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Who is Thomas de la Rue?

At the back of some of your Malaysia ringgit, you can find "Thomas De La Rue". Who is Thomas de la Rue? Thomas de La Rue on your banknote is a printer company, De La Rue plc; a British security printing, paper making and cash handling systems company headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire. It also has a factory on the Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead. The Company was founded by Thomas de la Rue who moved to London in 1821 and set up in business as a stationer and printer. In 1831 his business secured a Royal Warrant to produce playing cards, in 1855 it started printing postage stamps and in 1860 it began printing banknotes. In 1896, the family partnership was converted to a private company.
Photo: Malaysia 1 ringgit banknote reverse.
  
Photo by Wikipedia: Thomas de la Rue

Thomas de la Rue (24 March 1793 – 7 June 1866) born in La Forêt in Guernsey. He married Jane Warren in 1814. Thomas de la Rue was apprenticed to a master-printer at St Peter Port in 1803. He went into business with Tom Greenslade and together they launched the newspaper, Le Publiciste. Thomas de la rue's first commercial venture was in 1813, when he published the first edition of le miroir politique newspaper in guernsey.

In 1816 he left Guernsey for London where he initially established a business making straw hats. Then in 1830 together with Samuel Cornish and William Rock he founded a business of card makers, hot pressers and enamellers. By 1837 his wife, both his sons and his eldest daughter were involved in the business. In october 1853, de la rue was awarded the contract to print adhesive fiscal stamps for the UK's board of Inland Revenue. Not only the first stamps to be surface printed, they were also the first perforated stamps to be issued. In 1855 Thomas was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur. In 1858 he retired from De La Rue handing over the management of the business to his sons William Frederick and Warren. Thomas de la rue printed its first paper money in 1860 the Mauritius 5, 1 and 10 shilling note.

Photo by Wikipedia: De La Rue plc. printing factory.
In 1921, the de la Rue family sold their interests. It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1947. The Company, then called Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited, changed its name in 1958 to The De La Rue Company Limited. A takeover bid for De La Rue was made by the Rank Organisation plc in 1968 but this was rejected by the Monopolies commission as being against the public interest. In 1991 the company’s name was changed again - this time to De La Rue plc. In 2003 the Company acquired the banknote printing operations of the Bank of England. The Debden Security Printing Ltd printing facility, owned by De La Rue, which prints Bank of England bank notes.

De La Rue sells high-security paper and printing technology for over 150 national currencies. They claim to be the largest such corporation in the world. De la Rue makes paper and prints banknotes for many banks worldwide, including:
  • Bahrain Central Bank of Bahrain
  • Barbados Central Bank of Barbados
  • Belize Central Bank of Belize
  • England Bank of England
  • Fiji Reserve Bank of Fiji
  • Guatemala Banco de Guatemala
  • Honduras Banco Central de Honduras
  • Iraq Central Bank of Iraq
  • Isle of Man Isle of Man Government
  • Jamaica Bank of Jamaica
  • Kenya Central Bank of Kenya
  • Kuwait Central Bank of Kuwait
  • Republic of Macedonia National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia
  • Scotland The Royal Bank of Scotland
  • Singapore Monetary Authority of Singapore
  • Sri Lanka Central Bank of Sri Lanka
  • Tanzania Bank of Tanzania
Source: Wikipedia, De la rue.com

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Frederic Chopin commemorative banknote

The National Bank of Poland (NBP) announce on January that they will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of an eminent Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin by issuing a collector note with the face value of 20 złoty. The NBP bank is to print 100,000 of the 20-zloty (five euro) notes featuring a picture of Chopin and sell them online for between 25 and 50 zlotys, the bank said in a statement. Chopin was born near Warsaw in 1 March 1810 to a Polish mother and French father, and moved to France when he was 20.

The front of the banknote depicts a portrait of Frédéric Chopin in profile. This element has been made with steel engraving technique. The engraving of the portrait was made by Przemysław Krajewski – hand engraving artist at the Polish Security Printing Works. On the left-hand side, there is an image of the manor house in Żelazowa Wola where the composer was born. On the right-hand side, there is a reproduction of the first edition of Mazurka in B-flat major, Op. 7 No. 1 and of the autograph of the composer. The back of the banknote shows a facsimile of a fragment of Étude in f-minor, Op. 10, No. 9, against a landscape with willows, characteristic of Central Poland region. Banknote designers are Grzegorz Pfeifer and Katarzyna Jarnuszkiewicz. The engraving of the Chopin portrait by Przemysław Krajewski hand engraving artist at the Polish Security Printing Works. The banknotes printed by the Polish Security Printing Works. The banknote is legal tender in Poland. Its face value is 20 złoty.
Photo by Wikipedia: The only known photo of Chopin.

Frédéric François Chopin, in Polish Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin; (1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849), was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music.Chopin was born in the village of Żelazowa Wola, in the Duchy of Warsaw, to a French expatriate father and Polish mother. He was considered a child-prodigy pianist. Chopin died in Paris in 1849, aged thirty-nine, of pulmonary tuberculosis. The great majority of Chopin's compositions were written for the piano as solo instrument. Chopin invented musical forms such as the instrumental ballade and was responsible for major innovations in the piano sonata, mazurka, waltz, nocturne, polonaise, étude, impromptu and prélude.

