December 2009 | lunaticg banknote & coin

Happy New Year 2010

First of all, Happy New Year 2010 to all my blog reader. On a new year eve, my blog Google Page Rank has been going up to PR4 from a PR3 before. Thanks for the support from all my reader and blogging friends. With a hard work on Search Engine Optimization, I get a traffic around 70 unique view a day from search engine. That is far from early this year with just below 10 unique view came from search engine everyday. Wish all of this will be going up at the end of 2010.

Its a joy for me when I heard my blog reader print a picture of a flea market seller and asking people around in Penang how can he find that guy in the picture. Some of them came all away from Australia and United States coming to Malaysia for a holiday. I will try to keep on giving information about small time coin dealer like that. Its also a joy when a friends giving me thanks when people keep on calling them about their item picture in this blog.

Photo: by lelong.com.my Seller; jennytee

2009 has been a great year to me with a lots of success on my coin hunting. I almost completed my Straits Settlement coin collection, with only the rare and the earlier Queen Victoria coin still missing from my collection. I found many extremely fine condition Straits Settlements coin this year and some of it with a rare date. I also found this Straits Settlements $10 dollar 1935 and Malaya and British Borneo $50 dollar. What is important, I found all of them at a price cheaper then Steven Tan Catalog price.

What is coming for this blog in 2010? The first thing, I will most probably making a lots of contest for all my blogger friends. The gift most probably will be a precious coin from my collection. Some of you maybe has been emailing me about your coin collection. I can find information on most of the coin but some of them its a little bit hard for me to find the information because of the expertise. I will be posting them in this blog and anyone who help me will have the chance to link their blog to the post. Just make sure you come back and check my blog often if you're interested.

What is my coin and paper money wish list for 2010? I am still thinking about it. I already started investing in gold this year. Most probably I will try to find myself a gold coin. Gold investment is for a long term plan and it is hard to find old Malaysia coin in gold. I also will try to find Straits Settlements paper money to add up my collection in 2010. I am not a fan of paper money since most of them is hard to find and you most probably will find only a washed banknote.

Happy New Year 2010. What is your wish for 2010?

Gaya street gong seller

On my vacations to Kota Kinabalu on November, I try to find Gaya street gong seller I have been talking about in my gaya street post. Kota Kinabalu tamu@Sunday market held along Gaya street, near the state library. Gaya street tamu open once a week on Sunday from 6am until 12pm. Gaya street tamu is one of the most go places for tourist since you can found so many local crafts and souvenir. You can also found so many discount hotels near gaya street.

Photo: Gong

From a website sabah.org.my, I found out that Gong is a backbone to almost every social event in Sabah. The gongs are found in all parts of the state and are highly valued. They are also used as bridewealth, for animistic religious ceremonies, signaling and during harvest festivals. The smaller musical instrument is a Kulintangan. The instrument consists of a set of about eight to nine small brass kettle gongs. Each sounds a different pitch when struck. The gongs are arranged horizontally in a row on a low wooden bed-like frame. The player sits down on the floor in front of the gongs and beats them with two small wooden mallets.

A kulintangan being played

Kulintangan was first introduced into west Sabah by the Bruneis but it is also traditionally used by the Bajaus and some Dusun/Kadazan people. It is usually played on festive occasions, such as weddings and religious ceremonies, where it is often accompanied by other traditional gongs. You can hear the sound of this music in this video, almost a miles away when you pass by gaya street on sunday. The gong and kulintangan on sale here for as little as RM130 until over thousands ringgit depends on the quality and item used to make the instrument.

On my visit to gaya street on 15 november 2009, not so many coins and banknotes are on sale by this seller. Only a few foreign coins and paper money that not very valuable are on sale. Few years back, I remember this sellers bring so many north borneo coins and Sabah tokens. On my visit last, most of items on sale is Chinese ceramics from Song dynasty. I am not a fan of china dynasty porcelains but you can found Qingbai bowl, Ru ware, Ding ware and blue and white ware. The price is around RM200 until thousands of ringgit depending on the quality of the porcelain.

