When Sa-Ribu Ringgit banknote issued by BNM?

Do you know, when is Malaysia $1,000 Ringgit banknote issued by Bank Negara Malaysia for the 1st time? The 1st series Sa-Ribu Ringgit is one of the scarce item in Malaysia numismatic market. The market price for a high grade Sa-Ribu note allows you to buy imported cars in cash.

The Sa-Ribu Ringgit banknote released to the public by Bank Negara on Monday 2nd September 1968, a year after the ringgit was introduced on 12 June 1967.

I get the information from The Straits Times newspaper dated 30 August 1968. Here are the full article from the news about the Sa-Ribu Ringgit banknote:

"$1,000 note— out on Monday:

A THOUSAND of these notes-tobe issued by Bank Negara on Monday-will make you a millionaire. The $1,000 note is violet and greyish green in colour and measures six and - a - three - quarter inches by four inches.

It has on the right-hand side a portrait of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Muhammad. On the left there is a watermark of a tiger's head.

The metallic security thread, which appears vertically on each note, is sited slightly to the right of the note's centre when viewed from the front. The back of the note features a view of Parliament House. On the top left-hand corner there is the Bank Negara Malaysia crest and intricate multi-coloured geometrical pattern.

The note bears the signature of the Governor of Bank Negara, Tan Sri Ismail Ali.

The $1,000 notes will be issued from the branch offices of Bank Negara Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johore Bharu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, and at the offices of commercial banks in these centres.

They will be available at all banks throughout the country shortly afterwards.

A Bank Negara spokeman today said the new notes circulating in the country on August 15 amounted to $744,807,047."

Source: $1,000 note— out on Monday, The Straits Times, 30 August 1968.

Next year, Bank Negara Merdeka plan to release 60 years Merdeka banknote and it might break a new record in numismatic. Will you plan to buy the 60 years Merdeka commemorative banknote?

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Malaysia Coin Designer: Ismail Ibrahim

In the International Coin Design Competition (ICDC) 2015 article that I wrote, I mention Ismail Ibrahim, who has won 3 times in the competition. Upon searching further I found out that Ismail Ibrahim is a Master Designer during Royal Mint Bank Negara era.

His story shared by The Star, May 15, 2006, which tells the story of Malaysia’s Coins in Education (CIE) programme, endangered marine animals and reptiles.

Here are the original article by Star Reporter, S. INDRAMALAR:

LEARNING by way of a coin? Under Bank Negara Malaysia’s Coins in Education (CIE) programme, Malaysians will get to learn about various endangered species and collect unique commemorative coins all at the same time.

This year, the central bank is issuing commemorative coins on the country’s endangered marine animals and reptiles. About 20,000 coins will be minted for each issue (there are 12 issues or types for the marine series) and are aimed largely at schoolchildren to encourage them to become coin collectors while appreciating the country’s endangered animals.

The Royal Mint, the country’s sole minter of coins and medallions, designed and produced the coins, which are made of Nordic gold alloy (a material unique to the CIE programme) and have a face value of 25 sen. They are, however, being sold to the public at RM5.50 each.

Says Syed Ihsan Syed Itam Ismail, General Manager (administration and business development) at the Royal Mint: “The coins in the CIE series are unique simply because of their 25 sen face value. Malaysia does not have a 25 sen currency in circulation so, as legal tender, this coin is unique”.

The 12 coins in the endangered marine animals and reptiles series will be released every month. The first two – featuring the Green Turtle and the Hawksbill Turtle – were released last week.

Other coins in the series include the Bottlenose Dolphin and Painted Terrapin coins (to be released at the end of May), the Olive Ridley Turtle and Leatherback Turtle coins (June), the Dugong coin (July), the Siamese Freshwater Crocodile (August), the Whale Shark (September), the Malayan Gharial Crocodile (October), Estuarine Crocodile (November) and the Irrawady Dolphin in December.

The Royal Mint’s team of designers designs the coins, lead by “master designer” Ismail Ibrahim, who has for three years running, emerged among the top three at the International Coin Design Convention in Japan.

Most recently, Ismail bagged the second prize with his coin design themed Force of Nature at the 2005 competition.

Designing commemorative coins, shares Syed Ihsan, poses problems that are quite unique.

“Factors that have to be taken into consideration when designing the coins are the aesthetic and educational value of the designs. Also, our designers have to work within the constraints of the coin surface and colour of the material used. The size of the coin does not allow for that much detail to be included,” says Syed Ihsan.

The Mint designers consult both the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the National Zoo for their input. (The Endangered Species coin series was first introduced in 2003 with the “land animals” and “birds” themes.)

After the coins are designed by Ismail and his team, they are passed over to a special vetting committee under Bank Negara Malaysia for appraisal and approval.

“The Special Committee For Coins And Banknotes comprises experts in various fields such as historian Prof Khoo Kay Kim and Numismatics Society president Datuk Dr Mohd Kassim Ali. They vet the designs and proposals.

“Sometimes we have to do some modification to our design, sometimes we don’t. It really depends,” says Syed Ihsan.

The coins come in attractive and colourful coin cards which contain information on the respective endangered species.

The designs for the coins are usually ready six months before they are due to be issued, to allow for modifications.

Although one of the main aims of the CIE initiative is to increase awareness and knowledge about endangered species among students, Syed Ihsan admits that the Mint has not assessed the success of the initiative.