Source: National Bank of Poland, Wikipedia, Associated Press.

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Less item higher price?

What happen if you got less item to sale? Higher price? I am on my usual hunting trip to Penang recently. Most of my frequent reader know by now that one of my main source of collection come from money changer. Penang is a money changer heaven since there are so many changer premises you can find along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Chulia Street, in KOMTAR building or almost at any part of the city. You need to click picture below to see what I meant by over price item. Almost all money changer along Chulia street and Masjid Kapitan Keling street are putting a ridiculous price on their item. When asked about their price, their reply is that they receive less supply but many people who coming to Penang are looking for it.
One day, this will be a normal scenario for banknote and coin collector like me. When I started my first job in Penang 10 years ago, there are so many great collections at a very affordable price. I can buy them and sell them the same day with fifty percent profit. After feeling disappointed with the high price item in almost every money changer shop, I am taking a walk to Esplanade Road (Jalan Padang Kota Lama). Luckily, Penang also famous for its foods and historical@pre-war building to keep me busy.
Photo: Penang City Hall building.

The walk bring me to Penang Municipal Council building, Penang City Hall. This building built in 1903 in the typical British Palladian architectural style, the building has been listed as a national monument since 1982 under the Antiquities Act 1976. It is a two-storey building believed specifically built to house council/municipal offices in the early days. It was built at a cost of 100,000 Straits Dollars. It currently houses the Penang Municipal Council Chambers and two departments – the Licensing and the Urban Services departments. The Municipal Council of George Town was established in 1857, the first local authority in Malaya after Singapore.
Photo: Penang high court building.

Photo: Chinese chamber of commerce building.

I then walk around Light Street, near Esplanade road area. There are many prewar building building in that area; State Assembly hall, Fort Cornwallis, Penang war memorial, Penang High Court, State assembly building, and other early government building in Penang. Light street named after the famous Captain Francis Light. Padang Kota also famous for its hawker centre and popular waterfront promenade.

Most new collector nowadays, collect numismatic item just for investment. I don't mind about high price as long as the item is in high quality. But low grade items at a high price is ridicilious. Just make sure you are not buying something like this if you on a hunting trip to Penang. If the numismatic item is on a high price, go to Penang cheap and delicious nasi kandar instead. That make me forget about my unsuccessful hunting trip for a while.

Source: Wikipedia.

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Staffordshire Hoard saved

The Art Fund on 23 March 2010 announced that the Staffordshire Hoard fundraising campaign already ended. The largest archaeological Anglo-Saxon find ever unearthed, has been saved. The news comes after the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), the government's fund of last resort for heritage items at risk, pledged £1,285,000, bringing the campaign to the £3.3m target, just over three weeks ahead of schedule. Birmingham City Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council have until 17 April to raise the funds needed to buy the Staffordshire Hoard for the West Midlands.
Photo by Wikipedia: Some of the Staffordshire Hoard

Stephen Deuchar, Director of The Art Fund, said: "We have been absolutely bowled over by the enthusiasm and fascination the Staffordshire Hoard has sparked amongst the British public, as well as visitors from abroad. It is wonderful news that the NHMF has enabled the target of £3.3m to be reached ahead of the deadline, and I hope that this will give the West Midlands a head-start with the next stage in fundraising for the conservation, research and display of the treasure."

Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of NHMF, said: "We’re delighted to be able to announce this news today. The Staffordshire Hoard is an extraordinary heritage treasure. It is exactly the sort of thing the National Heritage Memorial Fund was set up to save, stepping in as the ‘fund of last resort’ when our national heritage is at risk, as a fitting memorial to those who have given their lives in the service of our nation. We’re delighted, in our 30th anniversary year, to be able to make sure it stays just where it belongs, providing rare insights into one of the more mysterious periods of our history."

Thanks to the support of the public, trusts and foundations, and the generous £1,285,000 NHMF grant, the awe-inspiring find has now been safely secured for Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent. On 13 January 2010 The Art Fund launched the campaign to save the Staffordshire Hoard on behalf of both acquiring museums with a £300,000 grant and with generous pledges of £100,000 each from Birmingham and Stoke City Councils. The Art Fund's, kick-started the public appeal by announcing an initial Art Fund grant of £300,000 and by unveiling the official donation website www.artfund.org/hoard last January. However, The Art Fund still need a further £1.7m so that the Hoard can be properly conserved, studied and displayed.

Source: Artfund.org, Wikipedia.

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Ryoma Sakamoto commemorative coin

A news by Mainichi reported that Japan Mint will release a memorial coin to honor of samurai Ryoma Sakamoto. The new memorial silver coin embossed with an image of legendary 19th-century samurai Ryoma Sakamoto. The administrative agency has been issuing coins representing prefectures since 2008, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law. Sakamoto Ryōma was a leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period in Japan.
Photo by Mainichi Japan: Commemorative coin to honor samurai Ryoma Sakamoto.