The owner is the old man wearing a white hat (kopiah putih); sorry, I forgot to asked his name and contact number. They will not be selling in this tamu, when Kota Belud (a town in Sabah famously known as the cowboy town) is having a tamu besar. He is also selling parang and keris, some of the traditional weapon in Sabah. If you going to Gaya Street Tamu, make sure you make a visit to this seller stall. He is buying his items from village people, most probably he will sell them at cheaper price then catalog. One of the seller that worth to look for when you visit this place.

Source: Wikipedia, www.sabah.org.my

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Jonker Street Melaka

If you're coming To Malaysia and looking for a historic place to visit, Melaka is one of the must go state in Malaysia. There are many place of interest in Melaka. One of them is Jonker Street or also known as Jonker Walk. The name Jonker mean junk, referring to Chinese vessels. Jonker Street once known for its Chinese Clan house. Most of the building in this street is dated in the early part of the 20th century. Nowadays, Jonker Street also known as Jalan Hang Jebat because of a tomb (makam) of Malacca warrior, Hang Jebat they renamed it Jalan Hang Jebat. But most people still prefer to call it Jonker Street.

Photo: Hang Jebat Tomb (Makam Hang Jebat)

I can not see any Malacca hotel along Jonker Street. Maybe because my eyes a bit busy looking at antique and souvenir on display in shop houses along this street. Most of the shops in here are selling tin coins from Melaka coinage. The only problem for me is that the price ain't that cheap. Most of the shop selling price is double then what I can get from other places in Malaysia. It sound a bit ridiculous for collector like me but this is a place for tourist, most probably the seller just want to take extra profit. Almost any antique shop in Malaysia will be selling their item a bit higher then market price. Make sure you knew how much is the market price for your item before you're buying from any antique shop or you will need a laser eye surgery after buying from those antique shop because of the high price tag.

One of the shop that attract me the most is Gold Moon Coins & Curios Trading shop. Almost all the shop front are full with a display of old coin. Most of them are from Melaka Coinage. I can see Animal tin money, Malacca sultanate coin, Chinese tin cash, Dutch East Indies coin and Portuguese tin coins. Some of the coin is a rare coin, including Straits Settlements 1883H 10 cents on sale for RM3,800.00. A 1908 King Edward Straits Settlements one dollar coin on sale in here for a whopping RM400.

Here are some antique shop that worth to look at along Jonker street;

Photo: Melaka Saw Clan Association

Photo: Kedai Antik Chin Teck

Photo: Syarikat Abdul Company Antique Shop

Other then antique, paper money, stamps and coins, you can find many shop selling souvenir. You can found wood-craved statues, decorative item for your house, fashionable clothes, key chain, beautiful wind chimes made by sea shell and photo frame. Most people coming in here buying a wooden clogs made by wood and painted with striking flowery pattern. If you're tired searching for souvenirs, there are many cafes, restaurants and stalls selling local delicacies such as Chicken rice ball, curry noodles, assam fish, cendol, dodol and many mouth watering food that you should try.

To all my antique reader out there, go get yourself a cheap airline ticket to Malacca and make sure you include Jonker Walk as a place you must visit. To anyone who have been to this place, share with us what do you like the most?

Malacca stamp & money fair 2009

This will be the last money and stamp fair held in Malaysia this year. Malacca stamp & money fair held from 25 to 27 December 2009 at Malacca Famous Jonker Street. It is held in a Hainan Clan House in Jalan Hang Jebat or famously known as Jonker Street or Jonker walk. Chinese clan associations are formed by Overseas Chinese based on dialect groups or same family names to look after their member's affairs and welfare. On my visit there on Saturday, only 6 dealers joining the Jonker stamp and money Fair. Some of them are regular seller from Kuala Lumpur.