“That is one area we hope to improve on. We have not gone out to find out how effective the coins are in promoting awareness among students. We will, however, be more aggressive, both in promoting the coins and assessing their effectiveness this year.

Master designer at the Royal Mint Ismail Ibrahim (right) works closely with sculptor Norhisham Jusoh in designing and producing Bank Negara Malaysia’s commemorative coins.
“We hope to, among other things, reach out to more students through student co-operatives in the respective schools but for that we must first obtain approval from the Education Ministry,” says Syed Ihsan.

Source: The Star,May 15, 2006.

Hopefully, Bank Negara Malaysia will start to recognize the designer of Malaysia Coins by at least mention who is the designer on the certificate of authenticity (COA) for a new coins. Maybe they also can publish a desginer list for previous coins. It may not mean anything to Bank Negara management, it is some of the most important history for numismatic community.

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Malaya currency ceases to be legal tender

Malaya old currencies issued by The Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya and British Borneo ceases to be legal tender on 15 January 1969 and the next day only Malaysia 1st series coins and banknotes are allowed to be used as payment in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo was constituted under the 1950 Currency Agreement, with power to issue currency in the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei.

On 26 January 1959, Bank Negara Tanah Melayu was established and has been given the authority to issue Malaysia currency under Bank Negara Tanah Melayu Ordinance 1958.

According to Solid backing for money in Malaysia articel published by The Straits Times, 15 May 1971. Bank Negara Tanah Melayu Ordinance 1958, grants Bank Negara Malaysia (the Central Bank of Malaysia) the sole right of issuing currency in Malaysia. This power was held in abeyance for eight and a half years to enable the member countries of the Currency Board to investigate the possibilities of some form of common currency arrangement when the Board ceased to issue currency.

After the establishment of Malaysia in September 1963, which brought into a political federation all the participating countries of the Currency Board except Brunei, The Malaysian Government lodged with the Currency Board on December 12, 1964, and notice of its intention to replace the Board by Bank Negara as the sole currency issuing authority in Malaysia.

Under the provisions of the 1960 Currency Agreement, the lodgment of such a notice involved the relinquishment by the Currency Board of its authority to issue currency notes not later than December 1966, and coin twelve months later.

By mid-1965, preparations by Bank Negara to assume currency issuing powers had reached an advanced stage, but these arrangements had to be reviewed when Singapore was separated from Malaysia in August 1965. The authority of the Currency Board to continue issuing currency was subsequently extended for a further six months. When agreement could not be reached with Singapore on a common currency and with Brunei having opted for a currency of its own, the Malaysian Government decided that Bank Negara should proceed without further delay to issue currency for Malaysia alone.

It was indeed an historic landmark for Bank Negara when the currency issuing functions, which had been suspended since the Bank's establishment in 1959, were finally taken over by the Bank on June 12, 1967. The old Malayan currency was redeemed at par with the Malaysian dollar until the devaluation of sterling in November 1967, after which the rate was 1.18 Malayan Dollar to one Malaysian Dollar.

On 13 September 1968, the then Malaysian Minister of Finance, Tun Tan Siew Sin publish a statement via The Straits Times:

"On and after that date members of the public will not be legally obliged to accept these old notes and coins in payment for goods and services or in settlements of debts. Members of the public who are still in possesion of old currency notes and coins are advised to exchange them for new notes and coins in their own countries."

The Straits Times also reported that by August 1968, 94.38% of the old currency had been redeemed in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

When the date 15 January nearly there, There are rumors that Shops in Penang plan to close shop on 15 and 16 January. There are also reports saying that some banks in Singapore don't accept the Malaya Currency one week before the dateline.

Government has announced that it is not an offence to accept the old Malaya currency and although the old currency is no longer legal tender starting from 16 January 1969, it still can be change at banks, post office (for town without bank) and currency exchange centre set up by state government in Perak & Kedah.

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Malaysia currency history from 1900-1971

I found an article in an old newspaper which share a history of Malaysia currency from 1900 until Malaysia open its own Mint in Shah Alam. There is no name given for the original author of the article but in my opinion, it is something worth to share with my blog readers.

Here are the article:

In the nineteenth century, the currency circulating in the Malay Peninsula was the Silver Mexican Dollar. The exchange value of the dollar in terms of sterling and other gold based currencies used to fluctuate to changes in the prices of silver.

The marked fluctuations and the expansion of trade with countries whose currencies were not tied to silver became highly inconvenient to traders, and this led to establishment of the Straits Settlements Committee to study the appropriate currency system for the country. The committee completed its report in 1903, in which it recommended the adoption of the gold standard. Accordingly, in 1906 a new dollar, officially pegged to a gold or a sterling value of 2s.4d, per dollar, was issued for use in the Straits Settlements.

During the First World War, the obligation to exchange gold for the dollar was suspended. In 1923, the Straits Settlements abandoned the obligation to exchange sterling for the dollar. In 1938, the responsibility for currency issue was taken over by a Board of Commissioners of Currency.

During the Second World War, the responsibility for currency issue was taken over by the Japanese Administration. Following the end of the Japanese occupation in 1946, the Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya was reconstituted and a return was made to the all-Malaya currency which was first issued i 1940 in the Straits Settlements and Malay States. This currency was also used in British North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak after the war.

