at US$69.99

Source:Kennedy Space Center

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New coin celebrates moon landing
20/07/2009 2:28:00 PM
The Independent weekly Australia

A new 50 cent collector coin celebrating the 40th anniversary of man landing on the moon will be launched tomorrow. The Royal Australian Mint said the coin, designed by Caitlin Goodall, depicted the lunar module in space on its way to Tranquillity base on the moon.

“As you view the design, the pad printed elements on one half of the coin gives the perspective of opposing skyscapes, as though you are looking out the cockpit window of the orbiting Command Module,” it said.

It is also 40 years since the original 50 cent coin entered circulation. The first 50 cent piece was a round silver coin but was changed in 1969 to a cupro-nickel 12-sided coin because of the high silver prices and to make it easier to distinguish from the 20 cent coin. The new coin is being released at an official event at the Southern Cross Club in Woden in Canberra.

Source: The Independent weekly Australia
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Monday, July 20, 2009

World first Braille commemorative coin?

Is this world first braille coin? I try to find any similar coin (braille coin) but look like this is the only one I can find. This coin release on March 26, 2009. The Silver Coin is to Commemorate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille birthday. Louis Braille ; January 4, 1809 – January 6, 1852 was the inventor of braille, a world-wide system used by blind and visually impaired people for reading and writing. Braille is read by passing the fingers over characters made up of an arrangement of one to six embossed points. It has been adapted to almost every known language. He Born in France and this coin is minted by the United States Mint.

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2009 Louis Braille Commemorative

This year the United States Mint will offer 2009 Louis Braille Commemorative Coins. These coins will honor the inventor of the Braille System of reading and writing used by the blind and visually impaired. They are released in 2009 to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth.

The new coins were authorized under H.R. 2872 Louis Braille Bicentennial Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation provides for the production of up to 400,000 Silver Dollar commemorative coins during 2009.

The coin was designed to be representative of the life and legacy of Louis Braille. The obverse of the coin bears his portrait and the inscriptions “Louis Braille”, “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, the dual date “1809″ and “2009″ and mint mark “P” to represent mintage at the Philadelphia Mint.

The reverse of the coin features a young boy reading a Braille Book. There is a bookcase filled with books behind him with the inscription “Independence”. Additional inscriptions include “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “One Dollar”. The letter “BRL” short for “Braille” are included in Braille characters. Notably this is the first time readable Braille characters have appeared on US coinage.

The Louis Braille Commemorative Coins went on sale March 26, 2009. You can purchase them directly from the United States Mint.

source: wikipedia, louisbraillecoins.com

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

Coin Hunting trip-Chulia Street & Masjid Kapitan Keling road-Penang

The most interesting street to explore by foot in Penang is Chulia Street or Lebuh Chulia (Malabar street). Chulia street get its name because of majority of traders come from Tanjore and to a lesser extent from Ramnad, both districts in Tamil Nadu. You can find multi-cultural character, antique building, budget hotel, antique shop and many money changer shop along Chulia street. You just need to start your walk from Penang Road. If you can find Pasar Chowrasta or Penang Road Mydin, just go straight until you see Oriental Hotel. You can see the signboard of Chulia Street from there. The walk will be about one kilometer long but it will be an exciting one. If you love antique and taking pictures.

You can start searching for your coin, banknote or antique stuff from that signboard post. On your right (since you're heading to Chulia street), you can see one money changer and one antique shop. Just be sure to do your walk after 12pm since many money changer, coin shop or antique shop aren't open before that time. The best day to do the walk is on working days, Monday to Thursday. Some Money Changer shop will be closed for a while on Friday afternoon. Most antique shop, coin shop and money changer will be closed on Sunday. It is best if you try to avoid walking on Friday until Sunday. If you want your hunting trip to be a rewarding one.

