Coin question for March 2010

Every month, there is over a dozen question asked by my reader about coin, banknote, collection, item price and accecories that related to numismatic world. I will be sharing them starting this month. Do mind though, I am not an expert. I just like to share what I know and what I read about this hobbies. If you think that my answer is wrong, feel free to comment in here. Just make sure you don't spam me with unrelated link. I am editing some of this question to make sure it is relevent to this blog. Keep on giving me question to lunaticg@gmail.com. I will try to answered them.

Question: How can I get buyer for this coin? How to differentiate between nickle & bronze coin?

Azizan:

Dear Lunaticg,

My name is Mr.Azizan. Here i just want to ask you some questions. Actually now 1 have bronze "1 SEN 1976" coins. Based on your informations (Malaysia rare coin price table) in your blog, there's mentioned that only 100 pcs known exist...and the price is RM650-UNC & RM900-BU. Here is my questions..

1) How can i get the buyer for this coin?

2) What is the meaning of UNC & BU?

Other questions:-

1) For "1 SEN 1979 Nickle", based on your informations (Malaysia rare coin price table) in your blog, there's mentioned that only 2 pcs known exist and the price is RM2500-UNC & RM3100-BU. So if i have 1 piece, how & what is the methods to differentiate between nickle type & bronze type?

Me:

Hi azizan.

I think if you search my blog you will find the answer you're seeking for, its already there. Just go to Malaysia Ringgit Label.

If you want to sell the item fast, you can always find coin dealer near your place but please expect 50% decrease on its market value. The best way is to sell them online yourself. You can try mudah.my or lelong (if you're in Malaysia) or you can try eBay. Just make sure you give detail information and clear picture of your actual item.

UNC stand for Uncirculated. BU is Brilliant Uncirculated. Just check my blog under handling tips label.

The color of the coin already a big difference between that two.

Question: 10th anniversary coin for the coronation of His Highness Sultan Hassanal Bokiah worth?

Julia:

Hi there, I saw your blog, and in it you mentioned that you welcome coin questions.

I'm a 29-year-old American who has a few questions about a 1978 Brunei commemorative coin. I need to sell it in the next 5 days and was wondering what I could expect to get for it. I was also wondering its value. I understand that by selling it quickly I'm going to take a loss in proceeds. Do you have any recommendations for the method in which I go about doing so?

Coin description:

10th anniversary coin for the coronation of His Highness Sultan Hassanal Bokiah (1968 1978) $1,000 mint condition, encased in hard plastic shell encased coin is in a box that is in very good condition, looks to have been made in the 70's.

Certificate of Authenticity is included. Certificate is in good condition, slightly aged but with no wrinkles, stains, or tears. It names this coin as being number 805 out of the 1000 minted. It lists the composition as being 916.7 Gold and 83.3 Copper (I'm not quite sure what those numbers mean). It lists the diameter as being 40 mm. Weight: 50 g, plus or minus 0.27 grams. Date of issue: 1 August 1978

I was only able to find one example of this coin being sold in the past online, and wanted to get a second opinion as to its value to confirm my assumption. Hopefully, if you do reply and are able to help with any of this information, you won't tell me you found one last week in a crackerjack box.

I'm attaching 2 poor pictures of the coin. They're of poor quality because I don't have a digital camera right now, only my phone, and snapped these on the spur of the moment, halfway through this e-mail. I apologize ahead of time for the blurriness of the snapshots, but they'll atleast give you an idea of what the coin looks like. Rest assured I'm a real person and my e-mail is genuine; I'm not sending you some sort of weird virus in the attachments, I promise.

I appreciate any time you spent reading this.

Me:

Hi Julia.

You're the first one asking me with so much detail about your coin. Look like you already make a research about it. That is a proof 1000 dollars 10th anniversary of Sultan's coronation. The coin price is USD1700. Nice collection you have there.

eBay is the best if you're looking for a high price. If you want to sell them fast, you can asked coin dealer near your place. Just make sure you asked around for a good price before you decided to sell them but expect a 50% decrease on the price. You can also try asking any gold shop if they want to buy this item. The coin gold price almost the same as its current value.

Wish that will give you any help and good luck on selling your coin. Just remember to asked around for a good price before you decide to sell.

Julia:

Hello again Ahmad,

I just thought you'd like to know that I managed to speed-sell the Brunei coin for 1300 USD, the one you blue-booked at 1700 USD. This was more than I had hoped to get for a speed-sale (my highest realistic estimate was at 1150) , thanks to you and the wonderful current market value of gold. I took a gamble by avoiding a place that wanted to deface the coin to test it. Instead I went out of my way and opted to sell it to a nice local coin shop (with people who could also appreciate and respect the coin). Another coin shop tried to rip me off before I settled with this one. It certainly pays to do the research! Thanks again for all of your help.

