2010 UK Florence Nightingale £2 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Pack

A £2 coin Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Pack has been produce by Royal Mint UK to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale death as well as the 150th anniversary of the publication of her Notes on Nursing falls in 2010. During the Crimean War Florence Nightingale took a team of nurses to Constantinople to care for the ill and critically injured troops and won the undying respect of the nation. The Informative presentation folder recounting her remarkable life and achievements are strictly limited to 25,000 worldwide.

The obverse of the coin bear the effigy of the Queen by the Rank-Broadley coins bear the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRA REG FID DEF. On the reverse show an image of an outstretched hand, with a second and third hand as if taking a pulse, surrounded by the inscription 1820 - FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE - 1910. The edge inscription: 150 YEARS OF NURSING.

Florence Nightingale, (12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910) was an English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence during the Crimean War for her pioneering work in nursing, and was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night to tend injured soldiers. Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment, in 1860, of her nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London, the first secular nursing school in the world. The Nightingale Pledge taken by new nurses was named in her honour, and the annual International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday.

During the Crimean campaign, Florence Nightingale gained the nickname "The Lady with the Lamp", deriving from a phrase in a report in The Times:

She is a ‘ministering angel’ without any exaggeration in these hospitals, and as her slender form glides quietly along each corridor, every poor fellow's face softens with gratitude at the sight of her. When all the medical officers have retired for the night and silence and darkness have settled down upon those miles of prostrate sick, she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds.

The phrase was further popularised by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1857 poem "Santa Filomena":

Lo! in that house of misery
A lady with a lamp I see
Pass through the glimmering gloom,
And flit from room to room.

On 13 August 1910, at the age of 90, she died peacefully in her sleep in her room at 10 South Street, Park Lane. The offer of burial in Westminster Abbey was declined by her relatives, and she is buried in the graveyard at St. Margaret Church in East Wellow, Hampshire.

Specifications:

Denomination: £2
Alloy: Inner - Cupro-nickel, Outer - Nickel-brass
Weight: 12.00g
Diameter: 28.40mm
Designer: (Reverse) Gordon Summers
Designer: (Obverse) Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Edge: Inscription 150 Years of Nursing

Source: Royal Mint UK, Wikipedia.

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Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games coins

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has launched three coins to commemorate the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Officiating the launch at the Games Superstore along Orchard Road was Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck and SYOGOC chairman Ng Ser Miang. The gold, silver and bi-metal copper-nickel coins are legal tender at S$10, S$5 and S$2 respectively and are set to be a collector's item.

Photo by Straits Times Singapore: A youth showing the silver proof like coin.

All the coins feature the Singapore 2010 emblem, mascots Lyo and Merly, and the distinctive Olympic rings. The obverse of the coins bears the Singapore Arms with the year-date 2010. The gold coin retails for S$850, the silver at S$130 and the bi-metal coin at S$29. The silver piece is also Singapore's first hologram coin. To ensure their appeal, four medallions can be added to form a set. The coins are limited edition, with mintage of 5,000 pieces of 1/4 oz 999.9 gold coin, 10,000 of 1 oz 999 fine silver and 30,000 of the bi-metal coin.

Photo by Channel NewsAsia: YOG 2010 coin set.

Yip Pak Ling, director, Singapore Mint, said: "In every Olympic, there's always a coin being issued to commemorate the event. So Singapore being the first country to host the Youth Olympic, it's also very appropriate to adopt the same tradition as the Olympic to have a coin to mark the event."

Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth & Sports, said: "This is the first Youth Olympics Games. So it's not just a commemorative, a collector coin. But it's actually the first, for the first Games, for the world and for Singapore as well."

Photo by Channel NewsAsia: Youth Olympic coin 2010.

On 14 August 2010, Singapore will unveil the world's inaugural Youth Olympic Games. The Youth Olympic Games is the first new Games the Olympic Movement has created in 80 years. Through the Games, Singapore 2010 aims to involve the youth of the world and inspire them through an integrated sport, culture and education experience, to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. Singapore 2010 also hopes to inspire true sportsmanship among youths, and promote understanding and harmony among communities and with other nations. All items can be purchased through the Singapore Mint or online at www.singapore2010.sg/coins.

Source: Channel NewsAsia, Singapore MSN News, Straits Times Singapore, Singapore 2010 YOG website.

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150th Anniv. of the founding of Singapore coin for sale

I am selling this 1969 the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Singapore gold coin. Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore (BCCS) has commissioned The Singapore Mint to mint the $150 Singapore 22-carat (.916) gold coins featuring the Raffles Lighthouse in 1969. This coin is also the first commemorative coin minted by The Singapore Mint. I just take this item from ar-rahnu@pawn house Bank Rakyat. Some circulated mark can be seen on the item. This item come with a Singapore Mint original box, most people don't sell them with box.