You can found almost ten money changer like this. Look for coin or banknote on display at their counter. If you want a best cheap price, don't forget try to be their first customer. Start your walk as early as possible. As with my experience doing a coin hunting trip here, select your banknote or coin first before you want to bargain for their price. They love it if you want to buy many item in the early morning. You still can buy the item that you feel is cheap with good bargain and leaving the expensive coin or banknote. If you're looking for world currency, world coins, world paper money, Straits Settlements coins or banknotes, Malaysia coin or banknotes, Malaysia commemorative coin (not proof coin), silver coins; this is the best place to hunt for them cheap.

The walk will bring you to Masjid Kapitan Keling Road or Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. Kapitan Keling Mosque built in the 19th century by the India Muslim trader coming to Penang. The term ‘keling’ derived from the ancient Hindu kingdom on the Coromandel coast of South India. It was generally used to denote all those who came from there. As the Indians found it difficult to pronounce certain English words, the title “Captain” was somehow transformed into “Kapitan”. From there, the Kapitan Kelings (or Captains of the Kelings) came about. Beside the famous "nasi beratur" or "nasi ganja", you can also found Money Changer shop along that road.

Happy hunting. Don't forget to subscribe to my feed for more coin hunting trip tips.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

United Future World Currency

On 10 July 2009, history is made on first hope for the world currency. A sample test of a currency for a new virtual global currency, given the name United Future World Currency-Eurodollar is being presented as the exclusive gift to Heads of State and Government at the G8 Summit in Italy. The gold coin minted by The Royal Mint of Belgium and design by Luc Luycx, author of the common side of the Euro coins.

On the OBVERSE the “Number 1” icon is repeated five times, representing the five continents. The border inscription reads “Unity in Diversity” and includes the first issue date of 2009. On the REVERSE: the Tree of Life, with five leaves symbolizing local tree species that grow in the five continents. The border inscription reads “United Future World Currency”.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE NEW CURRENCY OF THE FUTURE PRESENTED TO THE G8 LEADERS

The sample of the first “test” currency from the international project for a new virtual global currency, given the draft name, “United Future World Currency – Eurodollar”, has been p presented as the exclusive gift to Heads of State and Government at the G8 Summit: Barack H. Obama, Dmitij Anatolyevich Medvedev, Gordon Brown, Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, Silvio Berlusconi, Taro Aso, Stephen Harper, Josè Manuel Barroso, Fredrik Reinfeldt.

The final name and symbol for the new currency will be decided in a competition for children in 1000 schools throughout the world, organised by the Museo del Tempo. The first step started from the American School of Milan, and involved 640 students from 46 different countries.

Although the initial aim is to unite the United States of America with the United States of Europe, it will also be open to other Countries. The example of the Euro, which united Countries with different histories and cultures under the same currency, is a concrete precedent that demonstrates how this project can indeed come to life and gather together nations from several different continents.

In sending his best wishes for the project to its coordinator, Sandro Sassoli, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi emphasised that, “It is interesting that young students from different countries can get involved in an international project that helps them understand certain aspects of international economic policy, allowing them to prepare for the future monetary union that we hope for.”

In 1996, Sandro Sassoli conceived the idea of the UFWC project, having taken advice from Arthur Schlessinger Jr, former advisor to President John F. Kennedy. An international jury, comprising the heads of the world’s leading mints, economists, Nobel-prize winners, and figures from the world of culture and journalism, will have the task of selecting and rewarding the children’s best work concerning the new currency.

The Royal Mint of Belgium, one of the world’s most prestigious mints, has been the first to issue a test coin for this new currency, a special rare gold edition that will be gifted at the forthcoming G8 Summit. The coin has been designed by Luc Luycx, author of the common side of the Euro coins.

The project will study security and anti-counterfeit measures; meanwhile, experimentation to seek innovative solutions for an “intelligent” money are also underway. The currency will also undergo an important public test run at the 2015 Milan Universal Expo.

