German tries to cash million-dollar bill

After a news about £20 German Elvis Banknote, a bank notes with Elvis Presley on them and are not legal tender fooled a German bank clerk. A German pensioner down on his luck has been given a six-month suspended jail sentence for attempting to cash a million-dollar bill at his local bank. Wolfgang U., 65, whose business reportedly ran into difficulties after he became ill, brought the fake note to the bank in Ratingen, western Germany, saying he had received it in return for the sale of a property in Sri Lanka.

"He claimed that he just wanted the bank to check whether the bill was real but bank employees testified that he wanted to have the money credited to his account," Stefan Coners, a spokesman for the court in Duesseldorf, told AFP.

The US Treasury Department does not print a million-dollar bill. The man was convicted of attempting to bring counterfeit money into circulation and of attempted fraud. He was also told to pay 1,000 euros (1,345 dollars) to a children's charity.

Source: AFP

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De La Rue share drop 2%

De La Rue on it statement said supplies to a key customer are still suspended as it has yet to resolve talks over production problems five months after they first emerged. But the world's largest producer of banknotes said issues with the client, understood to be The Reserve Bank of India, were yet to have an adverse impact on the rest of the business. De La Rue suspended production on the contract in July, after it claimed some employees falsified paper specification test certificates at a plant in Overton, Hampshire. Chief executive James Hussey was forced to resign and the incident cost the firm £35 million in its half-year results. Shares dropped 2% after Friday's update, which came as the company confirmed trading since September 25 had been in line with expectations.

Most recently, the firm has been batting off takeover interest from French rival Oberthur. The Paris-based firm ditched its plans on Monday after De La Rue rejected a raised offer, which valued the firm at roughly £925 million. Shares plunged 16% when Oberthur pulled the plug on its approach.

Chief executive Tim Cobbold, who joined in January, said he was undertaking a strategic review and would update the market with its progress in May, when the firm delivers its full-year results.

He said: "My first month at De La Rue has confirmed the potential to build on the considerable strengths of the business by extending our customer base and improving both how we work and the service we deliver to our customers around the world."

The company said it expected to produce 10,000 tonnes of banknote paper in the full financial year, which according to analysts is below capacity of 16,000 tonnes. De La Rue, which also supplies security documents such as passports, authentication labels and fiscal stamps, and provides cash and sorting equipment to central banks, said it was benefiting from the roll-out of the new British passport since October.

Source: The Press Association

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Perak Gold Dinar next month

A state government in Malaysia, Perak state government, will launch the gold dinar and dirham currency at the end of next month. The dinar and dirham will be produced by Goldnet International Sdn Bhd, which is a subsidiary of the Perak State Economic Development Corporation in collaboration with Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Sdn Bhd. Hours after a state exco member announced Perak’s intention to issue gold dinars and silver dirham currencies, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the matter needs to be further discussed and get clearance from the Federal Government.


“There is a proposal. But until I get a final draft on the mode of operation, I will not make any statement,” Dr Zambry told a press conference after chairing the weekly state exco meeting here yesterday.

On Tuesday, state executive councillor Datuk Mohamad Zahir Abdul Khalid was reported as saying that the Perak government would launch the currencies next month in a move to diversify its reserves. Mohamad Zahir said the state government was working with Kuwait Finance House (KFH) to introduce the currencies as the bank, which provides syariah-compliant products and services, have vast experience in handling them. He added the currencies would be produced by Goldnet International Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Perak State Development Corporation, in collaboration with KFH.

Dr Zambry admitted the state was working with several partners “but I will not reveal who they are.” He also clarified that the gold and silver coins were for investment rather than a mode of transaction.

“I do not want the people to misconstrue that it is another form of currency exchange.

“We do not want people to misunderstand as the state has no authority to execute such a policy,” he added.

Dr Zambry said Perak came up with the idea before Kelantan to use the dinar and dirham.

“Somehow, Kelantan managed to capture our idea and launch it first,” he said.

Source: The Star Malaysia

From the last statement by Dr. Zambry, is he saying that Gold Dinar is Perak idea or Perak want to introduce it as a currency (like Kelantan did)? For me, its not a matter of who owned the idea since Kelantan already introduced it first. The important thing that they will start producing and circulating their owned gold dinar. Its hard to find Gold Dinar nowadays because many people are collecting them. I hope the quality of their gold dinar coins will be at least the same as Kelantan and come up with serial numbers. This is a good investment for everyone to buy.

What is your opinion regarding Perak Dinar and this news?

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Vietnam Official linked to securency case

A former chief of Vietnam's central bank linked to Australia notes scandal, with media reports alleging that bribes helped pay for his child's British university education. Melbourne newspaper The Age said polymer notemaker Securency, then partially owned by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), paid for Vietnamese bank governor Le Duc Thuy's child to attend the University of Durham using a "secret slush fund". Thuy, head of the Vietnamese central bank between 1999 and 2007, is now chair of the National Finance Supervision Council.

Photo by AFP: Le Duc Thuy using an ATM in Hanoi.

Securency is embroiled in a long-running investigation into claims its agents offered bribes to officials in countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Nigeria to win contracts. Police arrested several people in Britain, Spain, Australia and Malaysia in raids linked to the investigation last October. Sources told The Age the Securency "slush fund" was established with some of the Aus$15 million ($14.95 million) in commission paid to middleman Anh Ngoc Luong for helping win huge banknote contracts in Vietnam between 2002 and 2009.

Tens of thousands of dollars were paid from the fund towards Thuy's child's studies, The Age said Monday. The claims were also aired Wednesday in the Financial Times. Neither the Reserve Bank of Australia nor Securency chairman Bob Rankin returned AFP's calls for comment. In Vietnam, an official at the National Finance Supervision Council told AFP that Thuy was unavailable for comment.