First of all thanks for the invite by man without name to his hometown. Without him, I will most probably stranded in a bumper to bumper jammed along jalan Hang Jebat that day. Its a big holiday in Malaysia and Singapore, most people going to Melaka for a holiday. This is man without name new blog A fistful of ringgit. Wish you good luck on your blog. Many hard work need to be done for a new blog like yours. thanks for the hospitality and a great tour.

There is not much of thing happening in the fair that day. Accept from Mr. Govin (US Agency) who is eagerly participated in almost any money fair around Malaysia, not many people (collector) coming to this fair. Most probably because we where going a bit to early at around 10.30am. The Jonker Stamp and Money fair open from 9.30 am until 9.00 pm. According to man without name, most people will be coming to Jonker street during night time.

Photo: Malaysia one ringgit, Tan Sri Dato Seri Ali Abul Hassan Signature

Photo: Fossil Stones

Photo: Old ge Sewing machine sell by Mr.Govin

Some of the item that attract the most to me is this Malaysia one ringgit, Tan Sri Dato Seri Ali Abul Hassan Signature. Do you know how much this banknote price during this fair? It goes for a whooping RM1,700 for this extremely fine condition banknote. When I am visiting Amcorp Mall early this month, the price for almost the same quality banknote is just around RM1,000. This is certainly a good value for collector who want to invest and not collecting money for hobby. Another item that interest me is fossil stones. I am not a fan of fossil stones but I have seen some friends using them as amulets and decorative object. Do you know how old this GE (general electric) sewing Machine?

Other item on sale in here are mostly stamp, first day cover, world banknote, world coin and reference book for this hobby. I wish this fair will be held again next year with more dealer and a little bit more on advertisement. Without a friend help on telling me that a money fair will be held in Jonker street, I will never know about it.

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Merry Christmas Everyone

Just want to wish merry Christmas to everyone who is reading this post of mine. Do you know that Royal Canadian Mint has been minting a holiday special coin featuring Santa Claus on one of the coin set every year? Celebrating Life’s Special Moments, the Holiday Gift Set 2009 with a Canadian theme includes uncirculated versions of each of the denominations issued for circulation in Canada and a painted 25-cent coin. The painted Christmas coin is on the 25 cents reverse with Santa Claus drawing and three maple leaf on a green background.

When I check with the Royal Canadian Mint website, The Holiday gift set for 2009 already sold out. This will be a perfect gift for coin collector who celebrate Christmas. Christmas is a major celebration and holiday in almost every country in this world.

Here is "Merry Christmas Everyone" lyric, a popular festive song by the Welsh singer-songwriter Shakin' Stevens. Written by Bob Heatlie and produced by Dave Edmunds. Originally it was to be released in 1984, but was postponed a year so it wouldn't clash with Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas". In 2007 the song re entered the UK top 30 and reached number 22 on the Christmas chart.

Snow is falling
all around me
children playing
having fun

it's the season
love and understanding
merry Christmas everyone

time for parties and celebration
people dancing all night long
time for presents
and exchanging kisses
time for singing Christmas songs

we're gonna have a party tonight
I'm gonna find that girl underneath the mistletoe,
we'll kissed by candlelight

Room is swaying, records playing
All the songs, we love to hear
All I wish that everyday was Christmas
What a nice way to spend the year

We're gonna have a party tonight
I'm gonna find that girl
Underneath the mistletoe, we'll kiss by candle light

Snow is falling, all around me
Children playing, having fun
It's the season, love and understanding
Merry Christmas everyone
Merry Christmas everyone

Oah merry Christmas everyone

Snow is falling, all around me
Children playing, having fun
It's the season, love and understanding
Merry Christmas everyone

Snow is falling, all around me
Children playing, having fun
It's the season, love and understanding
Merry Christmas everyone

Snow is falling, all around me
Children playing, having fun
It's the season, love and understanding
Merry Christmas everyone
Merry Christmas everyone
Merry Christmas everyone

Merry Christmas everyone. Wish everyone lots of love, joy and happines.