However, the changed constitutional status of some of the territories led to the negotiation of a news Currency Agreement in 1950. A new Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo was constituted under the 1950 Currency Agreement, with power to issue currency in the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei.

The 1950 Currency Agreement was subsequently revised in 1960, and the 1960 Currency Agreement governed the operations of the Board of Commissioners of Currency, which was the sole currency issuing authority until the assumption of currency issuing powers by separate monetary institutions in Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore in 1967.

By the mid-1950s and in particular, after independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957, there was a growing feeling that the Currency Board System was no longer appropriate to the new conditions, arising from the rapid economic development of the country and the need for more active monetary management.

An expert group, consisting of Mr. G. M. Watson of the bank of England and Sir Sydney Caine of the University of Malaya, was set up to enquire into the problems of central banking in the country and to advise on the appropriate legislation to establish a Central Bank.

The Central Bank of Malaysia Ordinance 1958, grants Bank Negara Malaysia (the Central Bank of Malaysia) the sole right of issuing currency in Malaysia. This power was held in abeyance for eight and a half years to enable the member countries of the Currency Board to investigate the possibilities of some form of common currency arrangement when the Board ceased to issue currency.

After the establishment of Malaysia in September 1963, which brought into a political federation all the participating countries of the Currency Board except Brunei, The Malaysian Government lodged with the Currency Board on December 12, 1964, and notice of its intention to replace the Board by Bank Negara as the sole currency issuing authority in Malaysia.

Under the provisions of the 1960 Currency Agreement, the lodgment of such a notice involved the relinquishment by the Currency Board of its authority to issue currency notes not later than December 1966, and coin twelve months later.

By mid-1965, preparations by Bank Negara to assume currency issuing powers had reached an advanced stage, but these arrangements had to be reviewed when Singapore was separated from Malaysia in August 1965. The authority of the Currency Board to continue issuing currency was subsequently extended for a further six months. When agreement could not be reached with Singapore on a common currency and with Brunei having opted for a currency of its own, the Malaysian Government decided that Bank Negara should proceed without further delay to issue currency for Malaysia alone.

It was indeed an historic landmark for Bank Negara when the currency issuing functions, which had been suspended since the Bank's establishment in 1959, were finally taken over by the Bank on June 12, 1967.

Part III of the Central bank of Malaysia Ordinance, 1958, empowering Bank Negara to assume currency issuing powers, was brought into force with effect from June 1967, by a Government Gazette dated that May. Since then, the Bank has been issuing the new Malaysian currency and withdrawing the old Malayan currency issued by the Currency Board. The old Malayan currency was redeemed at par with the Malaysian dollar until the devaluation of sterling in November 1967, after which the rate was 1.18 Malayan Dollar to one Malaysian Dollar.

Under the provisions of Section 29 of the Central Bank of Malaysia Ordinance, the aggregate value of external assets which the Bank is required to maintain cannot be less than such percentage of the Central Bank's notes and coin in circulation as the Minister of Finance may declare to correspond to the minimum external assets which the Currency Board would have been required to maintain against notes and coin issued by the Board under the Currency Act of 1960.

Since a fiduciary element of not more than $300 million was permitted under the Currency Act, the minimum external assets which the Currency Board was required to maintain on June 10, 1967, (the last business day immediately preceding the assumption of currency issuing functions by Bank Negara) based on the currency in circulation shown in the books of accounts of the Board, was 80.59 per cent. the Minister of Finance by Government Gazette published in June 1967, accordingly declared that the minimum external assets which the Bank is required to maintain against its currency liabilities would be 80.59 per cent.

The parity of the present Malaysian dollar is provided for in Section 19 of the Central Bank of Malaysia Ordinance: "The parity of the Malaysian dollar shall be equivalent to o.290299 grammes of fine gold."

Coins and Banknotes Designs

The unit of the currency is the Malaysian dollar, divided into one hundred cents. The first issue of Malaysian notes comprised the following denominations:

The basic design of the notes is the same for all five denominations. the front of the notes bears a portrait of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, together with the name of the issuing authority and a statement, over the signature of the Governor of Bank Negara, that the note is legal tender for its face value.

The back bears the crest of Bank Negara against a geometrical patterned background. the Bank's crest is derived from the motif of old gold coins, or "mas dinar" in the Malay language, and is thought to represent a "Kijang" or barking deer. I wonder now if a Bank, now that it has its new home will incorporate a picture of its fortress styled building on its notes in future issues.

A $1,000 denomination note was issued later, in September 1968. The front of the note bears the same portrait and details as the other five denominations of notes. The back depicts Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur. Symbolizing Malaysia's faith in democracy. This note is grey/green in colour and 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 in size. The notes are printed on high quality bank note paper bearing a tiger's head watermark and containing a single vertical metallized security thread. Malaysian notes are legal tender at their face value for the payment of any amount.

The first issue of Malaysian coinage comprised the following five denominations:

As with the notes, the same design has been used for all five denominations, The obverse shows Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur and a cresent and star adapted from the national flag. The principal feature of the reverse is a numeral indicating the value of each coin supported by "Malaysia," the year of minting, and a design in the form of stylized hibiscus, the national flower.

To mark the tenth anniversary of Bank Negara Malaysia, 1959-1969, the Bank issued a commemorative $1 coin on January 24, 1969. The obverse bears the profile of the Fourth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia with the words "DYMM.SPB. Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah" (His Majesty Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah) as a surround.