The new 1,000-yen coin is themed on Kochi Prefecture, the birthplace of Sakamoto, a samurai who led the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and made a great contribution to the modernization of Japan. He has been featured in many films and TV dramas, including NHK's ongoing period drama "Ryomaden." A total of 100,000 of the coins will be sold through mail order, at the price of 6,000 yen each. They will go on sale from late May.
Photo by Wikipedia: Sakamoto Ryōma

Sakamoto Ryōma was born in Kōchi, of Tosa han (present day Kōchi Prefecture, Shikoku) on 3rd January 1836. Ryōma played a crucial role in the subsequent negotiations that led to the voluntary resignation of the Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu in 1867, thus bringing about the Meiji Restoration. Ryōma used the alias Saidani Umetarō (Saidani Umetarō) as a cover name during his work to keep Japan united in the creation of a modern government which would allow his country to join the rest of the world which was in a colonizing mode, while keeping its own sovereignty intact. Ryōma was assassinated at the age of 33 (according to the old lunar calendar he was born on 15 November 1835 and killed on his birthday in 1867) at the Ōmiya inn in Kyoto, not long before the Meiji Restoration took place.

Source: Mainichi Japan, Wikipedia

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First Canada gold medal coin 2010

The Royal Canadian Mint, proud producer of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games athlete medals, celebrate Canada’s first Olympic gold medal with a commemorative coin. The first Canada Gold Medal in 2010 Vancouver Olympic won by Alex Bolideau in men's moguls 14 February 2010 at Cypress Mountain. Alex Bilodeau has accepted a gold commemorative coin himself from the Royal Canadian Mint at their Pavilion in Vancouver, celebrating Canada's first Olympic gold medal on home soil. This coin captures first momentous occasion by featuring a design of four athletes in various celebratory poses. Only 2,010 of this coin were minted by Royal Canada Mint.
Alexandre Bilodeau (French pronunciation: [bilɔdo]; born September 8, 1987) is a Canadian freestyle skier from Montreal, Quebec. Bilodeau currently resides in Rosemère, Quebec. Bilodeau won a gold medal in the men's moguls at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, becoming the first Canadian to win a gold medal at an Olympic Games held in Canada. The Gold Medal won at Cypress Mountain on 14 February 2010.
Photo by Royal Canadian Mint: From left: The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Canada Minister of International Trade, Alex Bilodeau and Susan Dujmovic.

Alexandre Bilodeau left a legacy for Canadians that will be a great history to remember forever. The beauty of this 22 carat gold coin reflects the greatness and pride of Canadians have in showcasing the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. For a price of $989.95 dollar, this coin is a bit expensive but considering this is a special moment for all Canadians, this coin is worth to hold to. Its also came with a very low mintage.

Specifications:
Mintage: Limited to 2010 coins worldwide.
Composition: 91.67% gold, 8.33 % silver.
Finish: proof.
Weight: 16.0 g.
Diameter: 29 mm.
Edge: serrated
Certificate: serialized
Face value: $200
Coin Designer: Bonnie Ross (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

You can check this coin at Royal Canada Mint website.

Source: Royal Canada Mint, Wikipedia.

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Reward to anyone who found this coin

A reward will be given to anyone who found this coin. You will be given at least £500 reward if you can find this gold coin but not by me of course. A news reported by BBC says that a US tourist has offered a £500 reward for the return of a 500-year-old gold coin, which was stolen from a house in Kent. Hal McGirt, from South Carolina, found a Henry VII gold "angel" coin, dating from 1490, in fields while he was on holiday in Norfolk in August 2009. Hal McGirt said the coin was the best object he had ever found. He gave it to a friend who lives in Sittingbourne for safe keeping while an export licence was being sought but thieves burgled his home on 9 March. Mr McGirt said he was desperate to get the coin back.

Photo by BBC News: Henry VII angel coin.

"I have been metal detecting regularly in the UK since 1994 with mixed results." stated McGirt.

"When I uncovered the Henry VII angel last year, it was the best object I had ever found. I am very disappointed that I will not get to see it."

"There is only a long shot that the coin will be in the condition in which I found it. However, if it is, I am willing to pay £500 for its return."

An Angel is a gold coin, first used in France (where it was also known as an Angelot and an Ange) in 1340, and introduced into England by Edward IV in 1465 as a new issue of the "noble" and so at first called the "angel-noble". It varied in value between that period and the time of Charles I, when it was last coined (1642) from 6s. 8d. to 11s. The name was derived from the representation it bore of St. Michael and the dragon. The angel was the coin given to those who came to be touched for the disease known as king's evil; after it was no longer coined, medals, called touch-pieces, with the same device, were given instead.

Obverse: Depicts the archangel St. Michael spearing the dragon of evil. Legend: EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC meaning Edward by the grace of God King of England and France.

Reverse: Depicts a ship with arms and rays of sun at the masthead. Legend: PER CRUCEM TUAM SALVA NOS CHRISTE REDEMPTOR meaning Through thy cross save us, Christ Redeemer.

Source: BBC News, Wikipedia

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Klang valley coin dealer list

There is a request by reader about the list of Klang Valley coin dealer or numismatic and philatelist shop in Kuala Lumpur. Here are the list of coin, paper money, banknote, accesories (album, Tweezers, Magnifiers, Microscopes, holder, capsules, cutter, watermark detectors, uv test lamp etc) and stamp dealer in Klang Valley or Kuala Lumpur. Will try to update this directory from time to time.