The Age said Australian police suspected Luong's commissions, paid into Hong Kong and Swiss bank accounts and with the approval of the RBA board, were "diverted to Vietnamese officials or their relatives". Securency executives denied direct involvement in the payment of bribes, The Age said it had been told. The RBA and British-based joint venture partner Innovia Films announced that they were selling Securency last November.

Source: AFP

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Fake September 11 coin minted?

US Authority said they're investigating a fake September 11 (9/11) coin minted by a local mint. Two Democratic New York congressmen, Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Sen. Charles Schumer, have accused the National Collector's Mint in Port Chester, New York, of selling bogus September 11 coins in an attempt to exploit the tragedy for profit. The coins sell by National Collector's Mint's for $29.95 and the company says they are considered legal tender in the African country of Liberia. Schumer further criticized the company for diverting funds from official September 11 commemorative coins that Congress sanctioned last year to benefit The National September 11 Memorial & Museum under construction at Ground Zero.

"With the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaching, we should unfortunately expect more scams, as criminals and snake oil salesmen seek to profit from the deep emotional connection that millions of Americans have to that terrible tragedy," Nadler said.

National Collector's Mint's website claims designs of the Twin Towers and U.S.S. New York on the coins are made from "pure silver actually recovered from the vaults beneath the ashes of Ground Zero." It says the coins are government sanctioned and "minted under an exclusive license authorizing the official striking of the official Justice Department FBI insignia."

Schumer further criticized the company for diverting funds from official September 11 commemorative coins that Congress sanctioned last year to benefit The National September 11 Memorial & Museum under construction at Ground Zero.

National Collector's Mint President Avram Freedberg issued a statement defending his company's coins and adding that the company had donated more than $2 million from these commemorative sales to a handful of September 11 charities.

"We believe that in America anyone has the right to sell commemoratives," he said. "The purpose of coins, medallions, ingots, etc., is often specifically to remember happy events or tragedies."

The Better Business Bureau has given the company its lowest rating of F, with close to 100 consumer complaints about the company filed in the past three years.

Source: Reuters.

You can read more about Official First Responders 10th Anniversary World Trade Center Commemorative Clad in .999 pure silver actually recovered from Ground Zero at National Collector's Mint's website.

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Should I invest in Iraq Dinar

Should I invest in Iraqi Dinar and is Iraq Dinar is a scam? That is the question most of you will asked yourself when someone approach you to invest in Iraq Dinar. I will advice you "don't invest in Iraq Dinar!". Why? Its sound lucrative and they tell you that it will bring big profit if all the speculation is real and this is for a long term investment. Don't worry if you don't gain any profit for the short terms. I am an investor of Iraq Dinar when they overthrown Saddam Hussein in 2003. Lucky for me, I realize this is a scam and sell all my "investment" to collector and investor who want the New Iraq Dinar.

Please stop waisting your time and money!

I have been waisting almost 2 years waiting that Iraq will gain its independence from 2004 until 2005 and wishing that I can gain profit from Iraq Dinar. I am lucky since I can sell them for a collector items and sell them a little bit cheap then other Iraq Dinar seller. I am a little bit ashamed about it and sell them under my friends name.

Iraq Dinar will gain profit anytime now!

I had heard many nice and lucrative speculation that "Iraq Dinar investor will gain its profit soon" during that time. After over a year, I found out all the good news are coming from all the Iraq Dinar seller. I never read any "good news about Dinar" from any reputable news agency like CNN, BBC, Associated Press or even from my local news agency. Where are they got all the good news about Iraq Dinar? If a Dinar seller told you that Central Bank of Iraq has announced their plans to redenominate the Iraqi Dinar, asked them the source of the news.

In the end of last year, they told us that by the end of 2010, they intend to drop three zeros from the nominal value of bank notes. That means that 1,000 IQD (pre-redenomination) and 1 dinar (post-redenomination) will both be worth the same amount in US Dollars. You can read more about it in Iraq Dinar scam is back post, I wrote this article few months before I published it because I fear that all the Iraq seller will be coming in here and do something to my blog.

Promises of high returns.

Speculator will sell their item in bulk with a statement from Iraq news that Iraq Dinar value will be going up one day. One of the reason most of this speculator will be saying is that Iraq is the second largest oil reserve holder in the world. 95% of Iraq revenue come from oil export. They were saying that Iraq will gain its independence one day and Iraq economy will be bounce back. At that time, all Iraq Dinar holder will gain profits by trading their Iraq Dinar.

They will not tell you the bad news.

have any of you read the statement by Iraqi Ministry of Finance

“ Iraqi Customs does not permit the entry of IQD currency and will confiscate funds, and that FedEx is not permitted to handle and deliver IQD currency in or out of Iraq”.

That's mean Iraq currency is a national currency only to be used and handled within the Republic of Iraq and not to be used, circulated, or handled internationally in any way.

Why do I am telling you not to invest in Iraqi Dinar?

I am telling you this because I had been investing in Iraq Dinar (paper currency) before. This discussion is about the paper currency and not related to any other kind of Dinar investment. I had seen many people still selling old Dinar currency in Malaysia and say that you can gain profit from it. I also can see many fake Iraq Dinar sellers in Malaysia. Whatever is your decision about Iraq Dinar investment, its your choice. But to anyone who have not invested your money yet in this scam, please don't! You should buy Gold, it will not help you to be an instant millionaire but at least you don't lost your investment money.

Now, they said Iraq dinar will RV and some news says that Iraq new currency will come out soon.