The reverse has "Bank Negara Malaysia 1959-1969" along the periphery, the denomination "$1" in the centre surrounded by a floral border of hibiscus, and a cresent and star at the top. This coin is made of nickel-silver and is 1.313 inches in diameter, with a milled edge.

In a view of the very favourable response from the public for the commemorative $1 coin, the Bank issue a new coin of this denomination for normal circulation as part of the standard currency issue on May 1, 1971.

The coin is round, having a diameter of 3.335 centimetres and is made of cupro-nickel. the obverse of the coin features Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur and a cresent and star. the reverse features the denomination, the year of minting, the word "Malaysia" and a stylized design representing a hibiscus. The coin has a news type of edge, an incuse lettered edge with the inscription, Bank Negara Malaysia, repeated twice around the periphery of the coin.

Malaysian coins are legal tender at face value up to an amount not exceeding ten dollars for the $1 and 50 cents pieces, and for an amount not exceeding two dollars for the 20, 10, 5 and 1 cent pieces.

System of free interchangeability

In furtherance of the objective of maintaining close regional co-operation, a system of free interchangeability of the three currencies of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei was adopted from June 1967, by an exchange of letters among the monetary authorities of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. The arrangement provides for each of the currency issuing authorities:

a) to accept from banks, notes and coins issued by the other issuing authorities at par and without charge and to exchange such notes and coins into the currency of the country concern;

b) to arrange for repatriation at the expense of the respective currency issuing authorities, the notes and coins issued by the other currency authorities and to receive at par the equivalent in an agreed convertible currency.

Essentially, these interchangeability arrangements provide that residents of Malaysia going to Singapore or Brunei will be able to use Malaysian Currency which will be accepted at par in each of the two territories and, similarly, people from Singapore and Brunei will be able to use Singapore and Brunei currencies in Malaysia without the inconvenience f first exchanging them for Malaysian currency.

Malaysia Mint

The move to the Head office vaults of the currency stock from the Batu Tiga Currency Office was completed in the early part of 1971. The Batu Tiga Currency Office, which was completed in March 1967 and has over 6,000 square feet of vaults space, now operates as the Bank Negara Malaysia Mint.

A number of the Mint staff, including the Mint Manager, were sent for training in minting processes and other related aspects of minting work to the Hamburg Mint, Germany, the Royal mint, London and Llantrisant, and the firm of Bradbury, Wilkinson of England. The Bank Negara Malaysia mint will initially mint the country's own requirements of coins. Perhaps there's export potential in this.

Source: Solid backing for money in Malaysia, The Straits Times, 15 May 1971.

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1793 Wreath Cent "Space Penny" to be auctioned

Exceptionally important and desirable 1793 Wreath Cent Historic "Space Penny" that Orbited the Earth 206 times Aboard Gemini VII wil be auctioned in the Part I of the D. Brent Pogue Collection Auction in New York City on May 19, 2015. 1793 also happens to have been made the first year that the United States Mint produced coins in large numbers for general circulation.

“Over many years, we have enjoyed handling the rarest and most valuable coins ever sold, but this piece is particularly exciting for its unique history,” said John Pack, executive director of consignments for Stack’s Bowers Galleries.

The cent orbited the Earth 206 times between December 4 and December 18, 1965, aboard the Gemini VII, controlled by astronauts Frank Borman and James A. Lovell. However, they were unaware of their precious cargo. The coin had been slipped into their medical kit by NASA physician, Dr. Howard A. Minners, and was not revealed to them until the orbiter had landed and was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean by the crew of the U.S.S. Wasp. Hours after the recovery of the vessel, Dr. Minners opened the medical kit, shared the presence of the cent with the astronauts, and photographed the coin alongside other contents of the kit. The whole affair is well documented by Borman, Lovell and Minners, who jointly prepared a statement on NASA letterhead attesting to the facts on January 25, 1966. The story was later reported on the Associated Press newswire in October 1972, the first time the coin was sold privately by the original owner.

The coin will be sold with the original related documentation, including Minners’ photograph of the coin with contents of the medical kit, as well as original NASA photographs from the Gemini VII mission, letters from Minners, and a Gemini VII flight patch from the mission.

“The public auction venue will allow the excitement and desire of collectors to determine the real value of this historic piece today,” commented rare coin expert Q. David Bowers, one of the founders of the auction firm, who has personally handled hundreds of millions of dollars in rare coins in his 60-year career. “This is truly an exciting opportunity, particularly when one considers the awe that the space program instilled in the minds of people around the world in the 1960s,” continued Bowers. As a one-time collector and student of meteorites, the appearance of the “Space Penny,” as it was once called, is an exciting combination of two of his long-time passions, which are shared by many other collectors.