Source: United World Currency

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Friday, July 17, 2009

New RM50 ringgit design 2009

On 15 July 2009, Bank Negara announces about a new 50 ringgit design. They said in their website that the December 2007 RM50 banknote is to commemorate Malaysia's 50th Anniversary of Independence. In a statement by Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz in the Star 22 December 2007 announces that this banknote (picture) is the new banknote and will be replacing the old one. In Bank Negara statement 21 December 2007, the 2007 banknote will be used by commercial bank starting 30 January 2008. You can read about that in my old post. Bank Negara once said that Malaysia new banknote will be using plastic money replacing the paper money. Hopefully this new statement is the correct one.

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Bank Negara Malaysia Issues New Design RM50 Banknote

BNM website

15 July 2009

Bank Negara Malaysia today announces the issuance of the new design RM50 banknote from 15 July 2009. 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.

The earlier new design of RM50 banknote was issued in December 2007 to commemorate Malaysia's 50th Anniversary of Independence. This current series will no longer have the logo of the country's golden jubilee celebrations and will have, enhanced security features.

The enhanced security features incorporated in this new design of RM50 banknote are:

The Colour Shifting Security Thread which replaces the existing security thread and is embedded in the paper. The thread appears on the reverse side of the note as coloured intermittent lines. When held against light, it is seen as a continuous dark coloured line and the repeated text of BNM RM50 can be read. When the note is tilted, the colour of the thread changes from red to green and vice versa. Under ultra-violet light, the repeated text of BNM RM50 will fluoresce yellow and the thread is seen as a continuous fluorescent yellow line when the banknote is viewed from the obverse.

The Two-Coloured Fluorescent Elements is an additional invisible printed feature on the reverse of the note. Under ultra-violet light, a complex design two-colour numeral 50 will fluoresce.

The existing security features which are designed for public verification remains as follows:

The Watermark Portrait can be recognised by tints that are lighter or darker than the surrounding paper. This watermark portrait which has a three-dimensional effect appears without sharp outlines. At the base of the watermark, the numeral 50 is clearly visible.
Perfect See-Through Register features the songket design on the obverse and reverse of the banknote when it is held against the light.
Invisible Fluorescent Elements of the background on the obverse and reverse of the banknote which fluoresces in different colours under ultra-violet light.
Micro-Letterings of "BNM RM50" which can be viewed under a magnifying glass.
Holographic Stripe features the numeral 50 and hibiscus flower.
Multicolor Latent Image where the numeral 50 is visible when the banknote is tilted slightly and changes colour when it is rotated.
Anti-Scanner feature in which certain design cannot be captured by scanning machines.
Braille Feature for the visually impaired.

The new RM50 banknote, thus incorporates various modern and innovative security features principally aimed at deterring counterfeiting. Members of the public are advised to take note of the security features and design outlined above. The existing design series of the RM50 banknote will continue to remain legal tender and will co-circulate with the new RM50 banknotes as the former are gradually phased out. No time limit has been set on the duration of co-circulation.

Further information on the new RM50 banknote can be obtained from Bank Negara Malaysia's website at http://www.bnm.gov.my.

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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

My May 2009 coin hunting trip-KOMTAR Building

I had visited Penang 3 times this year for my coin hunting trip. This year it has been a good year for my coin and banknote hunting trip since I almost completed my wishlist for 2009. In May 2009 I visited KOMTAR or in Malay: Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak. Some people called it as KOMTAR Tower (Menara KOMTAR in Malay). KOMTAR is Penang's tallest building and the sixth tallest building in Malaysia. It is located in the heart of George Town. When the skyscraper topped out it was the tallest building in Asia, by the time construction was completed in 1986 it had however been surpassed by Seoul's Korean Life Insurance Building (KLI 63 Building). The 65-storey tower is a 12-sided geometric block, 760ft (232m) tall, sitting atop a 4-storey podium.

There is at least 4 Money Changer and 2 coin and banknote dealer in KOMTAR. I only manage to take picture of two places since I am in a hurry that early morning. Will be updating The other 4 places when I visited KOMTAR next time. Do any of you remember about how a coin dealer sell a coin based on their weight? One of the coin dealer I am talking about is Picton Philatelic in KOMTAR.