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Malaysia 10 sen 1972

"Do you looking for information about 1972 Malaysia 10 sen? I have one piece of the coin and since the price of the 1971 10 sen is over RM300, I think this coin will get a higher price then that? At least double the price from the Malaysia rare 1971 10 sen. If you don't understand, I want to sell it for RM600. Take it or leave it."

If you're reading this, please don't misunderstood me. That is not my words but an email I received few days back. A guy (I think a kids) is trying to sell me a coin that everyone is talking about in most forums in Malaysia. Hahahahahaha.... I am just laughing reading that email. Most people were looking for this particular coins to complete their collection. They already got all other years but 1972 still missing from their collection. I seen it in Lowyat forum, I seen it in Carigold forum and other bloggers talking about it as well.

For everyone information:
There is no 10 sen 1972 coin minted by Bank Negara Malaysia.

There are also no other denominations minted for 1972. Will put up the actual list in this blog later. So everyone will not get cheated and paying a high price for a fake item. Bank Negara Malaysia don't minted coins for that year because our country already had a large amount of coins over 200million 10 sen already been minted before 1971. During that year, do you know how many Malaysia Population we got?

Why there is someone selling 1972 10 sen coin, complete with the actual picture of the coins?
Because everyone is looking for it and they can sell a high value for that coin. Imagine if they can sell you for RM200 a piece? How much they get profit from that? If you find one in Mudah.my, most probably the coin has been altered, like my coin picture in here. It only took me 10 minutes to make a 1972 10 sen coin using a photo software.

I heard it had a special metal, it minted in silver, not like the rest of other coins, thats why the price is expensive.
I don't think Malaysia coin will be minted in Silver during that year since silver price already gone up. If you found 1972 10 sen that look like silver, that most probably silver plated. Only top of the coins has been put silver on it. I have seen that a very long time ago.

You can read the list in my old post about "nilai duit lama Malaysia" (Malaysia old coin value). If there is no price on the list, thats mean that coins are not minted for that year. If you want the latest price, you can but coins catalog by Steven Tan or KN Boon.

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India gold coin supply tender

India via their Government Tenders Portal has been making offer tender for a supply of gold coin to their Department of Posts. The Empanelment tender start from 21 January 2011 and closed on 14 February 2011 with a title of "Supply of Gold Coins on sale or return basis". Sealed tenders are invited on behalf of the President of India from the manufacturer/suppliers of Gold Coins for supplying Gold Coins of the various denominations to Department of Posts for selling gold coins on sale or return basis on commission through specified Post Offices.


Do you know how many Post Offices in India? India Department of Posts under the brand name India Post, with 155,333 post offices, is the most widely distributed post office system in the world. India also the largest consumer of gold in the world, with over 25% of world gold bought by Indian. You can read more about about the Supply of India Gold Coins Tender at their official Government Tender Portal. All manufacturer or suppliers of Gold Coins are invited. The tender is for five years basis.

I wish Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will try to make their commemorative coin easily available. You can find many new Malaysia Stamp but Commemorative for my part of collection is very hard to get, especially gold. Malaysia already got many gold coin investor. BNM don't have to worried about buyer. As long as the design that their make is up to date and beautiful. In my opinion there will be no problem on selling their stuff. I am still a bit frustrated about the last Bunga Raya commemorative. When I want to go to Bank Negara last time, someone told me that all the gold have been bought by the big fish in coin dealer market, one day before the actual released date of the coin.

Please share what do you think.

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Fake Euro notes rising, fake coins decline

European Central Bank(ECB) had just releasing their biannual information on euro banknote counterfeiting on 17 January 2011. From the report, it look like fake Euro notes a rising in circulation and fake Euro coins are declining. In the second half of 2010 a total of 364,102 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation. This is a decrease of 5.9% on the quantity recovered in the previous six months. When compared with the increasing number of genuine euro banknotes in circulation (on average 13.6 billion during the second half of 2010), the proportion of counterfeits remains very low.

Picture by REUTER:A vendor inspecting 20 euro she received.

Nevertheless, the Eurosystem (i.e. the European Central Bank (ECB) and the 17 national central banks of the euro area) continues to advise the public to remain alert with regard to the banknotes received in cash transactions. Genuine banknotes can be easily recognised using the simple “FEEL-LOOK-TILT” test described on the euro pages of the ECB’s website and the websites of the Eurosystem national central banks. In case of doubt, however, a suspect banknote should be compared directly with one that is known to be genuine. Anyone who suspects that they may have received a counterfeit should contact either the police or (where national practice allows) the relevant national central bank.

The €20 and €50 denominations continue to be the most counterfeited. During the past six months, the share of counterfeit €20 banknotes decreased and the share of €50 banknotes increased. The two most counterfeited denominations together accounted for 81.5% of the total during the second half of 2010. The €100 banknote is the third most counterfeited denomination at 13.5% of the total. The share of the other denominations (€5, €10, €200 and €500) is very low.

The majority (97%) of counterfeits recovered in the second half of 2010 were found in euro area countries, with only around 1.5% being found in EU Member States outside the euro area and 1.5% being found in other parts of the world. The Eurosystem invests considerable effort in ensuring that the public is well informed about how to recognise a counterfeit banknote and, for professional cash-handlers, that banknote-handling and processing machines can reliably identify and withdraw counterfeits from circulation.

Source: European Central Bank

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PageRank update 2011

This blog has just receive a Google PageRank update for 2011. My blog Pagerank has been dropping from PR4 to PR3. Many blogs page rank is increased and many lost their page rank. I already expect this to happen to my blog since I got high bounce rate and too many external link given. I will try to get at least PR4 again this year. I know it is not easy but you can get something if you really want it, right? Many of my blog friends also received a decreased in their PR this year.