Also included in this lot are the following supporting materials:

• Letter from Howard Minners to William Ulrich dated December 15, 1965, with original postmarked envelope.
• Certification letter signed by Frank Borman, James Lovell and Howard Minners dated January 25, 1966.
• Letter from Howard Minners to William Ulrich dated March 9, 1966, with accompanying photo of the cent in the inflight medical kit and a Gemini VII mission patch.
• April 18, 1966, clipping from the Tupelo, Mississippi Daily Journal.
• September 13, 1972, clipping from Coin World.
• October 3, 1972, clipping from Numismatic News Weekly.
• Photocopy of October 4, 1972, clipping from Chicago Daily News.
• October 5, 1972, clipping from The Miami Herald.
• Photocopy of December 16, 1977, clipping from unknown city, Missouri Daily News.
• September 20, 1980, clipping from the Worcester, Massachusetts The Evening Gazette.
• February 17, 1987, bill of sale to Paul Sims, Inc. from Tallarico Rare Coins, Inc.
• (5) photographs of the Gemini VII spacecraft and related material.
• Gemini VII postal cover signed by Frank Borman, James Lovell and Gus Grissom.
• Gemini VII postal cover signed by Frank Borman.
• Gemini VII postal cover signed by James Lovell.
• (3) additional Gemini VII postal covers.
• Custom Capital Plastics holder that housed the coin prior to its certification by NGC.
• (2) additional pieces of related ephemera.

The coin will be available for lot viewing at upcoming Stack’s Bowers Galleries auctions, at the company’s Irvine, Calif. corporate headquarters by appointment in April 2015, its New York City gallery May 8-15, 2015, and on exhibit at Sotheby’s May 16-19, 2015. For more information or to schedule a lot-viewing appointment, please call 800.458.4646 (West Coast) or 800.566.2580 (East Coast), or email info@stacksbowers.com.

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Queen Elizabeth II fifth coin portrait unveiled

Queen Elizabeth II fifth coin portrait has been unveiled by The Royal Mint today. The new portrait of The Queen will begin to appear on coins in United Kingdom change later this year. The J.C beneath the effigy of Her Majesty The Queen are the initials of Royal Mint engraver, Jody Clark. He is the first Royal Mint engraver in over 100 years to design the royal coinage portrait.

This is only the fifth definitive portrait of The Queen to appear on our circulating coins since her accession to the throne in 1952, making it a very rare event indeed. When it appears in our change later this year, it will become the fourth portrait currently in circulation, joining those created in 1968, 1985 and 1998; together, the coins that carry them tell the story of Her Majesty’s lifetime and paint a compelling picture of the story of her reign.

It has also been revealed today that the new portrait is designed by Jody Clark. He is the first Royal Mint engraver to be chosen to create a definitive royal coinage portrait in over 100 years.

Just 33 when his design was selected from a number of anonymous submissions to a design competition, Jody is the youngest of the five designers to have created the portraits of The Queen that have appeared on UK circulating coin during her 63 year reign.

Adam Lawrence, Chief Executive of The Royal Mint, said: “This change of royal portrait will make 2015 a vintage year for UK coins, and it will be hugely exciting for us all to see the new design appear on the coins we use every day.

“Jody’s achievement is something that we can celebrate as a proud moment for The Royal Mint. Capturing a portrait on the surface of a coin demands the utmost skill, and is one of the most challenging disciplines of the coin designer’s art. The last Royal Mint Engraver to be commissioned to undertake a royal portrait was George William de Saulles, who engraved the portrait of Edward VII which first appeared on the coinage in 1902”

Commenting on the honour of being selected, Jody Clark said: “I really liked the four previous coin portraits - each one is strong in its own way. I hope that I’ve done Her Majesty justice and captured her as I intended, in a fitting representation. The news that my design had been chosen was quite overwhelming, and I still can’t quite believe that my royal portrait will be featured on millions of coins, playing a small part in The Royal Mint’s 1,000 year history.”

Jody’s elegant portrayal of The Queen, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation, was selected in a closed competition organised by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC), a consultative panel to Her Majesty’s Treasury comprising experts from such fields as history, sculpture, architecture, art and design. A number of specialist designers from across Britain were invited to submit their own interpretations of the Queen’s portrait under anonymous cover, and each one was judged on its merits and suitability before the winning artwork was recommended to the Chancellor and, ultimately, The Queen for approval.

Coins featuring the new effigy go into production as of today, and the public are being urged to keep a watchful eye on their coins later this year when it will start to appear in pockets, purses and piggy banks across the land.

Source: Royal Mint

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The Spirit of Anzac Commemorative Circulating Coin

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand and New Zealand Post has unveiled the new 50-cent The Spirit of Anzac Commemorative Circulating Coin at Government House in Wellington. The coloured legal tender 50 cent coin will be on sale to the public from next month to commemorate the centenary, on 25 April 1915, of the Anzac landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

It is the first time that a New Zealand coloured circulating coin has been produced. The coin will be in circulation as legal tender and available for collectors. The Reserve Bank has minted one million of the special 50 cent coins. This number represents the size of the New Zealand population at the start of the First World War. 

The Anzac coin was released by the Governor-General, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM, QSO, at an event at Government House in Wellington on February 10.

Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler said the coin will circulate with New Zealand’s existing currency.

“The coin honours the spirit of Anzac that was formed 100 years ago, and lives on today. This is the first time in New Zealand’s history that we have had a colour commemorative circulating coin, and we expect it to be popular and highly sought after,” Mr Wheeler said.

New Zealand Post Group chief executive Brian Roche said NZ Post commissioned renowned New Zealand artist Dave Burke to design the coin. It is part of NZ Post’s wider five-year stamp and coin programme commemorating the centenary of WWI and honouring the role in the war of staff from the Post and Telegraph Department (a precursor of NZ Post).

“The coin features New Zealand and Australian soldiers standing back to back with their heads bowed in remembrance. The mangopare (hammerhead shark) pattern symbolises strength and determination, and the silver fern reflects New Zealand’s national identity.”