Picton Philatelic is situated on 1st floor near a stair to Penang Road. You can see the signboard from the stair. They sale many item including proof coin, commemorative coin, world paper money, world coins, 1st day cover, world stamps, tools for numismatic and philatelic collecting. They have many Malaysia banknote, Malaysia coin and Straits settlements coins for sale. I had been looking for Straits Settlements 50 cents King Edward VII coin 1902 or 1903 with him but he don't have any for sale.

You can buy this world coins for RM120.00 per Kilo. The only rule is that you cannot choose the coin just put them in the small container and then weight it. If you want to choose the coin that you want it will be a different price regarding on what coin that you choose. I saw some straits settlements coins and some silver coins in the big container. It is worth to try if you want to teach your kids to start loving this collecting hobbies.

Since their shop named Philatelic, most of the time you can see people coming in and looking for stamp in there. You can see many kinds of stamps and 1st day cover from all over this world in his shop. I am not into stamp but I can see some Malaya and Straits Settlements stamp. That is consider a good stamp for collecting, is it? I rarely buy from this shop but I do think that their price is still cheaper then some shop in Penang.

You can find Evertrust Gems paradise money changer using the same stairs to Picton Philatelic. It is on the ground floor near Penang road. You can see banknote and coin they're selling on the back of their counter. Most of the time, you can find rare banknote with them but their prices is a bit high and you cannot negotiate their price. At the time I am coming, i can see many Malaysia old banknote and one straits settlements 1930 banknote.

Happy Hunting!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Inspirational Australian $1 coin Series - 2009 Steve Irwin

Do any of you still remember Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter host? Everyone who watch Crocodile Hunter must had remember his trademark "Crikey" and his Kaki shorts and shirt. He died in September 2006 following an attack by a stingray, off the Great Barrier Reef. Steve Irwin was the director of the Australia Zoo in Queensland, Australia, and host of Animal Planet's series "Crocodile Hunter" (1996). On 11 July 2009, Perthmint announces the mintage of Inspirational Australian coin Series with Steve Irwin.

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Larrikin Aussie Steve Irwin, aka the Crocodile Hunter, left an indelible imprint on everyone he came in contact with. Passionate about the conservation of Australian wildlife, he taught us all to think about animals in a new and exciting way.

Steve Irwin Reverse

This 2009 $1 coin celebrates Steve Irwin’s charismatic personality and unique achievements with a reverse design depicting him in his element – surrounded by native flora and fauna. The design includes the inscription INSPIRATIONAL AUSTRALIANS: CONSERVATION and the years of Steve’s life 1962 - 2006.

Fine Design Detail

The uncirculated coin is issued by the Royal Australian Mint, which says its glass beading technique makes the design’s fine detail – from Steve’s cheeky grin to some of his favourite wildlife - really stand out.

Australian Legal Tender

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the 2009 year-date on the obverse.

Presentation Card

The coin is available exclusively on a coloured presentation card which shapes as the Australian continent’s familiar ‘Top End’. The card pictures Steve dressed in his trademark safari suite, affectionately holding a baby crocodile.

Technical Specifications

Monetary Denomination (AUD) 1
Mass (g) 9.00
Diameter (mm) 25.00

Source: Perthmint.com.au

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Friday, July 10, 2009

Official Hasbro Transformers Commemorative Coin 2009

Have you watch Transfomers 2 Revenge of the fallen? I know everyone including me want to see Superhot Megan Fox in action. Anyway I am a fan of Transformers since 1980s. When Transformers is a TV series in which the courageous Autobots bravely battled the evil Decepticons? Transormers already in theatre since 24 June 2009. I browse for this movie title in Google and I found official silver coin by The Perth Minth. It will have a Design of Megathrone and Optimus Prime. It is on sale for AUS $88.64 and only will be available for shipping on 14 July 2009. This is an extremely limited mintage commemorative coin since only 5,000 pieces mintage for each coin for distribution everywhere in this world.