Item: 150th Anniv. of the founding of Singapore coin.
Date: 1969.
Denomination: 150 dollars Singapore.
Mintage: 198,000.
Diameter: 30.48mm.
Weight: 24.88 gm.
Gold: .916 fine
Price: SOLD.
COD: Port Klang. Please inform me a day early if you want to view the item.
Postage: Free Poslaju in Malaysia.



Item is for sale within Malaysia only. Please stated the item ID or name that you're interested when you e-mail or sms me. i prefer communication via e-mail since we can check any chat history if any dispute arise. I will be sending my item via poslaju and posdaftar. Poslaju charges is at RM7.oo per item (you can combine item as long as the weight is not exceed 500 grammes). Posdaftar Charges is at RM4.00 per item (you can combine item as long as the weight is not exceed 150 grammes). Payment is via Maybank. I will send the details after you confirm want to buy the item. You can check my other item in lunaticg.blogspot sale page.

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Free ebook: Coin designer list

I found this coin designer list ebook while searching for information about the mint mark GC on Malaysia 50 sen coin. Some people says that the word GC meant for Government Coin. The initial GC exactly meant for Geoffrey Colley, the designer for that coin. the only information I can find came from that book. Geoffrey Colley born in Gillenham, UK in 1934 and studied art in Kent and London.

Among his medallic creations are: Battle of Britain 25th Anniversary; Desert War 25th Anniversary; Albert Einstien; Maiden Voyage of Queen Elizabeth II 1969; 46 General Dwight David Eisenhower; 900th Anniversary of the Norman Conquest 1966; and eight medals honoring the American Revolution.Designs: Aruba O&R/ 10 F. 2002 (com.) KM-24. Bermuda R/ 1 Cr. KM-13, 14. Fiji R/ 1 D. 1970 KM-33. Also, coins of Bahrain, Iceland, Iraq, Malaysia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Trinidad & Tobago, and United Arab Emirates.


Book: Coin Designers, Modelers and Engravers (2008 EDITION).
Writer: Charles R. Hosch
Pages: 255
You can download it using rapidshare:
http://rapidshare.com/files/402842142/coin_designer_list.pdf.html

This book is an effort to provide brief biographical information on coin designers, modelers and engravers and references to some of the coin designs they created. For the most part, it is limited to such artists since 1900; however, many designers of coins issued prior to 1900 by countries such as the United States, Great Britain and many British Commonwealth countries, and certain European countries are included. This compilation does not purport to be a complete listing of coin designers, modelers and engravers. It would be impossible to do so. Most mints do not publish this information. The ones that do are usually limited to the English- and German-speaking countries, as well as others that have a long tradition of recognizing artistic achievement (mostly in Europe).

However, even the British Royal Mint often attributes designs to “staff artists.” Similarly, the U.S. Mint in recent years,has been reluctant to reveal the names of the designers of commemorative coins which are chosen in state or nation wide competitions, publishing only the name of the U.S. Mint Sculptor/Engraver. Probably 98 percent (or more) of world coin designs since 1800 are not attributed to any particular artist.

Also, the author has undoubtedly omitted many names which are available in various numismatic works. A great deal of information on coin artists is available on the Internet; however, much of it is in languages other than English. For example, there may be many article listings (or ‘hits’) on the Internet for a prominent Ukraine artist, but most of them are in the Ukrainian language.

This is a good book if you want to find any information about Coin Designers, Modelers and Engravers. Its hard to find any information about them online. I am not sure if this book is distributed for free or not but if you (the owner) of the book is reading this, please inform me if you want the download link to be removed.

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World's biggest gold coin sold for $4.02 million

What a disappointment auctioned for the world's biggest gold coin by Vienna auction house, Dorotheum. There were no counter offers in an auction room packed with more journalists than potential buyers. ORO direct, a Spanish precious metals trading company bought the world's largest gold coin for 3.27 million euros ($4.02 million), its exact material worth, from the estate of an insolvent investment firm at a rare auction in Vienna on Friday. It sold for the catalog sum, the coin's pure gold value based on Friday's market price. This was four times its face value.

Photo by Reuters: It need 3 men's to lift up the coin.

The auction was ordered by the administrator of Austrian investment group AvW Invest, which filed for insolvency in May after its owner and chief executive was arrested on suspicion of fraud, breach of trust and other charges. AvW had acquired the coin in 2007, joining an exclusive club of owners including Queen Elizabeth, who is also displayed on one side of the coin, two unidentified investors in Dubai and one who is so reclusive even his or her residence is unknown. AvW had lent its coin, 53 cm (21 inches) in diameter and 3 cm thick, to Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum where it had been on display as part of its coin collection.

Photo by Reuters: Auction day at Dorotheum.

The 100 kg (220.5 lb) piece, one of only five Canadian $1,000,000 Maple Leaf coins the Royal Canadian Mint has ever produced. The Royal Canadian Mint launched the coin in 2007 to showcase its production facilities and steal the entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the world's biggest gold coin. Its purity is 99.999 percent, the purest type in the market. That title had previously been held by the Austrian mint, who in 2004 produced fifteen 100,000-euro coins weighing 1,000 troy ounces (31.1 kg) to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its best-selling Philharmonics coin.