To represent New Zealand’s national colours, the mangopare is coloured white on the coin, with the background coloured black, Mr Roche said.

Sir Jerry Mateparae said the coin represents the comradeship forged between New Zealand and Australia 100 years ago, far away from home on the shores of Gallipoli.

“This coin is a symbol of our nationhood. It reminds us of the events that occurred at Gallipoli. It helps us to remember the New Zealanders who served there and all those who have served our country during times of conflict and peace, and it is evidence that the links with Australia and the Anzac spirit endure.”

The coins have been minted and colour stamped by the Royal Canadian Mint, using a special ‘print pad’ technology.

The Anzac circulating coin has the same specifications as the existing 50 cent coin and testing has shown it will be accepted in coin and vending machines.

The coins will be made available to the public to pre-order from 23 February 2015. The coins will be released publicly in PostShops and Kiwibank branches nationwide on Monday 23 March 2015 and sold at their 50 cent face value.

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

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Error on Magna Carta £2 coin?

The Royal Mint has released The Magna Carta 800th Anniversary 2015 UK £2 BU Coin but a historian pointed out that the image on the coin reverse shows King John signing parchment with a quill is a 'schoolboy error'. Author Dr Marc Morris said that the coin show King John is depicted holding a quill as if about to sign the document – but in reality, he would have stamped it with a seal.

Mr Morris, 41, the author of several books – among them The Bigod Earls of Norfolk in the Thirteenth Century and King John: Treachery, Tyranny and the Road to Magna Carta – said the coin was ‘historically wrong’.

Speaking last week, he said: ‘To depict King John holding a quill is simply a schoolboy error.

‘Medieval kings did not authenticate documents by signing them, they did it by sealing them – or rather by getting one of their officials to do it for them.

‘All the pen in John’s hand symbolises is ignorance of this basic fact.’

Mr Morris even created what he described as a ‘more historically accurate’ image of the signing of the Magna Carta out of Playmobil figures and posted the image on Twitter.

In the posting on Twitter he stated: ‘A far more accurate depiction of what went on at Runnymede than that produced by the Royal Mint.’

Bosses at the Royal Mint, however, defended the coin, saying the image on the coin was ‘symbolic’ rather than ‘factual’.

He said: ‘The design is symbolic of King John’s acceptance of the Magna Carta, it is not intended to be interpreted as a literal account of what actually occurred.

‘The design is in fact inspired by King John’s royal seal, the very seal used on the Magna Carta.”

Royal Mint also put a footnote on the coin post "The image used on this coin packaging is a well-known visual representation of historical events from the time, and not factual depiction. The Royal Mint understand that the Magna Carta was in fact witnessed and sealed by King John and not physically signed."

Source: Metro UK

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Mr. Saran Singh-Pakar Numismatik Malaysia

Yesterday, I met with Mr. Saran Singh and his son Dalwinder Singh at Amcorp Mall Flea Market, to interview him about his book, The Encyclopedia of the coins of Malaysia Singapore and Brunei 1400-1967. He shared with me many interesting behind the scene stories about the book publishing process. All of which I have shared in a youtube video for my reader reference.

Before we talk more about the interview, here is a little bit biography of Mr. Saran Singh. Saran Singh was born on 10th March 1945 in Kuala Lumpur. He received his early education at St. Gabriel's School in Kuala Lumpur. Saran started to enter the field of numismatics in 1969. His specialities includes Penang, Straits Settlements, Sarawak, British North Borneo, the tin/lead coins of early Brunei, Singapore Merchants Tokens, Sikh coin of Punjab and Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei coins and Banknote. On 3rd December 1989 he received the honour P.N.M (Pakar Numismatic Malaysia) by Malaysia Numismatic Society.

Mr. Saran Singh has been my idols since I read his book, The Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, 1400-1986 in 2002, a book borrowed from a close friend when I worked in Penang. I only managed to buy his book in 2010 with information given by a blogger friend who found out that I am searching for Saran Singh Book and he had seen it for sale in Trigonometric Shop at Amcorp Mall. In my opinion, he doesn't just wrote a "numismatic book" but he also share information, history and pictures that can help us understand more about the coin itself. 

Do you know that Mr. Saran Singh have a blog too? His son, Dalwinder Singh has open a blog coinsofmalaysia.blogspot.com under his name and shared some of his father article in the blog. I have visited his blog in 2013 but I thought someone is just copy paste Mr. Saran Singh articles in his new blog. Hopefully Mr. Saran Singh and his son can wrote regularly and sharing with us their knowledge about Malaysia numismatics.

The purpose of my interview is to ask him about his book, The Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, 1400-1986. The 2nd edition of his encyclopedia book has been a hot numismatic item recently with a copy of the book sold for RM1500 in Malaysia Numismatic Society (MNS) Auction. It is almost impossible to find the book selling at a very cheap price nowadays. It has became a must have reference book for any Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei coins collectors.

Title: The Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, 1400-1986
Author: Saran Singh
Editor: Malaysia Numismatic Society
Publisher: Malaysia Numismatic Society, 1986
Length: 674 pages

He shared how he has been doing hard work in 1974 to publish his 1st book and it took him 10 years to finish writing the book. He also share the writing process for his book during the old days. That time, computer don't exist and new technology ain't cheap. He hired a girl to help him type his book using an electronic type writer and the photos are taken by him. That helped him to reduce costs for printing.