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Official Movie Coins

For the truly dedicated, Hasbro has authorised The Perth Mint to release this official 2009 Transformers coin.

Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver

The coin is struck from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality.

Megatron Reverse Design

The coin’s reverse portrays a coloured image of Megatron, ruthless leader of the Decepticons. The design includes the Decepticon logo and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.

Optimus Prime Reverse Design

The coin’s reverse portrays a coloured image of Optimus Prime, heroic leader of the Autobots. The design includes the Autobot logo and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.

Issued as Legal Tender

Issued as legal tender under the authority of the Government of Tuvalu, the coin bears the Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse.

Extremely Limited Mintage

The Perth Mint will release no more than 5,000 of these coins (each).

Presentation Packaging

Each coin is housed in a presentation box which comes with an illustrated shipper designed to impress every Transformers fan.

Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

Each coin is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Technical Specifications

Silver Content (Troy oz) 1
Monetary Denomination (TVD) 1
Fineness (% purity) 99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g) 31.135
Maximum Diameter (mm) 40.60
Maximum Thickness (mm) 4.00

This product will be available for dispatch from 14 July 2009.

Source: Perthmint.com.au

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Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Malaysia Ringgit Story

Malaysia ringgit history start since Portuguese colonial era. The word ringgit come from the word "jagged" in Malay. It was originally used to refer to the serrated edges of silver Spanish dollars which circulated widely in the area during the 16th and 17th century Portuguese colonial era. What you see in here is a Mexico coin. I am not sure whether this is the same coin used in Portuguese colonial era at that time or not. By the way, this is a replica coin.

Malaya gained its independent on 31st August 1957 to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963. 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.

The Malay names ringgit and sen were officially adopted as the sole official names in August 1975. Previously they had been known officially as dollars and cents in English and ringgit and sen in Malay, and in some parts of the country this usage continues. For example, in Malaysia one ringgit is "one dollar" in English and "tsit8-kho·1" (蜀塊/蜀块) in Hokkien. In the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia, denominations of 10 sen are called kupang in Malay ("poat8" in Hokkien), e.g. 50 sen is 5 kupang. The use of the dollar sign "$" (or "M$") was not replaced by "RM" (Ringgit Malaysia) until the 1990s, though internationally "MYR" (MY being the country code for Malaysia) is more widely used.

The first series of sen coins were introduced in 1967 in denominations of 1 sen, 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen, followed by the introduction of the 1 ringgit coin (which continued to use the $ symbol and is the largest coin in the series) in 1971. Bank Negara Malaysia first issued Malaysia paper money in June 1967 in $1, $5, $10, $50 and $100 denominations. The $1000 denomination was first issued in 1968. Malaysia paper money have always carried the image of Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.

In 1999 the RM500 and RM1000 notes were discontinued and ceased to be legal tender. This was due because of the Asian monetary crisis of 1997 when huge amounts of ringgit were taken out of the country to be traded in these notes. In effect the notes were withdrawn out of circulation and the amount of ringgit taken out of the country in banknotes was limited to RM1000. In 1993, $1 notes were discontinued and replaced by the $1 coin. In 2000, the RM1 note was reintroduced, replacing the RM2 note, which remains legal tender.

In 1986, Malaysia 5 ringgit banknote have been redesign because of some issue regarding a flag pole with a cross. Most Malaysian is Islam and they don't want to carry a money with a cross on them. Bank Negara never make a statement about this. The 1984 banknote had been replaced with almost same design 5 ringgit banknote without a cross flag pole on them. I am not sure whether the same happen to Istana Negara Flag pole. In 1995, 20 ringgit banknote were discontinued and ceased to be legal tender.

In 2004, Bank Negara issued a new RM10 paper money with additional security features including the holographic strip previously only seen on the RM50 and RM100 notes. A new RM5 polymer banknote with a distinctive transparent window was also issued. Both new banknotes are almost identical to their original third series designs. According to Bank Negara, all paper notes will eventually be phased out and replaced by polymer notes.