Source: Yahoo News, Reuters.

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IBNS 2010 banknote of the year

The International Bank Note Society (IBNS) has chosen Bermuda’s $2 note, issued as part of an entirely new series in 2009, as the 2010 Bank Note of the Year. The award-winning note portrays the Bermuda Bluebird (Sialia sialis) on the front and the Dockyard Clock Tower and Statue of Neptune on the back. As with all notes in the new Bermuda series, the head of HM Queen Elizabeth II appears in a reduced format on the front of the note, the portrait being a mirror of the Machin Head design which appears on the postage stamps of the Royal Mail.

Photo: Bermuda 2 dollar banknote

The members of the IBNS Board, who chose the winning note, considered the Bermuda $2 note an example of the most attractive elements which create interest among the ever-widening community of banknote collectors and those who take an interest in the development of paper money. They said the combination of colours were appealing and blended well throughout all components of the design. Additionally, the range of items depicted on the note were attractively presented and allowed the eye to linger and to search for natural and historical design elements which were not immediately apparent.

One of the factors recommending the note to the judges was an interesting array of security features, despite its low face value. These include an Optiks™ embedded metallic thread, with an aperture on the front depicting the island; a Hibiscus watermark on the top section on the front; the Cornerstone™—a watermark feature on the four corners of the note enhancing the durability of the banknote; and, on the back, the Gemini™ feature portraying a compass which fluoresces in two colours under UV light.

Manufactured by De La Rue and released as part of a new series by the Bermuda Monetary Authority in February 2009, the series was the first major re-design of Bermudian banknotes for 40 years. The object of the series was to present depictions of Bermuda, with the series reflecting the natural beauty of the flora and fauna of the island on one side and the island’s architectural heritage on the other.

Working from a detailed brief from the Bermuda Monetary Authority, the initial concept designs for the series were created by Gene Bothwick, one of De La Rue’s long-serving designers, who retired in 2007 after 23 years of service. These concepts were then developed for production by the De La Rue banknote Preliminaries Department with input and guidance from the Monetary Authority.

Each year the IBNS recognizes an exceptional banknote issued in the previous year. Banknotes nominated must have been issued to the public (specimens and non-circulating currencies are ineligible) for the first time during the year of the award, and must have artistic merit and/or innovative security features. Nominations for the award will be accepted up to the 31st January of the following year.

I wonder when Malaysia will win any awards?

Source: International Bank Note Society

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CZK 200 150th anniversary of Alfon Mucha

On 23 June 2010, the Czech National Bank is putting into circulation a CZK 200 commemorative silver coin to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the greatest Czech Art Nouveau painter Alfons Mucha. The coin is minted from an alloy containing 900 parts silver and 100 parts copper and is issued in two versions, normal quality and proof quality, which differ in surface treatment and edge marking. Proof-quality coins have a highly polished field, a Matt relief and a plain edge with the inscription “ČESKÁ NÁRODNÍ BANKA * Ag 0.900 * 13 g *”. Normal quality coins have milled edges.

The obverse side of the coin depicts Alfons Mucha’s decorative panel “Music” from “The Arts” cycle. The name of the state “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA” is located around the left-hand edge of the coin. The bottom edge of the coin bears the denomination and abbreviated monetary unit “200 Kč”. The mark of the Czech Mint is located at the right-hand edge of the coin.


The reverse side of the coin features a portrait of Alfons Mucha on the background of Art Nouveau decoration. The years “1860 ◦ 2010” and the inscription “ALFONS MUCHA” are located at the right-hand edge of the coin. To the left of the bottom of the portrait are the initials of the designer of the coin, the sculptor Ivan Řehák.

Technical Specifications:

Country: Czech.
Material: silver proof.
Monetary Denomination : Czech Karuna(CZK) 200
Fineness (% purity): 0.900
Minimum Gross Weight (g): 13 g
Maximum Diameter (mm): 31 mm
Mintage: not stated.

Each coin comes with a light-orange postcard-sized catalogue card. The relief of the coin is dry-stamped through silver foil. The text is given in Czech and English. The card is the same for the normal-quality and proof-quality coins. The Czech National Bank sells its commemorative coins through entities licensed to trade in numismatic material.

Alphonse Maria Mucha, first name from the Czech Alfons (24 July 1860 – 14 July 1939), was a Czech Art Nouveau painter and decorative artist, best known for his distinct style and his images of women. He was born in the town of Ivančice, Moravia (today's region of the Czech Republic). Mucha produced a flurry of paintings, posters, advertisements, and book illustrations, as well as designs for jewellery, carpets, wallpaper, and theatre sets in what was initially called the Mucha Style but became known as Art Nouveau (French for 'new art'). He start became famous around 1 January 1895, when the advertisement for the play Gismonda (starring Sarah Bernhardt) by Victorien Sardou appeared on the streets of the city.