Question: How much Iraq Dinar worth?

Rusty:

I would like to know how much these items are worth.

saddams 25 Dinar note (one dinar note, five dinar note and ten riyals note), i brought these back with me after the war in Iraq...thank you so much for your help.

Me:

Hi Rusty.

I cannot see any picture but if the Iraq dinar is a new one (1990), Most probably it won't worth a thing since Iraq dinar cannot be traded as currency. For banknote collector, only the old Iraq Dinar have value but it don't worth much. 3 US Dollar for 10 dinars-uncirculated for 1986 notes.

Wish That can help you.

Question: Where to get coin album in Subang?

Leon:

i stumbled across your website and it was a fantastic website. i just started to collect coins and the problem is i dont have an album to put it. i had searched in all major bookstores but couldnt acquire it. sorry for the silly question, but can i know where could i get one? i'm staying in subang area.

thanks

hope to hear from u soon.

Me:

Hi leon.

You can try popular book at Summit USJ. They should have them. If you want to put a precious collection and want a better coin album. You can try go to Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya Saturday and Sunday. There is a flea market there with almost every coin dealer in Klang Valley coming. You can read it in my blog under flea market label or just search amcorp mall in my blog.

Question: Good place to pick up China banknotes in Penang or Kuala Lumpur?

Samuel:

Hi,

Love your blog. Need your advice. Is there another good place to pick up china banknotes in Penang or KL?

Thanks.

Me:

Hi Samuel.

Do you mean China old banknote? You can try Steven Tan shop in Kuala Lumpur. You can find the address in my coin dealer list. just go to my blog and look for coin dealer label. If you're going to Penang, you can try Tan coin & trading. Their shop located at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling.

Samuel:

Thanks.

Had visited Steven Tan and most of his good stuff is already sold. Tan coin & trading sounds interesting, will certainly visit him when i'm at penang.

Thanks

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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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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.

*Phone numbers and email removed from this article because most sellers interrupted by consistent phone call by non collectors asking about coin price and try to sell their coins & banknotes.

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.

Trigometric Sdn Bhd.
Address: Lot 327, Amcorp Mall, 18, Jalan Persiaran Barat, Off Jalan Timur, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Dickson Niew Collection shop

Address: 58, Jalan SS14/2, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor.

SLCollectors shop
Address: Ground Floor, G063A, Zone C, Millennium Square, Jalan 14/1, Section 14, 46100, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, West Malaysia.
Business Hour: 2pm-6pm (Mon-Sun -including Public Holidays)


PJ Auctioneers Sdn Bhd
L326 Amcorp Mall, 18 Persiaran Barat,
46000 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia
Business time: 12pm to 7pm. Closed on Monday & Tuesday.

Collectors Corner & Gifts
Address: Lot G11, G12, Ground Floor, Imbi Plaza, Jln Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Owner: Mrs. C.M. Quah


Eastern Stamps Coins & Antiques
Owner: Bob T.C Chew.
Address: Berjaya Times Square 07-47 Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.


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.


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


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.


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


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.

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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.

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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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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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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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Bulgaria Ancient Thrace sites

A Bulgaria Ancient Thrace sites in the Starosel Tomb, has been dated to the 4th century BC after years of research. A team of archaeologists of the Bulgarian National History Museum led by Dr. Ivan Hristov has managed to estimate the timing of the construction of the largest underground temple on the Balkan Peninsula, the Starosel Tomb, located in the Hisarya Municipality, Plovdiv District. Dr. Hristov’s analysis found that the Starosel tomb and underground temple complex were built by Thracian King Amatokos II (359-351 BC), of the Thracian Odrysian state (5th-3rd century BC).

Photo by novinite.com: Thracian coins

In the summer of 2009, the archaeological team took samples from a stake in the middle of the tomb where gifts to the Greek goddess of the hearth Hestia were laid. The radio carbon dating analysis carried out in Heidelberg, Germany, in the laboratory of Dr. Bernd Krommer, have shown that the stake was burned in the period after 358 BC, when the temple was constructed, and the earth was heaped on top of it to form a burial mound.

The analysis of the lab research and of the events which happened at that time have given archaeologist Ivan Hristov grounds to conclude that the temple in the village of Starosel, in the so called Chetinyova Mound, and the nearby Thracian ruler’s residence under Mount Kozi Gramadi were built during the reign of the Thracian King Amatokos II (359-351 BC), of the Thracian Odrysian state (5th-3rd century BC). The family coat of arms of King Amatokos was a doubleheaded ax, or a labrys. Symbols of a labrys were discovered on several items around Starosel, including Thracian coins. Before Dr. Hristov’s analysis, the researchers of Ancient Thrace believed that the Starosel tomb and underground temple complex were built by King Sitalces (445-424 BC), the third ruler of the Odrysian State.