On December 7, 2005, the 1 ringgit coin was demonetised and withdrawn from circulation. This was partly due to problems with standardisation (two different versions of the second series coin were minted) and forgery. On November 2007, Bank Negara Malaysia announce that 1 sen coin will start to be discontinued. this is because of the high cost to produce them and with some 4.4 billion minted and 99% have been lost in circulation.

The 1 sen coin is still in legal tender but most seller in this country will not except them. A new rounding mechanism introduced with whereby the total bill amount (including goods and services subject to tax) is rounded upwards or downwards to the nearest multiple of 5 sen. In this regard, total bill amount that ends in 1, 2, 6 and 7 sen will be rounded down while 3, 4, 8 and 9 sen will be rounded up to the nearest multiple of 5 sen.

Source: wikipedia, wapedia, Bank Negara Malaysia,

Monday, July 6, 2009

Rare 20 pence coin on sale for £20,000 on eBay

Last week a shocking incident happen in United Kingdom. Royal mint which have a strict quality check made an error when producing tens of thousands of 20 pence pieces earlier this year. Many seller in eBay selling them with a buy now option as high as £20,000. Source from BBC said that this is the first time since 300 years, British coin without date come into circulation. The highest bidder so far won an auction for £7,100. I browse eBay today for 20 pence error coin and nothing much happen with the highest bidding so far is just around £410.

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By CAROLINE GRANT
01st July 2009

Soaring demand pushed the price of a rare 20 pence piece up to £20,000 on eBay today. Experts had predicted that the coin minted without a date mark, could be worth £50 each. But collectors have been scrambling to buy the currency after it emerged that the Royal Mint made an error when producing tens of thousands of 20 pence pieces earlier this year.

Collector's piece: Coins were minted missing their date

EBay has been inundated with coins for sale as those who have found them attempt to cash in. Many sellers are offering purchasers the chance to 'buy it now' at prices of up £20,000. Several are hoping to get more than £10,000 for their 20 pence rare coin. One seller appeared to have fetched £7,100 at 2pm yesterday - 35,500 times its face value - although it is not clear whether the coin has been paid for.

Bidding on the auction site started at 99p and it gradually crept up to £100 by Monday evening. Yesterday one potential buyer started bidding off at £600, soon followed by a bid of £800. Then it shot up to £5,000 and kept rising until the price reached £7,100. A spokesman for eBay said: 'The winning bid was definitely £7,100, but I can't confirm yet whether the actual transaction has been completed yet.'One cheeky seller is asking for £20,000 for an undated 20p piece. Unsurprisingly, there were no bids.

The coins were left dateless when the 20 pence error coin was redesigned. The Mint does not know how many undated coins were released into circulation, but estimates range between 50,000 and 200,000. This is the first undated British coin to enter circulation in more than 300 years - the last occasion was 1672, when Charles II was on the throne.

The 20 pence error coin has caused a great deal of excitement among coin collectors because the Royal Mint, in Llantrisant, South Wales, is normally so careful about the manufacture and release of coins into circulation. The problem occurred after all the coins from the 1p through to the £1 were redesigned last year. The designs for the 5p and 10p had been unchanged for four decades.

There is an unwritten convention that designs should be changed at least every 40 years to keep the coinage fresh. The Royal Mint's usually impeccable quality control somehow slipped up and the so-called 'mule' escaped into circulation. A 'mule' is a coin that has mismatched sides - a reference to the mule being a mismatch of a horse and donkey.

Source: dailymail.uk

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Picture by alasdair from predecimal.com

Friday, July 3, 2009

50th anniversary of the Malaysia parliament

On 2nd julai 2009, Bank Negara Malaysia has issued three types of commemorative coins to mark the 50th anniversary of the Malaysia parliament. The coins, namely the Gold Commemorative Coins, Silver Commemorative Coins and Nordic Gold Brilliant Uncirculated Commemorative Coins, were launched by Dewan Negara (Senate) President Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh at the Parliament building.