Source: Czech National Bank, Wikipedia.

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Iran new 100,000 rials banknote

The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) via its Central Bank Governor Mahmoud Bahmani has announced a new bank note worth 100,000 rials which is double the value of the country's former largest note of 50,000 rials will be out this month. The 100,000-rial bill comes with new security features, which would allow CBI experts to distinguish it with special equipment at an advanced level. Mr Bahmani said the new notes should be used in place of travellers' cheques.

The special travellers' cheques, which local banks issue, can each be worth up to 2m rials.

The banknote bears the three-dimensional image of the late founder of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Imam Khomeini, as watermark. A strip bearing a hologram depicting CBI headquarters is another security feature of the new banknote. According to a CBI official, Mahmoud Ahmadi, the bank has so far printed 10 million 100,000-rial banknotes and is scheduled to print a total of 200 million more by March, 2011. The 100,000-rial banknote is made of cotton and bears the color olive green.

On 12 March 2007, Iran had issued a 50,000 rial banknote with the subject being the Iranian nuclear energy program. The note features a quote by the prophet Mohammed, translated as: "Even if science is at the Pleiades, some people from the land of Persia would attain it". Banknotes currently in circulation are 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 rials. After the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, his portraits were used on the obverse of 1000 rial banknote and greater.

Source: PressTV, BBC News UK, Wikipedia.

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Do you collect error coins?

Do you collect error coins? A reader asked me where he can find Malaysia error coin and what kind of error coin can we get? I am not an error coin collector because I don't like the expensive price tag that came with this kind of collection. I am only buying it when I can get it at a cheaper price. The easiest way to find them is via Internet. Many collector sell them online via eBay. I am not sure if any coin dealer in Malaysia specialize on this kind of collecting but if any of you reader do, please share it here.

Malaysia 10 sen 2000 error double strike coin

Mint made errors are errors in a coin made by the mint during the minting process. They are almost always accidental and in modern minting are usually very rare, making them valuable to numismatists. Minting errors are far more common in older coinage, understandably. Authentic error coins must not be confused with coins that have incurred damage after being minted. I found a video clip in Youtube once, on how easy it is to make a man made error and sell them online as error coin. Will post it here if I can find it again.

Here some of the types of error from wikipedia:

• Planchet errors

Planchet errors occur when the wrong coin blanks, or planchets, are fed into a coin-stamping press. This results in a coin that has been stamped with a design intended for a differently sized coin; this is called a wrong planchet error. In addition, unminted or blank planchets are occasionally produced. The results are usually obvious errors that are also prized by collectors, though the errors are usually caught in manufacturing and destroyed. Blank planchets with rims are valued lower than those with no rim.

Malaysia 10 sen wrong planchet?

A wrong planchet occurs when a denomination is struck on a planchet of a different denomination.Some examples include cents struck on dime planchets, nickels on cent planchets, or quarters on dime planchets. Sacagawea dollars have been reported with statehood quarter designs on the reverse. This type of error is called a mule and there are many more different kinds of mules, too many to list, however.

Malaysia 1 ringgit 30 tahun merdeka clipped planchet error coin by buyosell.

Occasionally a misfeed can occur where the strip of metal isn't fed through far enough. When this happens, the punches strike an area of the strip which overlaps the hole left by the previous strike. The result is a blank with a piece missing, which is called a clipped planchet.A clipped planchet may be straight, curved, ragged, or elliptical.

• Hub and die errors

Hub and die errors are the result of faults in the coin hub or coin die; there are many different kinds of such errors. Modern coins are still released with hub and die errors, mainly because the defects are too small to be seen with the naked eye. A few exceptions exist, where the dies are used despite producing easily visible flaws. The 1955 Lincoln cent is an example.

• Strike errors

Strike errors occur when the planchet is struck. It is a fault in the manufacturing process rather than in either the die or the planchet. A standard type of strike error is a broadstrike, where the rim image is not struck into the coin's edge because the collar die was missing. Numismatists often prize strike error coins over perfectly struck examples, which tend to be more common, but less highly than die error coins, which are usually rarer, making it valuable.

Malaysia 1 sen 2004 off centering error coin by wengbusiness.

Malaysia One Sen Broad strike error coin by buyosell.

Broadstrike errors are produced when the collar die (The circular die surrounding the lower die) malfunctions. The collar die normally applies the edge device (reeded edge, plain edge) and prevents the metal of the coin from flowing outside of the confines of the die. When the collar is prevented from working properly during striking, it may rest below the surface of the anvil die. All denominations of U.S. coins with a broadstrike will have a plain edge.

• Overdate

In the past, it was a common practice for a mint to use a certain die until it broke. As some dies would last for multiple years, a figure would be punched over the old date. For example, some 1942 Mercury dimes show a 1 beneath the 2. For 19th century coins it is difficult to call an overdate an "error", since it resulted from intentional recycling of the die. In more modern times the examples were due to mistakes by the mint. Through a similar historical process mintmarks have been overstamped. A well known example is the 1900 Morgan silver dollar, when reverse dies with "CC" below the eagle were sent from the Carson City mint to the New Orleans Mint where they were given an "O".