(last updated 1 October 2011; 9.25 pm)

International Stamps & Coin Sdn Bhd
Owner: Steven Tan
Address: 2.4 & 2.5, 2nd Floor, Pertama Shopping Complex, Jln Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan.
Tel: +603-2692 6373, 26983781, 26926117
Fax: +603-26928380
E-mail: isc_mal@streamyx.com, isc.mal@gmail.com

Trignometric Sdn Bhd.
Address: Lot 327, Amcorp Mall, 18, Jalan Persiaran Barat, Off Jalan Timur, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: +603-79579566
Fax: +603-79579568

Address: 58, Jalan SS14/2, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: +60-179796337 (better called him before you make a visit)
E-mail: dniew33@streamyx.com, dicksonniew@gmail.com

Collectors Corner & Gifts
Address: Lot G11, G12, Ground Floor, Imbi Plaza, Jln Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Owner: Mrs. C.M. Quah
Tel: +603-2141 5005
Fax: 03-2142 9388

Eastern Stamps Coins & Antiques
Owner: Bob T.C Chew.
Address: Berjaya Times Square 07-47 Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Email: easternstamps@gmail.com
HP: +6016-2832507

Ng Coin, Stamps Curios Centre
Owner: Ng Ah Lee (HP: +6012-9354885).
Address: No. 2-7, 2nd Floor, Plaza Metro, Jalan Meru ,41050 Klang, Selangor D.E.
Tel: +603-33416959
Fax: +603-33413710

Numis Coins and notes
Owner: Raymond Chang (HP: +6016-9832690).
Address: LG 22 & 23, Maju Junction Mall, 1001 Jalan Sultan ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603-26910933.

SM Stamps & Antiques
Owner: Simon Chaw Soon Mun (HP: +6012-3871638)
Address: Lot 6F/78, 6th Floor, Sungai Wang Plaza, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603-21439188

Yip's Collections
Address: Lot 07-50, 7th Floor, Berjaya Times Square, No: 1, Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Owner: Yip Fook Keong.
Handphone: +6012-3604928.

Kedai Cenderamata Leong Antiquity Enterprise
Address: Lot 07-30A, 7th Floor, Berjaya Times Square, No: 1, Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.

Pudu Stamps & coin trading
Address: Lot LE2, LG Floor, Pudu Plaza, Jalan Landak, off Jalan Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Owner: Lam Kim Lean.
Handphone: +6012-630 5532.

K.S Koh Collections.
Address: 11, Jalan BK1/11, Kinrara Industrial Park, Bandar Kinrara, 47100 Puchong, Selangor.
Handphone: +6019-334 4903, +6017-336 3903.



Malaysia coin blog list 2010

Some of my reader asking about Malaysia coin blog list that I recommend to them. While other were saying that it is hard to find blogs related to Malaysia coin collector. Here is the list of some of the blogs that talked about Malaysia coins and banknotes. Most of the blog is written in Malay. You need to type duit syiling (Coin), duit (money), sen, ringgit, syiling peringatan (Commemorative coin), koleksi (Collection) or duit kertas (banknotes) in Google if you were looking for Malaysia coins collector blog. Some of the collector offering item for sale and swap.


This list is only for over 3 months old blog, written by Malaysian and have contents that worth to share with all numismatic people out there. If any of you blog owner think that your link is not worth to put in this list or want me to put yours in my list, please e-mail me at lunaticg@gmail.com. I will try to comply as soon as possible. Last year many collector start sharing their collection online. I hope this year will be the same.

Malaysia coin blog list 2010 (Updated 3:22am; 1 September 2010)
I already email everyone from this list to update their information, any blogs without updated information will be left out from this list. Thank you.


Title: Banknotes From British Malaya & Malaysia For Sale
Description: I am blogging my own collection of banknotes and coins, which are also for sale. I don't accept swaps.
Category: Personal
Owner: Malaya Straits Banknotes
E-mail: malayapapermoney@gmail.com
Blog language: English
Frequency updated: 15 times a month
Google Page Rank: 2/10


Title:Nazri Duit Antik dan Syiling Lama
Description:Straits Settlements,Sarawak,British North Borneo,Malaysia and Antique Coin
Category:Personal
Owner:Nazerry Rosmady Rahmat
E-mail: environ_79@yahoo.com.my
Blog language: Malay
Frequency updated: Weekly
Google Page Rank: 2/10
Banknote & coin: My blog about Malaysia ancient coin,Straits Settlements,Malaya and British Borneo,Sarawak,British North Borneo, Old Token. I accept swap.


Title: Yaw Long's Personal collections of Banknotes and Coins
Owner: Chua Yaw Long
Category:Personal
Blog language: English & Chinese
Frequency updated: two post in a month
Google Page Rank: 1/10
E-mail: chuayl76@yahoo.com.my
Banknote & coin: Mostly banknotes from Straits Settlement to Malaysia, with some foreign banknotes and little bit of coins.
Direct swap: Please refer to my Swap blog site.


Title: Banknotes coins stamps gemstones watches golds
Description: Sharing my own collection and history behind.
Category:Hobby and Collectible
Owner: Mohd Sabri bin Mohd Ghazali
E-mail: mgm.sabri@gmail.com
Blog language: Malay & English.
Frequency updated: 5 or 6 times a week
Google Page Rank: 0/10
Banknote & coin: My blog most focusing on own collection; most of them is Malaya and Malaysian banknote. Start to collect other country like Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Bermuda, Qatar, Pakistan, Iran and so on. Also I collect ancient coin like gold coin (Acheh and Pasai), polymer banknote, gold, FDC, stamps. For Malaysian, I accept swap and also sell my items. Other than that, more prefer swap.