Source: Royal Canadian Mint, Wikipedia

Spy Coin Story

Do you still remember about Commemorative poppy quarter sparks distrust of Canada in the U.S In 2007? In the United States these coins were briefly reported as a possible 'spy tool' or bugging equipment by some US Defense Contractors unfamiliar with the odd-seeming coin and raised espionage warnings until the situation was clarified. Few days ago, The Associated Press under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act received an emails marked "Secret/NoForn".

In the emails, released to The AP with names blacked out but job titles disclosed, Pentagon officials question whether they should warn military officers in the U.S. Northern Command, who regularly met Canadian counterparts about classified subjects that look like spy tools inside bug-proof, government meeting rooms. The rooms are known as secure compartmentalized information facilities, or SKIFs. In January 2007, the government abruptly reversed itself and said the warnings were not true. But the case remained a mystery until months later, when AP learned that the flap had been caused by suspicions over the odd-looking Canadian "poppy" quarter with a bright red flower. The silver-coloured 25-cent piece features the red image of a poppy - Canada's flower of war remembrance - inlaid on a maple leaf.

Photo by wikipedia: Corn Poppy Flower

Papaver rhoeas (common names include corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, red poppy, and red weed) is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family, Papaveraceae. This poppy, a native of Europe, is notable as an agricultural weed (hence the "corn" and "field") and as a symbol of fallen soldiers.In Canada, poppies are distributed by the Royal Canadian Legion and the Anavets organization each fall prior to Remembrance Day. The design of the Canadian poppy consists of petals made of red plastic with a felt lining and black centre held on by a pin.

What suspicious contractors believed to be "nanotechnology" on the coins actually was a protective coating the Royal Canadian Mint applied to prevent the poppy's red colour from rubbing off. The mint produced nearly 30 million such quarters in 2004 commemorating Canada's 117,000 war dead. The Pentagon turned over the latest emails from inside its Office of the Undersecretary for Defence for Intelligence nearly two years after The AP requested them under the Freedom of Information Act. Many of the emails were censored over what the Pentagon said was national security and personal privacy.

Source: Associated Press, Wikipedia

This Poppy coin really look like a wireless spy cameras to me or even a spy listening device. What do all of you think?

Royal Spanish Mint-2010 FIFA World Cup coin

The Royal Spanish Mint has been releasing 2010 FIFA World Cup coin set. There are two coins in the set, a 2-escudos coin or 100 euro coin in .999 gold, and the other an 8-reales or 10 euro coin in .925 silver. The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is the 19th edition of this competition and the first time that it will be held on the African continent. Both of the coins minted in Proof quality, it also come in stylish jewel cases, each coin resting in its own case.

Photo by zimbio.com: Spain World cup qualifier team

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the 19th FIFA World Cup, the premier international football tournament. It is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in South Africa. This will be the first time that the tournament has been hosted by an African nation, after South Africa beat Morocco and Egypt in an all-African bidding process. Italy are the defending champions for World Cup. Spain World cup qualifier team is lucky because they have an easy qualification group match. They winning all their UEFA group 5 Match and in the world cup final will be in a Group H; another easy group for Spanish world cup team.

Obverse of the sterling silver coin: portrays the effigy of H.M. King Juan Carlos I.

Reverse of the sterling silver coin: against a background simulating the goalpost net in football, the figure of a goalkeeper is pictured throwing the ball and this latter is represented as the earth's globe.