• Defective die

A coin from a defective die shows a raised line on its surface. This is caused by a crack in the die used to strike the planchet. Coins sometimes show an unstruck area resulting from a break in the die, which is known as a cud mark. In U.S. coinage, many coins from the Morgan Dollar series show slight die cracks.

• Lamination

A coinage defect consisting of a portion of the metal separating from the rest due to impurities or internal stresses. Lamination flaws occur primarily when a foreign material or gas oxide becomes trapped within the planchet (the metal blank used as a coin). This error is especially common to the modern US Cent having a zinc metal base plated with a thin sheeting of copper.

• Brockage

Malaysia 50 sen mirror by zekaman.com.

A brockage is when a mirror image of a coin is struck on both sides of the planchet. This error typically occurs when a coin remains on either die after striking. The second coin receives the image from the die, though its blank other side also receives the image of the struck coin, and the result is an incuse mirror image.

• Multiple strike
  
  Malaysia 10 sen 2000 error double strike coin

1981 50 sen Malaysia double striking Error coin by jennyte

This occurs when the coin has an additional image on one side from being struck again, off center. The result is sometimes mistaken as being a "doubled die". Note: Also referred to as 'double exposure'.

• Die Clash

A clash occurs when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other because a planchet is not between them. Due to the tremendous pressure used, the parts of the image of one die may be impressed on the other. When planchets are then fed between them the resulting coins receive the distorted image. A well known example is the "Bugs Bunny" Franklin Half Dollar of 1955, where part of the eagle's wing from the reverse gives Franklin the image of protruding teeth.

• Blundered Die

These occur because of mistakes in preparing the dies, such as an inverted or poorly engraved date. Formerly rather common, modern quality control has made them very unusual. A recent example that might fit in this category was the 1982 release of about 15,000 Roosevelt dimes without the "P" mintmark.

The price or value of error coins has been subject to much debate and the value is usually determined between the dealer and the collector. Conversely, errors on ancient, medieval and higher value coins are usually detrimental to the coins numismatic value. Most of the time, it depends on the rarity of the error on that particular collection. Like the undated 20 pence, the price is higher only at the early stage when people found out about it.

Any of you collect error coins? What collection do you have?

Source: Wikipedia.

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Tuvalu Marine Life 2010: Hawksbill Turtle one dollar coin

This is one of the beautiful design that I have been seen. I found this coin offered by The Franklin Mint and Taisei coin; Tuvalu Marine Life: Hawksbill Turtle one dollar coin. It is legal tender, Silver Proof finish. Only 2,500 of this coin minted for worldwide collector. Tuvalu is an island group located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and has been independent since 1978. The item is still available at Franklin Mint but already out of stock at Taisei. The Franklin Mint sell this item for USD$99.

The reverse show raised, etched turtle image set against a full-color ocean environment in the background. With the word TUVALU MARINE LIFE, Eretmochelys imbricata, year 2010.
The obverse of the coin depicts an etched portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, acknowledging Tuvalu's status within the Commonwealth realm with the Queen as the head of state represented by an appointed Governor General.

Technical Specifications:

Country: Tuvalu.
Material: silver proof.
Monetary Denomination : one dollar.
Fineness (% purity): .925
Minimum Gross Weight (g): 25 g
Maximum Diameter (mm): 38.61 mm
Mintage: 2,500 worldwide.


The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while Eretmochelys imbricata bissa is found in the Indo-Pacific region. The hawksbill's appearance is similar to that of other marine turtles. It has a generally flattened body shape, a protective carapace, and flipper-like arms, adapted for swimming in the open ocean.

E. imbricata is easily distinguished from other sea turtles by its sharp, curving beak with prominent tomium, and the saw-like appearance of its shell margins. Hawksbill shells slightly change colors, depending on water temperature. While this turtle lives part of its life in the open ocean, it spends more time in shallow lagoons and coral reefs where it feeds on its primary prey, sea sponges. Some of the sponges eaten by E. imbricata are lethally toxic to other organisms. In addition, the sponges that hawksbills eat usually contain high concentrations of silica, making them one of few animals capable of eating siliceous organisms. They also feed on other invertebrates, such as comb jellies and jellyfish.

Because of human fishing practices, E. imbricata populations are threatened with extinction. The World Conservation Union. classifies the Hawksbill as critically endangered. Several countries, such as China and Japan, hunt them for their flesh, which they consider a delicacy. Hawksbill shells are the primary source of tortoise shell material, used for decorative purposes. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species outlaws the capture and trade of hawksbill turtles and products derived from them.

Source: Franklin Mint, Taisei coin, Wikipedia.