Title: A Fistful of Ringgit (Italian: per un Pugno di Ringgiti)
Description: My work in progress blog. Always trying to improve.
Category: Personal
Owner: Willy
E-mail: ordostisme02@yahoo.com
Blog language: English
Frequency updated: 2 posts in a month.
Google Page Rank: N/A
Banknote & coin: Ringgit, the local currency in Malaysia, but it can also refer to the Brunei dollar. Accept swaps at par value.


Title: Mnfaj Collection
Description: a blog about my collection of banknotes, coins, and et cetera
Category: personal
Owner: Mn Fadzly
E-mail: mnfadzlyaj@yahoo.com
Blog language: English
Frequency updated: approx. twice a week
Google Page Rank: NA
Banknote & coin: my own collection, accept swap



Blog without any updated information:

Title: collectionpyowb
Owner: pyowb
Blog language: English
Frequency updated: 20 posts per month
Google Page Rank: 3/10
E-mail: pyowb@hotmail.com


Title: Malaysia Commemorative coin
Owner: Simistri
Blog language: Malay
Frequency updated: 15 posts per month
Google Page Rank: 2/10
E-mail: syillingperingatan@yahoo.com.my


Title: KOLEKSI mata2duitan
Owner: Din Rambong
Blog language: Malay
Frequency updated: 5 posts per month
Google Page Rank: 2/10
E-mail: dinrambong@yahoo.com


Title: Collection of old coins, banknotes and antique goods
Owner: Nizar bin Othman
Blog language: Malay
Frequency updated: Once a month
Google Page Rank: 2/10
E-mail: nil
Phone Number: nil

Title: azri collection
Owner: Nor Azri
Blog language: Malay
Frequency updated: one post in two month
Google Page Rank: 2/10
E-mail: norazri1082@yahoo.com


Title: blurguyz79
Owner: Mohammad Faizal
Blog language: Malay
Frequency updated: 5 post per month
Google Page Rank: 1/10
E-mail: nil
Phone Number: nil






Blog With no more latest post:

Blog: DUIT LAMA & BARANG ANTIK
Last Post: 5 June 2010.

Blog: FAZIL NUMISMATIC & PHILATELIC SOCIETY
Last Post: 5 June 2010.

Blog: BreTT KiD's Collection
Last Post: 21 october 2009.

MNS auction-28 march 2010

Malaysia Numismatic Society (MNS) will held an auction on Sunday, 28 March 2010. Searching in their website, there is no particular about where and how the auction will be held but normally the auction will start at 10.00am and viewing of the lots will start at 9.30am on the same day. The Auction normally will be held at Muzium Negara, Jalan Petalawati, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. There is a small hall near the vintage transportation section where this auction normally held by MNS.

Photo by Star Newspaper: Muzium Negara

Normally, there will be a bourse table outside for member and collector to buy and sell as all sorts of accessories, coins and banknotes. The table normally available for RM50.00 and booking be made one week before the auction. Only registered members is allowed to take part in this auction since a bid number will be given for you to bid. Any mail bid need to send five days before the auction start. You can look at the MNS auction 143 in their website and don't forget to bring the list if you want to participate in bidding.

Looking at the list, some item will sure get some intention by collector. For Lot number 66, Malaysia 10th Series RM1 CR 7204131 Ali Abul Hassan’s signature Uncirculated condition; the reserve price already started at RM1650. Not so long time ago, when the item is sold at RM700, people says that the item is over price. Now, almost two years later, the price has been double. Some of the lot that worth mentioning are Malaysia 20 Cents 1973 (Error) minted on a 10 cents planchet, Straits Settlements $1 1921 G/15 96862, Malaysia 50 Cents 1968 (milled edge, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Commemorative Banknote HK$20 HK 529250 issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd (with folder) and Malaysia 1 Cent 1984 (Error) enlarged size about 10 cents coin. Most of other lots are Malaysia solid number notes and Malaysia replacements notes.

Do mind though, the price on the list is only reserve price and not a final price. Please correct me if any information i am giving in here is wrong. Anyone will be going to this auction?

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Medal of Julius Caesar assassin in museum

The "Ides of March": a Medal of Julius Caesar assassin is shown at British Museum. This unique gold coin, minted by Caesar's betrayer, Brutus, which may have been worn as a boastful talisman by one of the emperor's killers. The gold coin struck by Brutus soon after the assassination of Julius Caesar on 15 March 44BC. The British Museum was first shown the coin in 1932 but couldn't afford to buy it. Many private owners later, it has now been loaned to the museum, and will be displayed for the first time. The gold medal is on display in British Museum starting 15 March, marking the 2,054th anniversary of Julius Ceaser death.
Photo by Guardian UK: Julius Ceaser assasin medallion.