The Gold Commemorative Coins, with mintage quantity limited to 100 pieces, have a face value of R100 and will be sold at RM1,200 a piece, while the Silver Commemorative Coins, with a face value of RM10 and mintage quantity of only 300 pieces, can be bought at RM150 a piece. The Nordic Gold Brilliant Coins have a face value of RM1 and will be sold at RM10 each. The mintage quantity is 10,000 pieces.

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Issuance of Commemorative Coins in Conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Parliament of Malaysia

Bank Negara Malaysia is issuing three types of commemorative coins to commemorate the 50 th Anniversary of the Parliament of Malaysia. These commemorative coins were launched today by YB Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Abdul Hamid Pawanteh, the President of the Senate (Dewan Negara), at the Parliament building, Kuala Lumpur.

The commemorative coins are legal tender and their specifications are as follows:

Gold Commemorative Coin (proof)

This proof coin is made of gold with 999.9 purity and weighs 7.96 grams. It has a face value of RM100 and will be sold at RM1,200 a piece. The mintage quantity is limited to 100 pieces.

Silver Commemorative Coin (proof)

This proof coin is made of Sterling silver with 92.5 purity and weighs 21.00 grams. It has a face value of RM10 and will be sold at RM150 a piece. The mintage quantity is limited to 300 pieces.

Nordic Gold Brilliant Uncirculated (B.U) Commemorative Coin

The Nordic Gold (B.U) coin has a face value of RM1 and will be sold at RM10 each. The mintage quantity is 10,000 pieces.

These commemorative coins are also available in a set of 3 and a set of 2. The set of 3 consists of the gold, silver and Nordic gold proof coins. It will be sold at RM1,450 per set and there are only 250 sets available. The set of 2 consists of the silver and Nordic gold proof coins. These sets will be sold at RM200 per set and there are 200 sets available. Detailed specifications of the coins can be view in Bank Negara website.

Coin Design

The description of the 50 th Anniversary of the establishment of the Parliament of Malaysia commemorative coins' designs are as follows:

The Obverse Side of the Coin

Illustrates the Parliament building with the years "1959-2009" inscribed below the building. On the circumference of the coin, the crescent moon is imprinted with the words "Ulang Tahun Ke-50 Parlimen Malaysia ". The crescent moon symbolizes Islam, the country's official religion. On the upper right side of the coin is a 14-pointed star which represents 14 states of Malaysia , including the Federal Territories .

The Reverse Side of the Coin

Depicts the Malaysian crest and the Maces of the House of Representatives and Senate Chamber of the Parliament. A revered regalia, the Mace symbolizes the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Parliament. The words "BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA " and the denomination of the coin appear on the upper and lower circumference of the coin respectively.

Source: Bank Negara Malaysia

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Thursday, July 2, 2009

Counterfit 50,000 won banknotes found

I found another controversy story about Korea 50,000 Won yesterday. Look like someone already making a counterfit money for this banknote. It is a first high denomination counterfit money in Korea. I try to find a picture of this incident. From the news sound like the counterfit isn't in high quality. That counterfit guy only using a laser printer to print that 50,000 won money. This Korea banknote really come with non stop controversy even before they print them.

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30 June 2009

22:32

Incheon police yesterday said they arrested a 20-something man who produced and tried to spend fake 50,000 won (38 U.S. dollars) bills, which debuted last week. The Incheon Central Police Department sought an arrest warrant for the 28-year-old suspect on charges of counterfeiting and using fake 50,000 won bills and 100,000 won bank checks.

The man reportedly exchanged a 50,000 won bill at a bank in Incheon’s Yeonsu district around 1 p.m. Tuesday last week and produced 266 counterfeit bills each worth 50,000 won by using a color printer at home. He is also suspected of counterfeiting 80 bank checks each worth 100,000 won via the same method using two real bank checks as references. He allegedly spent 30 of the checks at karaoke bars and bars in Incheon on 16 occasions.