The Thracian objects in the region of Starosel were also in operation during the reign of King Teres II (351-341 BC). The archaeologists believe that the region was the power center of Ancient Thrace in the 4th century BC. It was destroyed during the rise of the Macedonian state of Philip II in 342-341 BC. The Bulgarian archaeologists have reconstructed the so called “Holy Road” of the Thracians leading to their underground temples in Starosel, and are determined to continue revealing its secrets. Archaeologist Ivan Hristov is preparing a book on the Chetinyova Mound in order to tell the story of the Temple of the Immortal Thracian Kings there.

Starosel is a village in central Bulgaria, part of Hisarya municipality, Plovdiv Province. It lies at the foot of the Sredna Gora mountain range and the Pyasachnik River crosses it. Starosel is mainly known for its abundance of ancient Neolithic and Thracian sites. The village was in Antiquity an important and wealthy Thracian city in the 5th century BC, as evidenced by the excavations in the 20th century.

Source: novinite.com, Wikipedia

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Fake tungsten gold?

Does anyone knew about fake bullion gold filled with Tungsten? Any of you see Canada Maple Leaf, South Africa Krugerrand, Malaysia Kijang, Australia Nugget, American Eagles or any other bullion which is spotted filled with Tungsten? A video in YouTube showing how gold bar filled with Tungsten make me wonder if any of the bullion gold coin I buy are fake? Even a bank cannot spot Tungsten gold and I buy my bullion mostly from bank. I check the sound of my gold against other metal and it sound OK to me since I am not a gold expert.

This YouTube video been uploaded by wolframgold. People says this video produced by ProSieben TV in Germany is 10 years old. Its started with ProSieben TV reported how gold bar made at a gold refinery; WC Heraeus in Hanau, Germany. The pure gold must be 1200 degrees hot so it can flow properly. The hot gold then get cool down with water. The gold can be touch after 30 seconds in water. Then the gold will get its imprint of origin and serial number. At the end of the video, the head of the refinery, Wilfried Horner who had work for 30 years there show us tungsten gold spotted by an employee with his eyes. The gold bar with tungsten in it is said bought in a bank.

To any reader who still doesn't knew anything about tungsten; tungsten is one element that has just about the same density as gold. Alloying gold with tungsten would not work for several reasons but a coin with a tungsten center and gold all around it could not be detected as counterfeit by density measurement alone. Most of bank only check the density of the gold when they receive it from seller. Its density, similar to that of gold, allows tungsten to be used in jewelry as an alternative to gold or platinum. Tungsten's resistance to high temperatures and its strength in alloys made it an important raw material for the weaponry industry.

Photo by Wikipedia: wolframite

The name "tungsten" (from the Nordic tung sten, meaning "heavy stone") is used in English, French, and many other languages as the name of the element. Tungsten was the old Swedish name for the mineral scheelite. The other name "wolfram" (or "volfram"), used for example in most European (especially Germanic and Slavic) languages, is derived from the mineral wolframite, and this is also the origin of its chemical symbol, W.[5] The name "wolframite" is derived from German "wolf rahm" ("wolf soot" or "wolf cream"), the name given to tungsten by Johan Gottschalk Wallerius in 1747.

I check if there is any way to test for tungsten gold. Some suggested to check the gold electric conductivity with Ohmmeter. An ohmmeter is an electrical instrument that measures electrical resistance, the opposition to an electric current. Tungsten is way way harder than gold so another test is by pushing a pointy steel thing into the coin. If the coin is just gold plated tungsten then the point would penetrate a very short distance and make nothing more than a tiny pin point dent. If the coin was actually gold you would be able to make a large dent in the surface. An automatic center punch would work well I would think. The only problem is that all your coins would then have a noticeable dent in them. If you only care about bullion value then I suppose the dent wouldn't matter, but for a collector this test would be unacceptable.

Source: Wikipedia, Kitco.com

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2010 UK £1 Gold Proof coin

The Royal Mint UK had been announces its new limited edition 2010 UK £1 Gold proof coin. This coin is part of the new series of four £1 coins representing the UK’s capital cities. The series has been designed with a contemporary twist by the famous international coin designer Stuart Devlin, Goldsmith and Jeweller to the Queen. In spite of having designed coins for many countries throughout the world, this is the first time he has designed for the UK. The full £1 UK Cities series, which together commemorate England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales by focusing on the four capital cities, will be unrolled over the next two years. The gold and silver coins to commemorate Belfast will be available from Summer 2010, with the Cardiff and Edinburgh coins due to be launched in 2011.