I will also update my Malaysia coin blog list later and see if any of you get an increase in PageRank ranking. Will be adding some new blogs in there too.

How about any of you? Do you got a good result in this year PR update?

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Year 2011 New Coin Template

Here is a new template for this 2011 after using my old template for over 2 years. There are still some more tweaking need to be done to the template and I am trying my best to make some of this template widget working. It took me over 4 hours to setup all the necessary thing in this template. I think there are still some loading issue with the template. Especially with the Facebook Networkedblogs and Google Follower widgets. I also cannot put linkwithin (related post with image) widget because I found out, sometimes the loading will stuck at the linkwithin widget for over 5 seconds. If you found any issue relating to uploading this blog, please do comment in here. I also welcome any suggestion from everyone.


Today is also Thaipusam day in Malaysia. Happy Thaipusam to all my readers and friends who celebrate this festival,lots of kavadi n chariot. Today in Kuala Lumpur, thousands of people join the silver chariot bearing the idol of Lord Subramaniam on its 12-hour journey to Batu Caves.

Ancient mythology has it that, in the month of Thai in the Hindu calendar (January 15 to February 15) at an astronomically significant point of time, namely Pusam, Lord Murugan (also known as Lord Subramaniam) taught his father (Lord Shiva) the meaning of the word Aum. Aum is a highly potent terminology in Hinduism that signifies the primeval sound of creation. The significance here is based on the moment when a son turned teacher to his father. Customarily, Thaipusam is celebrated during the month of Thai when the moon waxes to its zenith (full moon).
Source: Malaysia Footsteps

Happy Thaipusam to everyone who is celebrating. Wish you will be successful in everything you do.

I am also planning to share my coin pictures in a new blog. Will post about it in here when my Photoblog is ready. Thank you for reading. If you found any issue relating to uploading this blog, please do comment in here. I also welcome any suggestion from everyone.

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Free Royal Engagement £5 souvenier note

A study by Travelex UK Limited, with more than 1,500 people surveyed last month, 83% of them wanted a special Welsh banknote to mark Prince William's engagement to Kate Middleton. Travelex commissioned the study and has produced the £5 commemorative banknote. It is similar in shape and size to a £5 sterling note and replaces the image of the Queen with one showing William. Nearly half of those polled also called for the prince, who is stationed at RAF Valley on Anglesey as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, and his fiancee to be made Prince and Princess of Wales.

Travelex director Peter Davies said: "Scotland and Northern Ireland both have recognised banknotes, which whilst not legal tender, are accepted throughout the UK and widely used for transactions in each country.

"It's been over 100 years since the last Welsh banknotes were in circulation and this is as good a reason as any to bring it back."

More than half of those questioned (53%) favoured William's image on the commemorative banknote, putting him above Welsh celebrities like Shirley Bassey 12%, Katherine Jenkins 7%, Ryan Giggs 7%, Charlotte Church 5% and Tom Jones 2%.


To celebrate the Royal Engagement and Travelex findings, they’re giving away a Limited Edition 'Welsh Fiver', together with a unique voucher code, which can be redeemed for £5 off your next currency transaction at travelex.co.uk when selecting to collect your order from one of Travelex stores. For your chance to win one, simply complete Travelex quiz telling them who you’d like to see on a Welsh £5 note, and enter your details when requested. The first 200 lucky entries will receive a ‘Welsh Fiver’ along with a unique £5 voucher code which can be used up until 29th April 2011.

You can visit Travelex ‘Welsh Fiver’ quiz to participate and read here for Terms & Conditions. This prize draw is open to persons aged 18 years or over who are resident in the United Kingdom. Just answer all the questions correctly and enter your details when requested, no purchase needed. The Travelex Welsh Fiver started from 9.00 a.m. on 4 January until 11.29 p.m. on 29 April 2011.

Source: The Press Association.

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Crash spark coins rush

An accident at North-South Expressway KM234 near Rembau had resulted a coins rush. That crash resulted in about RM75,000 worth of coins being strewn on a highway. Many motorists risking their lives on the road as they scrambled to get the money. They parked their vehicles haphazardly along KM234 of the North-South Expressway and scooped the coins into helmets, pockets, plastic bags and whatever else that they could find until they were stopped by the police.

Some were seen squatting on the highway to collect the 10 sen, 20 sen and 50 sen coins and refused to budge despite pleas from the owners, who were on their way to distribute the coins to stores in Malacca. Others ran to the middle and fast lanes to collect them with no regard for their safety.

The accident occurred at 4pm yesterday when a BMW, which was travelling south from Kuala Lumpur, crashed into the rear of a Toyota Hilux, causing its driver to lose control of his vehicle and crash into the embankment. The impact caused a steel box in which the coins were kept at the rear section of the Hilux to be flung out.

State traffic chief Asst Supt Abdul Halil Hamzah said his men, who witnessed the frenzy, had to stop motorists from taking the coins and endangering their lives. The driver of the Hilux, Zairul Hisham Mansor, 28, said he was travelling with a friend from Shah Alam to Malacca to distribute the coins.

Shame on you people for stealing other people money.

Source: Malaysia Star News

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£20 German Elvis Banknote

A £20 German Elvis Banknote fooled a German bank clerk. Some people might believe, bank notes with Elvis Presley on them are legal tender. So when one ended up in the banking system in Germany the German Central Bank was not best pleased. This is the £20 Elvis banknote which a counter clerk in a German bank failed to spot when a customer paid money into their account with a pile of multi-denominational notes.