Coin: 8 reales

Composition: .925 Silver
Face Value: 10 €
Weight: 27 g
Diameter: 40 mm
Quality: Proof
Mintage: 12,000
Price: 51,04 Euros

The obverse of the .999 gold coin: portrays the effigy of H.M. King Juan Carlos I.
The reverse of the .999 gold coin: shows the image of a football and an outline of the African continent.
Coin: 2 escudos
Composition: .999 Gold
Face Value: 100 €
Weight: 6.75 g
Diameter: 23 mm
Quality: Proof
Mintage: 6,000
Price: 225 Euros

Source: Royal Spanish Mint, Wikipedia, Zimbio

I wish I can have this for Christmas gift or villa holidays Andalucia for a night will also do. Do anyone know how much is a villa rentals in Spain? Good luck to Spain football team. Do your country will be playing in the world cup next year?

When coin worth more then face value

Do you know what will happen when coin worth more then face value? A news by Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that it will be turned into razor blade. In New Delhi, Indian security authorities are now burdened with a new kind of border crime, smuggling of five Indian rupee coins to neighbouring Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, these coins are worth more than their face value. Syndicates are melting the coins and turning them into razor blades. In Bangladesh, these coins are worth more than their face value. Syndicates are melting the coins and turning them into razor blades.

Photo by 8en flickr: India rupee coin

According to police officials, six razor blades could be produced from a single coin and each is sold at two Indian rupees (RM.15), reported the Press Trust of India (PTI).

"This has been going on for quite some time now. We are looking into it," HR Khan, executive director, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) told the news agency.

"We are now changing the metallic content of the five-rupee coin so that the new ones will not be lucrative for melting. The new metallic content of the cupronickel coin will reduce its attractiveness for smugglers," added Khan.

Photo by shavingstuff.com: Razor blade

The clandestine activity is creating a shortage of the five-rupee coin and the RBI is now taking measures to control the distribution of the coin to prevent any abuse. Across the border, smugglers work in ramshackle workshops to melt the coins into nice razor blades that are then sold in the local markets, according to the news reports.

When coin worth more then its face value, people will melt it and gain profit from it. Do you know any other story on what will happen when your coin is Worth more then their face value? Do you know how much value is your coin nowadays?

Source: Bernama

PS: Thanks for Ricky from recommended blog for the review on my blog.

Isle of Man Christmas Angel Gold 2009

Every year, Isle of Man will release the special '12 Days of Christmas' Gold Angel. The limited-edition 2009 coin is the sixth in the series, so it bears a custom privy mark on the reverse featuring 'Six Geese A-Laying'. The Gold Angel is already one of the world's premier gold bullion coins, but the 2009 privy mark is added to only a very small number of coins. Each beautiful and historic gold coin is protectively encapsulated and presented in a handmade case with a certificate of authenticity.

The Reverse design featuring Michael slaying Satan represented as a dragon. Micheal is an archangel. He is viewed as the field commander of the Army of God. St Michael is represented as an angelic warrior, fully armed with helmet, sword, and shield (often the shield bears the Latin inscription: "Quis ut Deus?"), standing over the dragon, whom he sometimes pierces with a lance. He also holds a pair of scales in which he weighs the souls of the departed or the Book of Life, to show that he takes part in the judgment. 'Six Geese A-Laying' is part of the carol of twelve days of Christmas.

Wikipedia Photo: St Michael the archangel, about to slay the devil

This Christmas Angel gold coin is a Legal tender coin of the Isle of Man. Its Privy Mark identifies the special 2009 Christmas edition. With only 1,000 coin minted, this coin is considered as a limited edition. The coin is available in 1/20oz Proof Fine 999.9 Gold. The Obverse of the design featuring Queen Elizabeth II, Isle of Man 2009.

This will be a wonderful Christmas presents for everyone who loves gold! You can buy this fine Proof 999.9 Gold from Pobjoy Mint website for £79.50.

Source: Pobjoy Mint, Wikipedia.

Related Posts:

lunaticg banknote & coin

Coin Link

Happy New Year 2010

Gaya street gong seller

Jonker Street Melaka

Malacca stamp & money fair 2009

Merry Christmas Everyone

Spy Coin Story

Royal Spanish Mint-2010 FIFA World Cup coin

When coin worth more then face value

Isle of Man Christmas Angel Gold 2009

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