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Australian Koala 2010 gold proof coin

Early this month, Perth Mint has been releasing a new gold coin, Australian Koala 2010 gold proof. Loved by collectors for their delightful artistry, the annual Australian Koala is one of the world’s most beautiful gold proof coin series. The 2010 coins are struck from 2oz, 1oz, 1/10oz and 1/25oz of 99.99% pure gold in proof quality. The spectacular 1oz ‘high relief’ coin is struck on a significantly thicker blank to accommodate its greater design depth. Each coins also accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

The reverse of each coin depicts a fresh new interpretation of a young koala on a tree branch eating gum leaves with the design incorporates The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mint mark.

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, each coin features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse.

The Perth Mint will release no more than:

• 250 -2oz coins
• 2,000 -1oz coins
• 5,000 -1/10oz coins
• 15,000 -1/25oz coins

Technical Specifications:

Gold Content (Troy oz): 2oz, 1oz, 1/10oz, 1/25oz. Monetary Denomination (AUD): 200(2oz), 100(1oz) 15(1/10oz), 5(1/25oz). Fineness (% purity): 99.99 (for all sizes) Minimum Gross Weight (g): 62.215(2oz), 31.107(1oz), 3.108(1/10oz), 1.244(1/25oz). Maximum Diameter (mm): 40.60(2oz), 27.30(1oz), 16.10(1/10oz), 14.10(1/25oz). Maximum Thickness (mm): 3.90(2oz), 4.50(1oz), 1.50(1/10oz), 1.40(1/25oz).

You can visit The Perth Mint for worldwide sale, some of the coins not on sale for some country. The Perth Mint does not sell the 2oz and 1oz Australian Koala gold proof coin in the USA or Canada. Customers in these locations should visit www.govmint.com for 2oz and visit www.newyorkmint.net for 1oz. Each coin is housed in a luxury presentation case with a jarrah timber lid. Each display case comes in an attractively illustrated box shipper.

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae. The koala is found in coastal regions of eastern and southern Australia, from near Adelaide to the southern part of Cape York Peninsula. Populations also extend for considerable distances inland in regions with enough moisture to support suitable woodlands. The koalas of South Australia were largely exterminated during the early part of the 20th century, but the state has since been repopulated with Victorian stock. The koala is not found in Tasmania or Western Australia.

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Second series Olympic 50p coin

A West Yorkshire boy 50 pence design has been chosen from more than 3,000 entries to become a new 50p coin inspired by the Olympic Games. Theo Crutchley-Mack, 16, from Halifax, said it was "absolutely amazing" that his picture of a cyclist in a velodrome was chosen by the Royal Mint. Theo's coin is the second in a series of 29 officially licensed commemorative Olympic 50p coins. The first was created by nine-year-old Florence Jackson and unveiled in October last year. Each coin in the series depicts a different Olympic and Paralympic sport, with the remaining 27 coins to be announced later this year.

Dave Knight, head of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, explained the judges' choice.

"It's a very good design, irrespective of Theo's age, it is very good," he said.

"It is technically very proficient, and he has really captured the essence of speed and cycling in general," he said.

Theo design was also seen and approved by the Queen. Up to three million of Theo's coins will be released into circulation later this year. Theo will receive a unique gold coin featuring his own artwork and will be invited to see his design being transformed into actual UK coins at the Royal Mint. His school will also receive a £10,000. The teenager, who is a keen cyclist himself, described how the picture had been lost under a pile of papers before his mother found it and encouraged him to send it in to the competition.

Theo said: “I thought the chances of me winning were very slim, so I nearly didn’t send it off.

“But my mum Sue found my design in a pile of rubbish and convinced me to send it off.

“But I’m very glad I did. I’ve made history and the thought that so many people will be able to see my design, to have my 50p coins in their pockets, is just amazing.”

Theo’s parents and grandmother were on hand to watch a giant, two metre replica of his design be unveiled on the assembly stage, stunning friends and teachers alike, who knew nothing of his momentous win.

Source: BBC News, examiner.co.uk, Royal Mint UK

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China police bust huge counterfeit ring

On 27 April, law enforcement officials in the southern province of Guangdong, China, found 67 million yuan in fake notes in a long-distance bus parked at a gas station. The vehicle's designated route was from Hunan to Guangdong. A provincial-level investigation team was formed the same day. Law enforcement officials traced the forged currency to a three-story house in Changning, Hengyang city, in southeastern part of Hunan.

Photo by AFP: China Renminbi.

Police raided the place on April 30, seizing 9.04 million yuan in fake bills and forging materials, such as films, metal wires, paper, ink and slab rubber. Police in Hunan and Guangdong captured seven suspects in May, and the Changning procuratorate approved the arrest of four on Monday. Last August, the four suspects, all Hunan natives, allegedly formed a currency-forging organization in which every member had clearly defined responsibilities, the Hengyang police bureau was quoted as saying by Friday's China Daily.