Photo by Daily Mail: The counterfeit £20 bank note featuring Elvis Presley.

"Obviously it is a fraud but it entered the banking system so someone got some real money for it," said a bank spokesman, who was clearly all shook up.

One banknote specialist commented, "I'm sure lots of people would like to see Elvis on a note, but the Federal Reserve would never do it".

The illegal tender was one of a number of personalised Elvis novelty notes that are for sale as souvenirs on the Internet to fans of The King. The German Central Bank displayed it and several others in Frankfurt this week as specimens of the 60,000 fakes which managed to get into the country's monetary system last year.

The bank said most bogus Elvis notes come in 200 euro denominations and have a slimline Presley on the front, before he became addicted to peanut butter, jam and bacon sandwiches. They also come in sterling. Elvis banknotes can be found for sale on eBay for £1.49.

Source: Daily Mail UK

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Muslim country should keep fiat money?

Many people suggest that everyone should start keep gold and support Gold Dinar buat a news by BERNAMA today tell us the opposite thing, a professor advice us to keep on using fiat money. Professor of Comparative Economic History at International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), Dr Murat Cizakca said Islamic countries should continue to use paper currency instead of gold dinar as history has shown that the return to the coinage system could increase interest rates and inflation would be difficult to control. He said that money should serve as a medium of exchange, not as a commodity.

"We need to continue with paper currency, and the central banks controlling paper currency should have full autonomy," he said.

Cizakca said this at a public lecture entitled, "Islamic Gold Dinar: Myths and Reality" organised by the Association of Chartered Islamic Finance Professionals and INCEIF here Monday.

He said gold supply was dominated by non-Islamic countries.

"The gold dinar will be exposed to speculation as the gold price also have its ups and downs.

"Thus, Islamic countries should continue to use paper currency and increase trade between each other, and eventually in the future agree to a common paper currency," he said.

Meanwhile, Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin, chief economist, strategic planning of Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, said history has shown that the use of currency based on commodity would not help to control inflation.

"If inflation cannot be controlled, the real value of a worker's pay will decline," he said.

Azrul said this when commenting on Cizakca's call to Islamic countries to continue to use paper currency instead of gold dinar.

What do you think about this matter? Share your opinion.

Source: BERNAMA.

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Lydian donated to Mashhad Museum

Two early examples of Lydian coins, which were minted during the reign of King Croesus of Lydia (c. 560–546 BC), have been donated to the Astan-e Qods Razavi Library and Museum in Mashhad in Tehran, Iran. King Croesus of Lydia produced a bimetallic system of pure gold and pure silver coins, but the foundation deposit of the Artemisium (temple to Artemis) at Ephesus shows that coins minted from electrum (a gold-silver alloy) were in production before Croesus, possibly under King Gyges.Croesus’ earliest coins were of electrum, which the Greeks called “white gold”. They were stamped on one side with facing heads of a lion and a bull. This type was later transferred to his bimetallic series of pure gold and pure silver.

Photo by Tehran Times: Two Lydian coins.

“The coins bear an image of a lion hunting a bull on one side and two square-shaped cavities on the other side,” the museum’s Stamp, Coin and Banknote Section curator, Mohammad-Hossein Yazdinejad, said in a press release on Wednesday.

He said that the coins, which are showcased beside a collection of Achaemenid coins, have attracted lots of attention by visitors. Yazdinejad gave no details about the identity of the donor.

According to Britannica, true coinage appeared soon after 650 BC. The 6th-century Greek poet Xenophanes, quoted by the historian Herodotus, ascribed its invention to the Lydians, “the first to strike and use coins of gold and silver.” Some recent scholarship, however, suggests that this latter series was struck, in fact, under Croesus’ Persian successors.

Source: Tehran Times.

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Royal Canadian Mint 25 coins sell out for 2010

The Royal Canadian Mint is posting stellar results for the sale of its numismatic products in 2010 and is delighted to have sold out 25 collector coins over the last 12 months. This record benchmark is a ringing customer endorsement of the Mint's world class numismatic-products, whose appealing designs and themes, quality and innovations have fuelled strong domestic and international demand in 2010.

"The Royal Canadian Mint prides itself on producing collector coins whose quality, innovation and craftsmanship set the gold standard for the minting industry and attract collectors from Canada and all over the world," said Ian E. Bennett, President and C.E.O. of the Royal Canadian Mint. "The sell-out of an amazing 25 different collector products over the past year demonstrates the extraordinary appeal of our coins and strengthens our reputation for excellence."

The products behind this resounding success include:

• 2009 Montreal Canadiens - Limited Edition Collector Set
• Special Edition Olympic Gold Coin Set
• Special Edition Olympic Silver Coin Set
• First Canadian Olympic Gold Commemorative $200 Gold Coin
• 2010 Special Edition Uncirculated Set – Top 3 Winter Games Moments
• 2010 Limited Edition Proof Dollar - The Sun
• 2010 $300 Platinum Coin - Ground Sloth
• 2010 $2500 Kilo Gold Coin - 125th Anniversary of Banff
• 2010 $500 Gold Coin – 75th Anniversary of the First Bank Notes Issued by the Bank of Canada
• 2010 $50 Silver Coin – 75th Anniversary of the First Bank Notes Issued by the Bank of Canada
• 2010 Special Edition Proof Silver Dollar - 75th Anniversary of Canada's Voyageur Silver Dollar
• 2010 Limited Edition Proof Set - 75th anniversary of Canada's Voyageur Silver Dollar
• 2010 Gold and Silver Maple Leaf Piedfort Set
• 2010 Limited Edition Proof Silver Dollar - Poppy
• 2010 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Crystal Water Lily
• 2010 $20 Silver Coin - Crystal Snowflake (Meridian Blue)
• 2010 $20 Silver Coin - Crystal Snowflake (Tanzanite)
• 2010 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Holiday Pine Cones (Ruby) Coin
• $10 Sterling Silver Coin & Stamps Set – Blue Whale (2010)
• 2010 25-Cent Coloured Coin - Blue Jay
• 2010 25-Cent Coloured Coin - Gold Finch
• 2010 Special Edition $2 Specimen Set - Young Lynx
• 2010 Uncirculated Set
• 2010 Special Edition Uncirculated Set
• 2010 50-cent Special Wrap Roll

Several other collector coins are quickly approaching sell-out status. To obtain these products and many more, contact the Mint directly at Royal Canadian Mint Website.