Do you know what is the "black bird thing" on the front cover?

He also told me that he is planning to publish a 2nd series of his Malaya and sarawak rubber export coupons 1922-1942, printed in full colour. He also shared some new information about coupons in the new book, you can found what he said in the interview.

His advice to new numismatic writer, make sure you're very patient and very humble since you need to make friends to all big collectors. If you're writing your book, make sure it will be a best book. You need to ask around for information.

He also thanks all of the people who have help him to write the book. He hope someday, someone will improve his book since many new discoveries are not recorded yet in any new book.

Thank you to Master Sifu Saran Singh and Dalwinder Singh for the chance of a knowledgeable interview. 2 hours is not enough to get all the knowledge that you have but this 22 minutes interview is already a blessing for Malaysia Numismatic community. I wish I have a chance to interview both of you in the future.

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Saran Singh opinion on Fake Johor Coins

Today, I have a chance to meet Master Sifu Saran Singh during my visit to Amcorp Mall Flea Market. I asked him what exactly happened during his meeting with a Johorean guy in November 2011? After the meeting, that guy used an "authentication letter" signed by Master Sifu Saran Singh to promote his Fake Johor Sultanate coins in Mudah, eBay and Facebook. What really happened?

Some of you especially Malay Sultanate coin collectors might already found an ads by group of people with a "LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY" by Saran Singh for Johor Sultan Ala'uddin Mas Dinar gold coin. They claimed that the coin has been authenticate by Saran Singh, mostly their ads come with inscription "Duit ini juga telah disahkan oleh keasliannya oleh Mr Saran Singh bahawa duit emas ini ialah ASLI TULIN. Lihat gambar surat diattach beserta tandatangannya" and a picture of the letter will be shown in the same ads.

According to Master Sifu Saran Singh, during that meeting, that guy show him one particular gold coin, a genuine coin. They make a small photocopy of a booklet of a Johor coins and they asked him to signed a "LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY" with that particular coin picture on it. After looking at the coin, he agree to signed it because at that moment he don't think people will be using his signature to do fraud. He signed it because he agree that particular coin is genuine, he don't expect his letter will be used for bunch of other coins that he never saw before.

He said, he never meet those people before and he taught they approach him with a good faith. He did it as a free services without any fee. He later found out that guy is using that letter to sell other coins.

Master Sifu Saran Singh also give 2 reasons why Malay Sultanate gold coins cannot be look exactly the same:

1. All Malay Sultanate coins will never be the same because it is a hammered coins.
2. The old coins is cut on the edge manually, every single coin will be different.

He is heart broken and sad with the way that guy cheating him to signed that "LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY". He will never help anyone in the future to authenticate any coins because of this incident.

According to him, with so many fake gold Johor Sultanate coins in the market, it will affected the market price. The priceless coin (RRR) will be dropping in prices since everyone can found them easily. That particular guy act, making a fake coin, sell them as genuine is an immoral act and it will hurt the numismatic community as well. Master Sifu Saran Singh has been meeting a lot of people during his numismatic life, never experienced anything like this.

Master Sifu Saran Singh hope that guy stop using his name and his signature to promote Fake Johor Sultanate coins in Mudah, eBay and Facebook.

PS: Apart from interview of Johor coins, I also have interview him about his books. He shared some interesting stories that we never heard before. I will write the article about it later.

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Fake Johor Sultanate coins openly sold in Facebook

​Yesterday, I saw a few of my numismatic friends on Facebook arguing with a coin seller who sold Fake Johor Sultanate coins openly in Facebook. Most of the Malay Sultanate Coins collectors already knew the fraud committed by the seller but new collectors may be easily fooled by old coins advertisement by the fraud seller. Rumor has it that news of "The Lost Treasure of Johor" reported by The Star December last year is also done by the same gang.

A Facebook friend, using a pseudonym "Muzium Matawang Nusantara" shared 2 photos of Malay Sultanate Coins offered by the seller. In that posts, the seller selling a complete gold coins set of Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah III for RM5,000 and Sultan Mahmud Shah for RM8,000. "Muzium Matawang Nusantara" also told me that the seller has claimed that a Johor government agency has purchased his Malay Sultanate Coins and an old cannon for RM47,000. It is such a waste if that story really happened. Imagine what happens to the next generation when we display the fake coins in a museum, our young generation might be thinking that the fake coins are real because it exhibited in museums. When I investigated further, the seller also attach a letter showing that he were given a contract to supply an artifact for museum and a letter showing he asked permission from Sultan of Johor to wrote a book about Johor Sultanates coins? A fake coin seller doing that? For real? 

Looking at some of their arguments in Facebook regarding the fake Malay Sultanate gold coins, I attach a couple of reasons wrote by a Facebook user with pseudonym "Pera'i Sejarah", a friend of "Muzium Matawang Nusantara":

1. Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II coins sold by the seller used the same die and the coin look identical.

2. A reverse of Sultan Mahmud Shah II (1685-1699) gold coins and Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah III (1623-1677) gold coins used the same die with almost 99% identical design. A different era of Johor Sultan use same die for their gold coins?

3. Even though the counterfeiters cut the edges of the counterfeit currency to create different dimensions of the currency, the die is still look the same.