Caesar was struck down at the Senate, stabbed 23 times, in 44BC. The coin was among those issued by Caesar's former friend and ally, Brutus, leader of the conspirators, after they fled to Greece. The coin shows the head of Brutus on one side and, on the other, two daggers and the date, Eid Mar, the Ides of March, which would forever after be regarded as unlucky. The daggers flank a pileus, a freeman's hat, symbolising the conspirators' insistance that in killing Caesar they were toppling a tyrant who threatened the future of the Roman republic. The coin was punched with a hole shortly after it was minted, probably so it could be worn – certainly by a supporter, conceivably by one of the conspirators.
Photo by the New York Times: Gold coin that expert believe is fake

The swaggering imagery displayed on the coin was already famous in antiquity. In the second century AD, the Roman historian Cassius Dio wrote: "Brutus stamped upon the coins which were being minted in his own likeness and a cap and two daggers, indicating by this and by the inscription that he and Cassius had liberated the fatherland." Although 60 surviving examples of the silver version are known, including several in the museum's coins and medals collection, there were only believed to be two in gold. Experts now believe one of those is a fake, making the newly displayed treasure unique.

Source: The Guardian UK, New York Times.

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Couple facing counterfeit charge

An Edmonton Couple, Nathan Paolinelli and Stacey Scharf are facing counterfeiting related charges. Paolinelli four months ago skipped out of an Alberta jail while serving time for fraud and counterfeiting. The couple were arrested 4 March after police tailed them to a Surrey store where they were about to buy a product used to forge credit cards. The pair are also facing more drug and fraud charges after an investigation that involved the U.S. Secret Service. Most of the fakes were $100 US Dollar bills, but there were also some $20 and $50 notes.

Photograph by Handouts, RCMP: counterfeit U.S. dollar seized.

Police said their investigation into the couple began after fake currency was used in the Okanagan region.

"In December of 2009, a counterfeit note that's believed to have been passed by this duo was in Kelowna, British Columbia," said RCMP Const. Peter Neilly.

"So, we can assume they've been in B.C. for at least a month, by the looks of it."

Photograph by Handouts, RCMP: Equipment seized used by counterfeiters.

In Scharf's North Surrey apartment, police seized $75,000 in fake U.S. bills, eight grams of crystal meths, forged Canada Post keys, several computers and printers and specialized paper and tools commonly used for counterfeiting, as well as stolen Alberta driver's licences, Social Insurance Number cards and other credit, bank and gift cards, including a stack from Wal-Mart. The cards were kept in plastic index card holders covered in children's butterfly and star stickers. Labels were carefully printed in multi-coloured markers, indicating "blanks," "credit cards" and "random cards."

Source: theprovince.com, CBC Canada.

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New Staffordshire hoard dig?

A new and fresh dig is to be held at Staffordshire hoard treasure site. Experts say the work is not expected to turn up any more gold, but could reveal how the original items came to be there. The original find of 1,500 gold and silver pieces was made by metal detectorist Terry Herbert in a farmer's field in Staffordshire in July 2009. Containing over 1,500 pieces, mainly gold and many inlaid with precious stones, the Hoard was valued at £3.3.m on 26 November 2009 and declared the most valuable treasure found on British soil.
Photo by Timesonline.co.uk: Terry Herbert showing some of the hoard

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's chief archaeologist Stephen Dean said the dig was to put the find into some some of context.

"We are trying to find features which could tell us what the landscape was like when the hoard was buried," he said.

"We might be looking for pits, ditches, for some structural evidence if any exists."

There is no evidence of any buildings there at the moment, he added.

Last month, the Staffordshire Hoard team had won the Current Archaeology award for ‘The Best Rescue Dig of the Year, 2010’. Current Archaeology is Britain’s best selling archaeology magazine. The award, sponsored by Andante Travel, was given on the basis of votes cast by its readers, and was presented at the Archaeology 2010 Conference, held at the British Museum on 27 February. The award was accepted by Dr Kevin Leahy, National Advisor, Early Medieval Metalwork, on behalf of the project.

Photo by Wikipedia: Some of the Staffordshire Hoard

Birmingham City Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council have until 17 April to raise the funds needed to buy the Staffordshire Hoard for the West Midlands. The Art Fund's, kick-started the public appeal by announcing an initial Art Fund grant of £300,000 and by unveiling the official donation website www.artfund.org/hoard last January. The Arts Fund said £2m had been raised so far and famous names such as Dame Judi Dench and Noddy Holder had given their support to the appeal. The National Heritage Memorial Fund, the fund of last resort for the nation's heritage, is meeting on Tuesday to discuss whether to help with funds or not. Items from the hoard can be seen at The Potteries Museum in Stoke and at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery until 18 April.

Source: BBC News, Artfund.org, Timesonline.

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50th anniversary of the Queen's banknote image

The Bank of England is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Queen's image on banknotes with a new exhibition. Taking into account its appearance on postage stamps and coins since 1952 and on Bank of England notes since 1960, the Queen's portrait is probably the most reproduced image in the history of the world. The first banknote to carry her portrait was a one pound note issued on March 17, 1960, but the image of the Queen has since been updated on a number of occasions, in 1963 by Reynolds Stone, in 1970 and 1971 by Harry Ecclestone and most recently in 1990 by Roger Withington.
Photo by Eddie Mulholland: Robert Austin's artwork

The original 1960 sketch by Robert Austin, which shows the design at an earlier stage, is also on display. The exhibition at the Bank of England Museum, A Decoration and a Safeguard, which traces the development of the portrait of the Queen on the notes, features not only the five different portraits done since 1960 but their preliminary sketches and printing plates. Letters and material relating to the five portraits will also be on display at the exhibition which runs from March 17 to June 4. There will also be previously unseen sketches and artwork from the bank's collection including rejected designs and early unissued banknotes.