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5th edition 2010 KN Boon book

This is one of the old post that I did not publish in 2010. 5th edition KN Boon Book-A complete educational reference-Malaysia, Brunei & Singapore Banknotes & Coins released in September 2010. Few months after Steven Tan released his book, as always. I buy this book at Galeri Wang & Setem Trigometric Sdn Bhd (KN Boon Shop) in Amcorp Mall Petaling Jaya. I also come there with a mission to take pictures of KN Boon since some of my blog readers are asking for it, they buy his book but they never see his photo. To everyone who are asking about KN Boon Photo, I am sorry, I had a chance to take his picture but he asked me not to publish or share his picture with anyone.

Photo: Galeri Wang & Setem Trigometric Sdn Bhd

This 5th edition book come with 454 pages with full colour. This book is a joint publication International Education & Cultural Exchange Foundation with Trigometric Sdn Bhd. Eventhough this book suggest that its also cover Brunei and Singapore currency, in my personal opinion, this book is more into Malaysia currency. From 454 pages, only 18 pages are about Singapore currency and 12 pages are about Brunei currency and its also cover about Brunei & Singapore banknotes only. Steven Tan Book is better when you're looking for Singapore & Brunei currency.

Most sellers are using this books nowadays for reference on the market value of Malaysia banknote and coin. The main reason most probably because the market value price written in here is higher then Steven Tan book. Like most collectors books, this one is just an upgraded version from the 4th edition. If you're interested in solid number banknote, they also have included a price for Malaysia solid number (same prefix and different prefix). You can buy this book in most of the coin dealer shop in Klang Valley for a price around RM78.

Suggestion for Mr. KN Boon for future books:

• Lighter version of this book. Many of us collector want a book that we can bring along with us when we are outside looking for collections. this book is small but it is a little bit heavy to bring it with you. You can try to publish a book with less information/history, smaller pictures or fonts.
• With the lighter version, the price will also be cheaper. Many people looking for good Malaysia currency collecting books. Cheaper price will mean many people can afford buying them. Right now, many people don't want to buy a book that is over RM50 since they don't collect coin and banknotes. they just want to know how much their collection market value.
• Try to convert your book into pdf or ebook.

Anyone already own this book?

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Double happiness with Malaysia 5 cent coins

I think this news in Sin Chew is related to the upcoming Chinese New Year. Just want to share and wish everyone double joy this year. Many of us are going after money and there is no exception for Mrs Luo. Nevertheless Luo is going after ancient coins which have lost their face value today but are still of tremendous collection values. Luo has in her collection more than 200 antique coins, many of which are from this country. Her collection covers coins all the way from the British colonial days to the post-independent Malaya and the formation of Malaysia.

Apart from that, her collection also includes coins from Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, India, the United States, Britain and other countries. These old coins are found in varying sizes, values and shapes, and Luo has arranged them neatly based on their countries of origin. Among the multitude of ancient coins, the oldest one in Luo's collection could be traced back to the Qing Dynasty in 1891.

Coincidentally, Luo's husband has a passion for collecting old banknotes. When the couple were married, they had even formed the Chinese character "Xi" (double happiness) with Malaysian 5 cent coins. Luo said she started collecting coins when she was in the primary school. During the 1950’s, 5 cents could buy a bowl of noodle or bread, and a bowl of noodle with extra ingredients was sold at only 10 cents.

She recalled that she could buy a bowl of noodle and a glass of water with her 20-cent daily pocket money, adding that her parents only received a monthly salary of less than a hundred ringgit back in those years. She said even though she was still very young at that time, she started to develop an interest in coin collecting, and often exchanged coins from different countries with her classmates. She said the only difference between old and modern coins was the "heavier" clanking sound of old coins when falling on the floor compared to modern ones.

Source: My Sin Chew

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Manitoba Coat of Arms Gold Coin 2011

The Royal Canadian Mint had just released 2011 edition of the official $300 gold series of Coats of Arms of Canada's provinces and territories celebrates Manitoba, home province of the Mint's Winnipeg facility, from which all of Canada's circulation coinage, as well as that of many other foreign countries, is produced. This impressively oversized coin is a majestic tribute to Canada's "keystone" province bridging the eastern provinces of Canada with its emerging western territories when it gained provincial status in 1870. Distinguished by an iconic Prairie Buffalo and the inspiring latin motto "Glorious and Free", the Manitoba Coat of Arms adorns the reverse of this proof 14-karat gold coin with a $300 face value. Only 500 of these coins have been minted.

Historically, Manitoba has been known as Canada’s “keystone province” for its geographical and economical importance—a fact that is reflected in the masonry collar worn by the unicorn in its Coat of Arms. Manitoba’s Arms are centered on its Provincial Shield as a prominent element. It was granted in 1905 by King Edward VII and features a buffalo standing on a rock with the Cross of St. George.

