If you're Malaysia coin and banknote collector, Sasana Kijang Bank Negara is a must visit place for you. They have a large numismatic collection of Malaysia coinage in their Galeri Numismatik (Numismatic Gallery). I had been waiting for the BNM money museum visit since early this year. It took me over 2 long hours to browse at all coins and banknotes collection that they have. That 2 long hours not enough since I actually missed on some of the collections on display by mistake. I will most probably go there again. Currently, they're less people coming to the Sasana Kijang. It helps me to look at all the collections without any interruption.
The "Galeri Numismatik" is located on the second floor of the visitor building. The gallery is a little bit dark maybe to conserve daily energy used and to help you look at the collections better. You will be greeted by BNM Barter Trade game once you enter the starting gate. Its need two persons to play the game and it teach you how hard it is to do barter trade instead of exchange money. Nobody in the gallery during my visit that day. I try to play the game alone but I then realized this is not what I am coming for.
They display their collections according to the earliest coinage in Malaysia history. You get to see the vast collection of early Malay coinage from Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perak, Melaka and also Sabah (British North Borneo) & Sarawak coins. Most of their Malay Sultanate collection are something that I never seen before in my life. You also get to see The famous Kelantan Gold Kupang, the kijang coin which is used as a BNM logo. The BNM logo idea suggested by the late Malaysia Bank governor Tun Ismail Mohd. Ali.
What I don't understand about the gallery viewing is the purpose of the coin slide on the wall. For me who like coin collection, the slide is just a distraction when it move while I look at the actual coin. Maybe I will suggest a few ideas on how to improve the numismatic viewing experience in your gallery BNM? Will write about it later.
In the gallery, you also get to see almost complete set of Malaysia commemorative coins collection since 1967 and the latest. All the coins are display on a wall but I think they're some problem viewing them for the coins on the lower wall. You need to crouch to look at the coins. It will be helpful if BNM can arrange them according to human standing eyes level. But maybe they have a kids on their mind when they're preparing the Malaysia coins commemorative wall.
You also get to see all Malaysia banknote designs and variety in this gallery, from RM1 notes until the obsolete RM1000 notes. Most of the notes are just specimen notes. I were hoping to see the Malaysia 1st series A1 bankotes but they don't display it in here. You can also see some pattern notes of Malaya & British Borneo and also Malaysia. Some of the design is far much better then the current Malaysia banknotes. They're also Tun Ismail Mohd. Ali signature plate on display and an old RM100 notes that had been signed & approved by Malaysia Finance Minister.
If you like numismatic, 2 hours not enough for you to visit and look at all the collections in here. A Facebook friend of mine had gone to the Numismatic gallery almost all days since its opening. A highly recommended place for Malaysia coin and banknote collector. Rumours about the new gallery as one with largest currency collection is not true though but it do have almost complete collection of Malaysia coinage history.
For more pictures of the new BNM money museum, you can visit my Facebook album; Sasana Kijang-2nd Floor-Galeri Numismatik.