The new £1 coin series features traditional heraldic shields. Stuart Devlin has given the designs a contemporary flavour by making the shields round to reflect the shapes of the coins themselves. Speaking about designing the new £1 coin range, he said: “I was really excited and privileged to design the new series, particularly as the £1 is such an important symbol in UK coinage. Representing the four capital cities, in a way that brings them together was a challenge, not least because capital cities are so politically sensitive and emotive. However, I worked on the principle that the key is to find something that people identify with.”

Each of Devlin’s coins bears the coats of arms of all four capital cities, with the heraldic emblem of one city particularly highlighted. Concentric shapes emanate from the central design to represent the infinite influence that one city has on the other four and the world as a whole. The obverse of the coins bears the portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.

This London coin bears the coat of arms of the Corporation of the city of London – the ‘Square Mile’ presided over by the Lord Mayor of London. This emblem features a red cross and upright red sword in the top left quarter, which combines the symbol of the City’s patron saint, St Paul, with that of England’s, the red cross of St George. The edge of the London coin is inscribed with the motto of the arms DOMINE DIRIGE NOS, which is translated as ‘Lord, direct us’.

Dave Knight, Director of Commemorative Coins at the Royal Mint, said: “Capital cities have always had an important role to play in nurturing and projecting the identity of a nation and this is why the Royal Mint wanted to represent and celebrate these UK cities in the new £1 UK coin series. As capital cities are so close to the nations’ heart it was really important to create something people identify with. Stuart Devlin has achieved this brilliantly in his design which symbolises both the sense of regional individuality and contemporary British unity that UK capital cities champion.”

Specifications:

Denomination: £1
Alloy: 22 carat Gold
Weight: 19.619g
Diameter: 22.5 mm
Designer (Reverse): Stuart Devlin AO, CMG
Designer (Obverse): Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Edge Inscription: DOMINE DIRIGE NOS

Source: Royal Mint UK

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Sea life: 1/2oz Silver Proof Seahorse

This month, Perth Mint is releasing Australian sea life 1/2 oz silver proof Seahorse. Three of the coins release in the same series before this (lionfish, leafy sea dragon and clownfish) has already been sold out. The last release will be Moray Eel which is expected to be release in May 2010. The coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1/2oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality. Australia one of the country with a unique seahorse; Big-belly seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis. Short-head seahorse or knobby seahorse, Hippocampus breviceps. White's seahorse, Hippocampus whitei.

Seahorses are so named for their equine profile. Although they are bony fish, they do not have scales, but rather a thin skin stretched over a series of bony plates arranged in rings throughout their body. Each species has a distinct number of rings. Seahorses swim upright, another characteristic that is not shared by their close pipefish relatives, which swim horizontally. Seahorses have a coronet on their head, which is distinct to each seahorse, much like a human fingerprint. They swim very poorly by using a dorsal fin, which they rapidly flutter to propel them, and pectoral fins, located behind their eyes, which they use to steer. Seahorses have no caudal fin. As they are poor swimmers, they are most likely to be found resting in beds of sea grass or coral reefs, with their prehensile tails wound around a stationary object. They have long snouts, which they use to suck up food, and eyes that can move independently of each other, much like a chameleon. Seahorses eat small shrimp, tiny fish and plankton.

Seahorses are voracious feeders, eating mainly crustaceans, such as shrimps, and other small animals living among the seaweed such as copepods and amphipods. They do not masticate so they can eat to excess because of their small gut tract. Each eye moves separately making it easier for them to see food and predators. It is quite easy to distinguish males from females. The male have a smooth soft pouch-like area at the base of its abdomen between where the stomach meets the tail on the front side. Males also have a fin here but it is less obvious. The female will have more of a pointed stomach with a very obvious fin at the base of the stomach.

Reverse: The coin’s reverse portrays a Seahorse in colour. With several species endemic to Australian tropical and temperate marine waters, the glimpse of a Seahorse’s beautiful equine shape is especially gratifying to those visiting our reefs.The coin’s reverse also incorporates The Perth Mint’s historic ‘P’ mintmark.

Obverse: Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin bears the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the 2010 year-date on the obverse.

Technical Specifications:

Silver Content (Troy oz) 0.5
Monetary Denomination (AUD) 0.5
Fineness (% purity) 99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g) 15.573
Maximum Diameter (mm) 36.6
Maximum Thickness (mm) 2.3

This coin is available online and no more than 10,000 seahorse coins will be released by The Perth Mint. Each coin is housed in a presentation case which comes in a colourfully illustrated box-shipper. When lined-up in release order, the shipper illustrations form a linked image depicting all five reef creatures. Each coin also accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Source: Perth Mint, Wikipedia

Related posts:

• Sea Life : Lionfish 1/2oz Silver Proof Coin
• Sea Life : Leafy Sea Dragon 1/2oz Silver Proof Coin
• Sea Life : Clownfish 1/2oz Silver Proof Coin

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