The helmet above the Shield symbolizes Manitoba’s co-sovereign status in Confederation. The beaver above the helmet has a royal crown on its back and is holding Manitoba’s floral emblem (Anemone patens). The provincial motto on the scroll means “Glorious and Free.” The wavy lines above symbolize Manitoba’s waterways with grain fields (left) and white spruce forests (right). The seven prairie crocuses in the centre pay homage to Manitoba’s multicultural character.

Technical Specifications:

Mintage: Limited to 500 coins worldwide
Composition: 14-karat gold (58.33% gold, 41.67% silver)
Finish: proof
Weight (g): 60.0
Diameter (mm): 50
Edge: serrated
Certificate: serialized
Face value: $300
Artist: Royal Canadian Mint engravers (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

You can make your order now for the Manitoba Coat of Arms Gold Coin 2011 at The Royal Canadian Mint Website.

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Canada Parks coins not show parks species?

Look like more and more coins released in 2011 been criticized because of design error that can be avoided. The latest one is Canada's 2011 silver dollar that commemorates the centennial of Parks Canada by showing endangered species. The silver dollar, which will sell to collectors for $55.95, shows a group of four species: the whooping crane, western prairie fringed orchid, southern maidenhair fern and Kentucky coffee tree. Half the species on the coin aren't found in or near any parks. The selection has puzzled some naturalists, who wonder why the coin doesn't show more of the hundreds of species that are truly protected by national parks.

Two of these do occur in Canada's parks: The whooping crane in Wood Buffalo National Park — which stretches from northern Alberta into the Northwest Territories — and the Kentucky coffee tree in Pelee Island Park, about 60 kilometres southeast of Windsor, Ont. But the southern maidenhair fern is found in only one place in Canada: The Fairmont Hot Springs resort in eastern British Columbia. Called "southern" for a reason, the delicate fern grows like a weed in the southwestern United States, where it's not endangered at all. In B.C., it grows only along the run-off from the resort's hot spring, benefiting from the hot spot that biologists call a "microclimate." Otherwise, Canada is too chilly. The orchid is globally rare. In Canada it is found only in a few wet areas of southeastern Manitoba — again, not near a national park.

Naturalist Dan Brunton did the 1980s field research that led to the fern's status as endangered.

It "seems a weird way to promote the importance of national parks, or to provide public confidence in their grasp of the science that is critical to their successful management and planning of the parks system and its dependent biodiversity," he said.

Royal Canadian Mint spokesman Alex Reeves said the Mint is aware that two of the pictured species don't come from parks. But he said that's not the point. The coin is intended to recognize the parks' role in protecting endangered wildlife, and it doesn't matter where the individual examples come from, he said.

The official announcement says that for a century, "Parks Canada has remained the dedicated steward and steadfast guardian of Canada's vast stores of magnificent natural treasures."

But Reeves says it never specifically claims that the plants on the coin come from the parks.

Brunton still argues there are better choices.

"The reason we get excited about Canadian national parks is because they are a major way of expressing our part of our global conservation responsibility."

It's important that symbols of this be authentic, he says.

Michael Runtz, who teaches biology at Carleton University, also criticized the selection. "If we're celebrating national parks with species not found in those parks, I think it's absolutely ridiculous."

Source: Vancouver Sun

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Fake money found on stabbing victim

Last Tuesday, fake money was found on a man, who was stabbed at a house in Kampung Kasipillay, Jalan Ipoh. The police are now investigating whether he is involved in a counterfeit currency racket. Police found 54 pieces of fake RM100 notes and 35 pieces of fake RM50 notes on the 35-year-old man, who was allegedly stabbed in the chest, back, neck, cheek and forearm. The victim was believed to have been attacked by his landlord for not paying the outstanding one-month rental of his house at 6.30am.


Sentul police deputy chief, Supt Zainuddin Ahmad, when contacted said the incident happened at 6:30 am in the morning, his friend who lives on the ground floor of the house, go to the top floor after he heard some noise and was shocked to see he lying in a bloodstained.

Zainuddin said, his friend immediately contact the authorities to report the incident before a group of police rushed to the scene with an ambulance.

"The victim was rushed to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment. Injured victims was stabbed in the back, neck and cheeks, but his condition is reportedly stable, "he said.

A 41-year-old suspect, who has two previous drug records, had been arrested in connection with the case. He was believed to be under the influence of drugs during the incident and the police had yet to locate the weapon used in the attack.

Source: Bernama.

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Estonia euro coin map error

The recent introduction of the Estonia's euro coin has sparked controversy after it was claimed that a map of the tiny Baltic country on the new Estonian one euro coin appears to include a chunk of neighbouring Russia. A prominent member of Estonia's large ethnic Russian community complained about the alleged mistake to the Kremlin, triggering a diplomatic row just days after the new coins entered circulation on January 1.

"When I first took the new euro coin in my hand the borders seemed unfamiliar to me," said Sergey Seredenko, a lawyer and defender of the Russian diaspora's rights in Estonia.

"I phoned the Bank of Estonia and asked what borders were represented. The answer was wonderful. They told me that it was an 'artist's impression'." Mr Seredenko said it looked as if the artist had made a mistake and included a chunk of western Russia that used to belong to Estonia before 1944. His claim is highly sensitive as Estonia was part of first the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union until 1991 and relations between the Kremlin and its tiny neighbour remain riven with mutual historical animosity. Russian media were quick to suggest that the alleged error was a deliberate "political provocation" designed to rub salt in a long-standing territorial dispute.

Estonia Map by Wikipedia.