Photo : 1960 £1 featuring first appearance of portrait by Roger Austin

Photo : 1963 £5 featuring first appearance of portrait by Reynolds Stone

Photo : 1971 £5 featuring first appearance of portrait by Harry Ecclestone

Photo : 1990 £5 featuring first appearance of portrait by Roger Withington

Last week, the Bank of England announced that £20 notes featuring Sir Edward Elgar will not be legal tender after June 30. From July 1, only notes with the image of Adam Smith, the Scottish economist, which came into circulation in March 2007, will be legal. The Bank of England has been issuing banknotes for more than 300 years.

"Kings and queens have been depicted on Britain's coinage since Anglo-Saxon times but it was not until 1960 that the monarch first appeared on a Bank of England note," said curator John Keyworth.

"There were two main reasons to introduce the royal portrait.

"Firstly, the Bank had been nationalised in 1946, and by portraying the monarch on its notes the institution recognised that it was now publicly owned.

"Secondly, the highly specialised art of the hand-engraved portrait added a formidable anti-forgery feature."

This is one exhibition numismatist and philatelist could not missed. Its not easy to find all the material relating the Queen Elizabeth II images in one place like this. I wish Bank of England Museum can somehow make a commonwealth tour exhibition since Queen Elizabeth II images mostly used throughout the Commonwealth realms.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

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Peanuts 60th anniversary gold coin

Anyone remember the snoopy cartoon? Peanuts comic strip is having its 60th anniversary and Taisei Coins celebrate it by producing a Peanuts 60th anniversary gold coin. Taisei coins, Japanese money commodity trader: minted a 50 New Zealand dollar gold coin, a large 10 New Zealand dollar silver coin and three two New Zealand coins designed after popular cartoon character Snoopy for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of its publication. The Peanuts anniversary celebrated on the last Peanuts comic strip was published the day after its creator died.
Photo by AFP: Taisei Coins employee showing Peanuts 60th anniversary coin.

Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000 (the day after Schulz's death), continuing in reruns afterward. The strip is considered to be one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium, with 17,897 strips published in all, making it "arguably the longest story ever told by one human being", according to Professor Robert Thompson of Syracuse University. At its peak, Peanuts ran in over 2,600 newspapers, with a readership of 355 million in 75 countries, and was translated into 21 languages. It helped to cement the four-panel gag strip as the standard in the United States, and together with its merchandise earned Schulz more than $1 billion. Reprints of the strip are still syndicated and run in many newspapers.

Peanuts had its origin in Li'l Folks, a weekly panel comic that appeared in Schulz's hometown paper, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, from 1947 to 1950. He first used the name Charlie Brown for a character there, although he applied the name in four gags to three different boys and one buried in sand. The series also had a dog that looked much like the early 1950s version of Snoopy. In 1948, Schulz sold a cartoon to the Saturday Evening Post; seventeen single-panel cartoons by Schulz would be published there. The first of these was of a boy who resembled Charlie Brown sitting with his feet on an ottoman.

The Peanuts characters have been featured on Hallmark Cards since 1960 and can be found adorning clothing, figurines, plush dolls, flags, balloons, posters, Christmas ornaments, and countless other bits of licensed merchandise.

Technical Specification for $50 Proof coins:
Denomination: $ 50
Weight: 15.55 grams
Diameter: 30 mm
Grade: .9999
Material: Gold
State: Proof
Mintage: 1000

Source: Taisei coins, Associated Press

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Kids Project: Different shape coin

Today Kids Project is different shape coins. To anyone who is new to my blog, Kids Project is a suggestion from me, the best and cheap way to start collecting coin for your kids. This coin hunting project will only cost around 50 to 100 ringgit and you don't 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. You do not have to start with any budget at all with some of my Kids project. Most of them is a circulation coin that you can find in your pocket. Most coin is round but there are some coins that is different in shape.

The most popular coin in a different shape is a the 25p triangular coin by Isle of Man produced to commemorate the 2007/2008 Tutankhamun exhibition and became legal tender on 6 December 2007. Other triangular coins issued earlier include: Cabinda coin, Bermuda coin, 2 Dollar Cook Islands 1992 triangular coin, Uganda Millennium Coin and Polish Sterling-Silver 10-Zloty Coin. Guitar-shaped coins were once issued in Somalia, Poland once issued a fan-shaped 10 złoty coin, but perhaps the oddest coin ever was the 2002 $10 coin from Nauru, a Europe shaped coin. Almost all those coin is not a circulation coin and sell at a high price.

This triangular coin is 2002 Cook Islands 2 dollars. The coin is made from copper nickel with 28.52 mm in diameter. On the obverse is the face of Queen Elizabeth II head facing right, date below and on the reverse kumete table, morter and pestle from Atiu Island, denomination above. The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, north-east of New Zealand, between French Polynesia and American Samoa. Cook Islands consist of fifteen major islands, spread over 2.2 million square kilometres of ocean, divided into two distinct groups: the Southern Cook Islands, and the Northern Cook Islands of coral atolls. The islands were formed by volcanic activity; the northern group is older and consists of six atolls (sunken volcanoes topped by coral growth). The dollar has been the currency of the Cook Islands since 1967. Before that, Cook Island using Pound as a monetary currency. The dollar is subdivided into 100 cents, although some 50 cent coins carry the denomination as "50 tene". The Cook Islands dollar is pegged at par to the New Zealand dollar.