Police said the suspect used the 100,000 won counterfeit bank checks only since he feared the 50,000 won counterfeit bills would be easy to identify, due to belt-shaped hologram marks and a studded silver line printed in black on the counterfeit notes. An Incheon police source said, “This is the first time a counterfeit of the new 50,000 won bill, the first high denomination in 36 years, has been discovered,” adding, “Since the counterfeit 100,000 won checks were also poorly made, the suspect used them mostly at night.” Police said the belt-shaped hologram on the left end of a genuine 50,000 won bill changes color and shows three different designs depending on viewing angle.

The studded silver line placed slightly left to the bill’s center looks as if the taegeuk pattern inscribed on the silver line moves horizontally or vertically when the bill is moved up and down. The studded design can be felt by touching Shin Saimdang’s portrait on the face and the Wolmae-do painting on the back, which allows visually impaired people to tell whether a bill is fake.

Source: dongA.com

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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

My 7 June 2009 Coin Hunting Trip in Butterworth Roadwalk

coin dealer

Until June this year I had been in Penang 3 times for my coin hunting trips. Sorry to all my frequent reader because I don't have time to post them lately. Some friends asked me why do I go to all the way to Penang to buy my stuff? the answer is simply because you can buy your coin, banknote, antiques or any collectibles much more cheaper in Penang. I will not come back empty handed when I am doing a hunting trip in Penang. I am doing blogging simply because I want to share where do I get my coin, banknote or paper money from. I don't like to buy my coin in normal coin shop because the higher price given.

My latest hunting trip to Penang is in 7 June 2009. I am looking for King Edward VII 50 cents 1902 or 1903 coin. Never seen that coin for sale even once in my entire collecting life. I visited few coin friends in Penang. One of them is uncle Ah Kit in Butterworth Roadwalk. To all of my reader who had been buying from all my banknote and coin friends, thanks for supporting small time trader like us. It is good to hear that someone exactly is reading my blog and called my friends looking for something.

If you're looking for Malaysia 10 sen 1971 coin and Malaysia one ringgit Ali Abul signature at a cheaper price, Uncle Ah Kit is one seller you're looking for. He is one seller that I know who consistently have this rare Malaysia coin and rare Malaysia banknote. At my time of visit, Uncle Ah Kit have 2 pieces Malaysia 10 sen 1971 coin. one piece Malaysia 10 sen 1971 is in Extremely Fine condition and one piece is in Uncirculated condition. He also have one piece Very Fine condition Malaysia one ringgit Ali Abul signature. You can try to contact him about the price at his number 012-6727950. He also willing to post them to you via poslaju.

Uncle Ah Kit also have some Malaysia Commemorative coin and China Commemorative coin for sale. One of the coin that everyone might be interested is International Year of Astronomy 2009 Commemorative coin. He has two of this commemorative coin on sale. Another one is Bank Negara Malaysia 50 years Anniversary Commemorative coin.

I remember some friend is asking my help on finding some old banknotes in Very Good condition. I check my e-mail but I cannot find who is asking about them. One of the banknotes is Malaya and British Borneo Queen Elizabeth 50 dollar banknote in fine condition. Another banknote is King George Malaya emergency issue 25 cents in fine condition. He is selling Malaya and British Borneo Queen Elizabeth 50 dollar banknote for RM250.00 and Malaya King George emergency issue 25 cents for RM200.

I cannot find what I am looking for in Uncle Ah Kit stall but I found some banknote and coin that interest me. Will be posting about them later on. I am back from a horrible months without Internet and will try to post in this blog frequently. Thank you for all my frequent blog reader and sorry If I still haven't reply any of your email or question. Please email your question again. Feel free to email me at lunaticg@gmail.com if you want some help on identifying your coin (especially Malaysia coin but will try to answer about any world coin). happy hunting.