"The map of Estonia depicted on the new euro coins clearly does not correspond to the country's modern borders," Russian daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda fumed.

It said the two countries had tried to reach an agreement over their respective borders in 2005 but that a deal had unravelled after the Kremlin accused Estonia of bad faith.

"The situation is absolutely scandalous and its consequences are unpredictable," the paper said of the euro coin dispute. "It would have been better if the Estonians had depicted a fig leaf on their coins turned towards Russia. That would have been more honest."

Estonia's ambassador to Moscow dismissed the claims about the new coins as inaccurate. While admitting that the borders depicted on the coin might be "a millimetre out here and there," he said the outline was broadly right.

"This piece of news is untruthful," the ambassador, Simmu Tiik, told Ekho Moskvy radio. "The current border and not the pre-war border is depicted." Estonia has tried to distance itself from Moscow by joining the EU, Nato, and, most recently, by adopting the euro.

Source: The Telegraph

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Information about bullet money

Here are some information about bullet money that I can found in the Internet. This post related to my earlier post in October; I meet Malaysia expert yesterday. He is looking for some information about bullet money or duit peluru. Some people called this Javanese etched iron ball-shaped charms. It look like musket bullet ball with some inscription on it. It maybe made in Surabaya from 1950s-80s. this bullet money of his come with Malay-Arabic inscription design. Some of the bullet money also have rooster design on it. There is no information about duit peluru in Malaysia even though I found in some forum that this money also had been used in Malaya before.

In Indonesia this bullet money called as Peluru Pitunang, Buntat Besi Pitunang or Peluru Bahari. They believe this is a talisman and owning this will help you get a better target of your shooting when you go for hunting. Your shot will be right into target, even though you shot to the south and the animals located in the north; you will never missed your target. They also suggest that owner of this talisman doesn't bring this when they board a flight. They believe the airplane cannot fly when the talisman is on board. I cannot find any Indonesian story that relating this thing with money. Maybe because I only found this thing in Indonesia mystical blogs but this is the closest thing to bullet money. I also found some of the pictures of this money in my Indonesian Facebook friends (sorry, I forget who own this picture). I wish any of you out there can help enlighten me about this.


In Thailand, there are also information about bullet money consisted of round balls of silver and gold and called as Pod Duang. Pod Duang currency used since the early Sukhothai dynasty in 1781 and was in use for more than 600 years until its abandon in the reign of King Rama V of the Rattanakosin Dynasty. The earliest of the Sukhothai Dynasty were in three sizes and valued in weight; one bath, half bath and quarter bath. The value of gold and silver is consider the same but the gold will look smaller then smaller because of its greater density. Until 1360, everyone are allowed to make their own bullet money provided that they conformed to government spesifications. By the time of Ayuthaya, they were some 22 different marking. The design of Pod Duang come from cowrie shell and most of the early money had hole in them, suggesting that they maybe strung together to carry around. The end for Pod Duang came when King Mongkut in 1860 declared that the currency will be change to fiat money design.
Source: Things Thai By Tanistha Dansilp, Michael Freeman

Its easy to find information about pod duang since they have their story documentad. To anyone of you who never read my earlier post about this bullet money, I am not owning any of this currency. I am just looking for information about this bullet money to understand more about it. If you have any information regarding this matter, please comment and share it in here.

Do any of you own this?

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Oberthur questions De La Rue about RBI

Oberthur, a French takeover suitor has stepped up pressure on British banknote printer De La Rue by calling for a clearer picture of the production problems which shook the company last year. Oberthur said the firm needed to provide full details of the issues which arose with a "principal customer", understood to be the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Oberthur which was refused by De La Rue on the grounds that it undervalued the company, still stands with their offer and a deal would help restore the firm's "damaged" reputation.

Photo : 1990 Queen Elizabeth portrait by Roger Withington

Jean-Pierre Savare, president of Oberthur, said: "We believe there are crucial questions that need answering from De La Rue in relation to India and the status of De La Rue's relationships with its existing customers, in the light of the continuing uncertainty surrounding the company and its future prospects. We are extremely serious in making our approach and we believe a combination of De La Rue and Oberthur would provide the catalyst for restoring De La Rue's standing and reputation, and help De La Rue deliver the high quality production and service that customers demand."

Oberthur claimed a recent tender for the supply of 16,000 tons of currency paper by the Reserve Bank of India had been awarded to four competitors of De La Rue. The company said: "Oberthur believes that De La Rue should inform the market if it was an unsuccessful participant in such key tender for the Reserve Bank of India or if it was not even invited to participate in that tender."

It called on De La Rue to provide a full update to its shareholders as to its "realistic prospects of obtaining new business from this very important customer". Oberthur also said De La Rue should reveal whether or not any major existing and potential customers have declined to invite the company to participate in recent tenders for either paper supply or printing contracts. De La Rue, the world's biggest banknote printer, said in its half-year results in November that volumes were set to drop 20% this year following the crisis, which suspended production and a shipment of the affected banknote for two months. De La Rue has claimed the production issues, which are believed to have taken place at a plant in Overton, Hampshire, were caused by some employees deliberately falsifying paper specification test certificates for some banknote customers.

De La Rue responded to Oberthur saying it remained in ongoing dialogue with its customer over the production debacle and that the outcome of the issue and its impact on the group remained uncertain. "As soon as this uncertainty is removed, De La Rue will make an appropriate statement to the market," it said.

Nicholas Brookes, chairman of De La Rue, added: "Outside of the well-publicised paper production issues with a major banknote paper customer, which we first announced in July 2010, De La Rue continues to enjoy encouraging order levels which are at comparable levels to the equivalent period last year."

Source: The Press Association

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