This center hole coin is Belgium 10 centimes. The coin is made from Copper-Nickel and 22 mm in diameter. On the obverse is center hole within crowned monogram, date below, legend in French (BELGIQUE) and on the reverse is spray of leaves to left of center hole, denomination to right. The franc (Dutch: frank, French: franc, German: Franken) was the currency of Belgium until 2002 when the euro was introduced into circulation. It was subdivided into 100 centiem (Dutch), centimes (French) or Centime (German). The conquest of most of western Europe by revolutionary and Napoleonic France led to the French franc's wide circulation. In the Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium), the franc replaced the kronenthaler. This was in turn replaced by the Dutch gulden when the Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed.Following independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the new Kingdom of Belgium in 1832 adopted its own franc, equivalent to the French franc, followed by Luxembourg in 1848 and Switzerland in 1850. Newly-unified Italy adopted the lira on a similar basis in 1862.Like 10 other European currencies, the Belgian/Luxembourgish franc ceased to exist in January 1, 1999. Old franc coins and notes lost their legal tender status in February 28, 2002.

This is Hong kong 2 dollar coin. Its made of Copper-Nickel, weight at 8.40 gm and 28 mm in diameter. On the obverse is Bauhinia flower with large numeral Denomination on the reverse.The coin edge is scalloped. The Hong Kong coinage, including 10¢, 20¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5 & $10, is issued by Hong Kong Monetary Authority on behalf of the Government of Hong Kong. Until 1992 these coins were embossed with the British monarch's effigy. From January 1993 to November 1994, a new series depicting the bauhinia flower was gradually issued, including a new denomination $10. Since the beginning of the coin replacement programme in 1993, over 585 million Queen's effigy coins have been withdrawn from circulation. However, the Queen's Head coins remain legal tender.
Bauhinia is an evergreen tree, in the genus Bauhinia, with large thick leaves and striking purplish red flowers. The fragrant, orchid-like flowers are usually 10-15 cm across, and bloom from early November to the end of March. Although now cultivated in many areas, it originated in Hong Kong in 1880 and apparently all of the cultivated trees derive from one cultivated at the Hong Kong Botanic Gardens and widely planted in Hong Kong starting in 1914. It is referred to as bauhinia in non-scientific literature though this is the name of the genus. It is sometimes called Hong Kong orchid tree. The Bauhinia double-lobed leaf is similar in shape to a heart, or a butterfly. A typical leaf is 7-10 cm long and 10-13 cm broad, with a deep cleft dividing the apex. Local people call the leaf "clever leaf" , and regard it as a symbol of cleverness. Some people use the leaves to make bookmarks in the hope that the bookmarks will bring them good luck in their studies.

This is British Malaya half cent rectangle coin. On the obverse is crowned head of King George
VI facing left and on the reverse is its value within beaded circle. British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula that were colonized by the British from the 18th and the 19th until the 20th century. Before the formation of Malayan Union in 1946, the colonies were not placed under a single unified administration. Instead, British Malaya comprised the Straits Settlements, the Federated Malay States and the Unfederated Malay States. Malaya was the world's largest producer of tin and later rubber. Malayan Union was dissolved and replaced with Federation of Malaya in 1948. It became independent on 31 August 1957. On 16 September 1963, the federation, along with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore formed a larger federation called Malaysia.

Source: Wikipedia, search.com, Krause Publication

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Canada switch to plastic currency?

A news reported by CBC Canada a saying that Canada will be switching to plastic currency in 2010. Canada's paper-cotton banknotes would be replaced by newly designed plastic notes. This move is part of a plan to modernize and protect Canadian currency against counterfeiting. The new plastic bills, made from a polymer material, are harder to fake, recyclable, and two to three times more resistant to tearing, the Bank of Canada said. The polymer material will last longer than the cotton paper currently in use, resulting in lower overall production costs and reduced environmental impact.
Australia has used polymer banknotes since the 1990s, and an Australian company will provide the material for Canada. The company that will provide the material for Canada most probably will be Note Printing Australia, at Craigieburn, Victoria. In 1996, the Reserve Bank of Australia formed a joint venture company - Securency Pty Ltd - with a foreign manufacturer of polypropylene films to further develop polymer substrate and to market it to currency note printers in other countries.
Currently, Australia, New Zealand and Romania have fully converted to polymer banknotes. The Polymer notes start in the late 1970s and early 1980s. When du Pont pioneered this evolution of technology in currency with its Tyvek polymer, a material that was jointly developed by du Pont and American Banknote Company. It was later discovered that the printing ink does not bond to the Tyvek material and after handling a few times, the ink on the notes smudges and wears off. The first three countries to introduce Plastic banknotes were Haiti, Costa Rica and Isle of Man. In the late 1980s, the Reserve Bank of Australia developed and perfected the technique with Guardian polymer, and introduced plastic banknotes in 1988. Today, all countries that issue polymer currency use this version.
Anyone from Canada? How do you feel about the new Canada Polymer bill and a classic cotton-paper Canadian bill? In Malaysia, there is rumours about fully converting to Polymer notes but until this day, the only polymer in circulation is the 5 ringgit. With so many counterfeit and fake 50 ringgit nowadays, Bank Negara Malaysia should look into converting Malaysian currency to Polymer.

Source: CBC Canada.

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