Police said 43-year-old Zhang Liangcheng, an experienced printer, rented the house in the name of "setting up a printing house". He hired the two other suspects - 27-year-old Zhang Junlin and 23-year-old Yang Tao - paying each of the printers 50,000 yuan per run. Cui Yunzhi, 35, was the landlord of the den as well as Zhang Liangcheng's cousin, police said. Cui leased his place to Zhang for 800 yuan per month. Cui stumbled upon the operation when the group was printing fake notes last October. Zhang Liangcheng convinced him to let them keep the place for another month, promising 100,000 yuan in compensation.

Since production began last September, the group had forged 210 million yuan in three production runs. The first two batches, with a total face value of 140 million yuan, had been transported to and sold in Guangdong, police said. Police also captured Ou Xiaofang, Zhang Liangcheng's wife, as well as Wu Junfa and Wusheng, both Zhang's friends in Guangdong, who allegedly helped provide forging materials and sell the fake notes.

Counterfeiting is a widespread problem in China with banks and businesses routinely on the lookout for phony bills. Last year, Chinese police seized 1.17 billion yuan in fake banknotes in a 10-month campaign against counterfeiting, arresting nearly 6,000 suspects, according to state media reports.

Source: China Daily, Associated Press.

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Fake money syndicate busted

Last month, Penang police busted a fake money syndicate believed to be distributing the fake notes in Penang and neighbouring states, arresting four people, including a husband and wife during raids on two premises in Machang Bubok, Bukit Mertajam. Police raided a house in Jalan Kulim and Taman Bidara, Machang Bubok between 9am last Friday and 1am the next day following a two-week surveillance.

Photo by Berita Harian: Printing equipment found in the raid.

State police chief Datuk Ayub Yaakub said the two houses were used to print fake currency notes, where police found 432 pieces fake notes for the value of USD40,900, 825,000 Rupiah and seven Singapore dollars during the raids. Counterfeit money was confiscated 409 pieces of USD100, Rupiah (Rp) 5,000 (two), Rp1, 000 (five), Rp10, 000 (a), Rp50, 000 (10), Rp100, 000 (three) and each piece S2 and S5. Ayub said the syndicate was believed to have been operating for one year and the fake notes were used at the night markets and petrol stations, among the places.

He said police also arrested three local men and an Indonesian woman, all aged between 35 and 45. Among the items seized by police were laptop computers, printers, scanner, hand phones, and other computer gadgets as well as devices for printing fake money. He said the suspects were being investigated under Section 489(d) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine upon conviction.

In Berita harian report, I read that they were using A4 paper as the banknote paper. I cannot see that in the picture but I guess, the report is not true. US Dollar paper is made from a different material from the normal A4 paper, the feel of touching it will be totally different. Not many people in this country were using US Dollar and most of them will surely knew if that notes is genuine or not. Anyway, great job by the police.

Source: Bernama, New Straits Times, Berita Harian.

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Four Africans Detained For Cheating

Yesterday Bernama news reported four Africans detained for cheating a housewife by selling her fake notes. Four African men who introduced themselves as currency remittance agents to a housewife were arrested following the discovery of more than 12,000 pieces of forged currency at a luxury condominium here. The 53-year-old victim lodged a police report after losing more than RM17,000 that had been paid to process the release of more than US$3.5 million (RM11.5 million) purportedly sent to her.

Photo by Kosmo: RM11.2j wang palsu Mat Afrika (RM11.2million Africans fake notes).

The head of Kuala Lumpur Commercial CID, ACP Izany Abd Ghany said the victim received a call on June 2 from one of the suspects who claimed that there was a currency remittance made to the victim, but the victim was required to make several payments to process the release of the currency. He said the victim, who believed what the man had said, later met with the suspect at a car park of a private hospital, here and handed RM5,650 in cash to the suspect.

"After the payment was made, the victim was later asked to make a second payment of US$3,550 (RM11,623) on June 7 at Avenue K, Jalan Ampang, here," he said at a media conference.

Izany said as the victim had not received the remittance that was promised after making two payments, she finally lodged a police report after realising that she had been cheated. He said the victim later received a call from the suspect asking her to make a third payment at Avenue K at about 3pm, last Thursday. He said when the payment was being made, police detained the 27-year-old suspect and later raided a luxury condominium unit at Kampung Baru Ampang, here and detained three other suspects.

Upon inspecting the unit, he said police found 8,400 pieces of RM50 notes, US$100 (4,200 pieces), US$50 (120 pieces), US$20 (30 pieces) and US$10 (80 pieces) which were kept in two suitcases.

"All the suspects who were detained were aged between 22 and 30 and were believed to have entered the country in 2007 using student visas while one of the suspect used a UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) pass," he said.

Izany said the syndicate had been active for the past two years and all the suspects were remanded for 14 days until June 24. They were being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and Section 489C of the same act for possessing forged currency.

This is just one of the news about how African cheating people in this country. Many other story of Africans doing crime in this country can be found in Malaysia local news. Its time for authority to do something to stop this. In some places, Africans is more then local. It make them think that they own that places and do something that is not a visitor supposed to do in this country. Most of them coming to this country illegally, why no action taken?

Source: Bernama.

