Dr. Ibrahim Bakar, a well known Malay Sultanate coins writer from Langkawi, kedah has publish a new book "Ceritera Ringgit (1500-2014)". This short book tells the story of Ringgit from 1500 until the current year 2014. The book was launched on 20 December 2014, during Malam Anugerah Numismatik 2014 organized by Kelab Warisan Numismatik Malaysia at Shahzan Inn, Kuantan.
.jpg "Ceritera Ringgit (1500-2014)")
Dr. Ibrahim wrote this book to develop short documentation about the history of ringgit. Lack of reference materials on the history of ringgit as the currency makes him feel excited to write about it. He hope this book can help Malaysia numismatic community to earn some knowledge about Ringgit history. He divides the book into four chapters:
1. Ringgit as the trade currency throughout the archipelago (ca. 1520-1904)2. A piece of paper as Ringgit replacement (1904-1967)
3. Malaysia Ringgit
4. Fractional Ringgit currency (ca.1520-2014)
This short book tells the story of Ringgit from 1500 until the current year 2014. The name Ringgit has been used since 1732 when a milled edge Spanish Dollar coin were introduced. The book cover the history of Ringgit name, the Malaysian Ringgit and Ringgit exchange rates for other currencies.
Written by: Dr. Ibrahim Bakar
Published by: MASDINAR (The Malay Sultanate Numismatic Heritage Association, Malaysia)
Date published: 12/20/2014
Edition: 1st Edition
ISBN: nil
Available in paperback
Pages: 102
Language: Malay
I like some of the story in the book that I have never read before like how a Bradbury, Wilkinson & co. ask Bank Negara Malaysia to send them some pictures for Ringgit watermark, the BNM officer saw a tiger skin complete with the tiger head during his visit to his friend house. The tiger he saw has been used as a model for a Ringgit watermark. There are also some other stories that may never been read by some of you.
According to the author of the book, this book originated from a brief documentation notes 'Ceritera Ringgit/The Chronicles of the Ringgit' produced by the authors to accompany the currencies exhibition at the Penang State Museum, Lebuh Farquhar with the same theme Ceritera Ringgit on 1st until 30th June 2007. The currencies exhibition is the first ever held by the author.
The only drawback that I can see in this book is the printing and the paper quality. Some of the coins pictures in this book are not sharp, it look like an old photostat copy. The paper feel like a cheap recycle paper. However, with the increasing cost of printing nowadays, I think most people don't mind as long as the information given can give value to the readers, the information is more important then the book quality itself.
Congratulation to Dr. Ibrahim Bakar for the 'Ceritera Ringgit (1500-2014)' book.
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