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Sex bribe for currency printing contracts

Look like Bank Negara Malaysia official probably involve in sex bribe for currency printing contracts as reported by Australia The Age Newspaper. The allegations were made on ABC television by a key witness in a long-running Federal Police investigation into the international operations of Securency, which provides the polymer base for high security paper currency. Responding a query by Starbiz in relation to Bernama report on the investigation in Britain, Indonesia and Malaysia for alleged bribery by the currency-printing subsidiaries of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Securency and Note Printing Australia (NPA) are the currency-printing subsidiaries. Bank Negara stated they taking a very tough and serious stand on the procurement of currency-printing contracts.

“Bank Negara takes a very serious view on any irregular practices to secure currency-printing contracts, and in this particular case, on the allegations of such practices by the currency-printing companies from Australia. We will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities involved in the investigation of this matter,” it said in a statement.

“As a central bank, we adhere to rigorous procurement procedures in the appointment of external vendors. In the appointment of currency printers, Bank Negara’s policy does not allow for dealings or award of contracts through agents. NPA was commissioned to print RM50 commemorative notes in 1998 and RM5 polymer banknotes in 2004, 2006 and 2007.”

It is also learnt that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was working closely with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on the alleged bribery and did not want the matter to be publicised for fear of jeopardising the investigations. Immediate action will be taken once evidence comes to light. Citing The Age newspaper, the report said Securency and NPA were under scrutiny for allegedly paying more than US$50mil to middlemen in several countries, including Malaysia, after being awarded note-printing and supply contracts by foreign central banks. It said the MACC was helping AFP trace the A$4mil Securency paid its Malaysian agent, Abdul Kayum Syed Ahmad, after winning a 2004 currency-printing contract.

Abdul Kayum Syed Ahmad also involved in a 2004 case of black market link on supplying a nuclear weapon to Pakistan. Securency and NPA engaged Abdul Kayum in the late 1990s to lobby Malaysian government and banking officials to adopt the Australian-made polymer banknotes. Abdul Kayum's former business associates had told The Age that the man claimed to have high-level political connections in Malaysia that he could use to help strike deals for foreign companies. The Age disclosed that Abdul Kayum's Kuala Lumpur investment company Aksavest is alleged to have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions from Securency and NPA. By late 2007, the Reserve Bank had ordered NPA to sever ties with Abdul Kayum and its other overseas middlemen due to integrity concerns.

Source: The Star Malaysia, Asian correspondent.

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Virgin Mary coin found in Bulgaria

A team of Bulgarian archaeologists discovered seven 13th-century gold coins in the northern city of Veliko Tarnovo. Archaeology professors Nikolay Ovcharov and Hitko Vachev found the treasure while excavating the St. Petar and St. Paul Church in the medieval Bulgarian capital, on the Tsaravets Hill, which hosted the Bulgarian royal palaces back in the 1200s-1300s. The coins were discovered about 10 m away from the church at a depth of 40 cm in the ground.

This is the largest golden treasure ever found in Veliko Tarnovo, which was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396). Each of the coins features an image of Virgin Mary on one side, and an image of Jesus Christ on the other. Even though they are dated back to the rule of Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II (1218-1241) who was the first Bulgarian ruler to mint gold coins, the coins in question did not originate in Bulgaria.

They came from the mint of John III Doukas Vatatzes, who was the Emperor of Nicaea in (1221-1254). The Empire of Nicaea was one of the successor states of the Byzantine Empire after Constantinople was conquered by the participants in the 4th Crusade in 1204 AD, which ultimately succeeded in restoring it in 1261. Only two gold treasures had been found in Veliko Tarnovo before Ovcharov’s discovery, and each of these consisted of three gold coins.

Source: novinite.com.

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New Zealand 2010 FIFA World Cup Coin

New Zealand Mint celebrated the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ with a new silver proof legal tender coin. The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ started yesterday with football fans all over the planet will be tuning in to one of the world's greatest ever sporting events. This is a first world cup tournament to be hosted by African nation. This coin's mintage has been limited to 10,000 coins worldwide. Only 1500 are available with the special packaging shown. Each silver proof coin comes in a leatherette presentation case which also includes an individually numbered certificate of authenticity.

The obverse of each coin features the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, sovereign of the Commonwealth and New Zealand, along with the year of issue (2009). Designed in New Zealand, the coin's reverse incorporates the fronds of a fern within a stylized New Zealand Koru. The foreground depicts a symbolic image of a footballer. Officially authorized by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), this coin expresses the energy and skills of the game, and the prestige of a tournament rated second only to the Olympic Games in impact and stature.

Specifications:

Metal : .999 Silver
Weight : 1 troy oz
Finish : Proof
Diameter : 40.0mm
Edge : Milled
Denomination : $1
Issuing Country : New Zealand
Issuer : New Zealand Post
Year of Issue : 2009
Mintage : 10,000 (only 1,500 in this packaging)
Price: NZ$99.50 plus shipping.


Source: New Zealand Mint

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