4. The seller also have plenty of the Mas, Kupang and other Johor Sultanate coins, most of the time, the seller offer a complete set of coins.

According to "Pera'i Sejarah", Johor Sultanate coins are unique currency, it have Dot, decorative circle and the inscription are pretty well written. Founding a same pieces of 99% identical 400 years old coins in a huge amount does not make sense though not impossible. He is using the same die to cut cost and to maximize his profit.

Sifu Dickson Niew in his blog Fakesilvercoin.com wrote, to detect fake coins you need to look at 3 basic things:

1. Grading-too good to be true
2. Price-too cheap to be true
3. Quantity-too many to be true

The sellers advertisement shows that it not passed all the criteria suggested by Sifu Dickson.

In numismatics, the results of laboratory tests for the coins metal is not the only way to check for original coins. We must look at other possibilities and criteria that can guide us about the coins authenticity. When someone is offering a very rare old coins with a very cheap price and you can choose the specific coins since the seller have a huge quantity in his possession, the authenticity of the coins are doubtful. Why? Please use your common sense and please put aside your greed. When you can suddenly see a very hard to find 400 years old coins in a large quantities, isn't it a miracle? Miracle usually does not happen in the real world, it only happens in the world of fantasy.

Department of Museums Malaysia (Jabatan Muzium) and Johor Heritage Foundation (Yayasan Warisan Johor) should working together to curb this problem. The seller and counterfeiters of Malay Sultanate coins should be subject to legal action starting from now if we want to protect our heritage.

Under National Heritage Act 2005, some of the Malay Sultanate Coins has been registered under Tangible Heritage Object (Objek Warisan Ketara):

1. Duit Emas Sultan Muzaffar Shah (1564 – 1570) , Johor.
2. Duit Kijang Emas
3. Duit Emas Sultan Alau’uddin Riayat Shah I (1527/28 –1564), Johor.
4. Duit Emas Sultan Zainal Abidin II (1793-1808) Terengganu

but I am not sure if someone who make fake Sultanate coins can be brought to court for making fake coins under the act. If there is no law in Malaysia that can take action on these fraudster, Department of National Heritage (Jabatan Warisan Negara) should find a way to make sure action can be taken. The fraudster can freely active selling fake old coins because there is no action done by government agencies who where trusted to take care of our national heritage before or we don't read any news about it? If the seller claim he supply for the museum is true, I think they're many way for the government to charge him. SPRM can also involve because it is involve stealing government money.

What would happen if Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail knew that his ancestors coins imitated by his own people for profits and fraud?

If any of you my readers who knew the head of any related agencies, please help us to spread these news to them. We don't know which is the proper channels to make complaints about people who forged our nation's heritage. We just want to make sure that the country's rich heritage preserved.

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1920 Wilson gold dollar in Stack’s Bowers Auction

A 1920 Wilson gold dollar will be offered in the upcoming Stack’s Bowers Galleries Winter 2014 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo, October 30—November 2, 2014. The gold medal produced to commemorate the opening of a new mint in Manila on 1920.

On July 16, 1920, President Woodrow Wilson authorized the reopening of the former mint in the Philippines that had been built by Spain, the only time in U. S. history that a Branch United States Mint was established on foreign soil. Three different medals were coined to commemorate this event; 2,200 silver, 3,700 bronze and 5 gold Wilson Dollars.

Neil Shafer (1961) stated that the president and secretary of war received gold examples while three remained in the islands, where they were presumed lost in battle in Manila or in the general devastation of World War II. Shafer and So-Called Dollars authors Hibler and Kappen reported that two gold pieces were then (1963) in private collections in California and Iowa.

A wide range of rarities, collector coins and exonumia from the United States are among the highlights of the upcoming Stack’s Bowers Galleries Winter 2014 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo, October 30—November 2, 2014. Extensive collections, including The 1853 Collection, The George Gund III Collection, The Stu Keen Portfolio, The Collections of The Strong (Rochester, New York), The William Tabachnik Collection, The Raymond W. Dillard Collection, and other important rarities are expected to cross the block.

Session one, held Wednesday, October 29, at 6 p.m. (ET) begins with Americana and U.S. copper coins (half cents through two-cent pieces). Among the highlights is an extensive offering of so-called dollars. Other areas represented in this session include early American medals, Hard Times tokens, Civil War and sutler tokens, a wide range of encased postage stamps, and other numismatic specialties.

Session two, held Thursday, October 30, at 11 a.m. (ET) includes American coins, with three-cent pieces, five-cent pieces, half dimes, twenty-cent pieces, quarters, half dollars, classic and modern commemoratives, bullion coins, mint sets, and coin rolls.

Session four, held Thursday, October 30, at 6:30 p.m. (ET), signature Rarities Night Auction, will run concurrently with session three, includes impressive offering of coins, medals and tokens originating from that pivotal year in American numismatics. Many of the coins from this collection possess impressive pedigrees, including those of numismatic legends Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Harry W. Bass, Jr., Ed Milas, James A. Stack, Jimmy Hayes, Norman Stack, and others.

Session five will offer pattern coins through double eagles, and begins at 11 a.m. (ET) on Friday, October 31. Continuing its tradition of partnering with the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4), Stack’s Bowers Galleries will present its C-4 Auction as part of session six. This session contains a wide variety of colonial and early American coins. With more than 400 lots, the C-4 Auction presents a diverse assemblage of coins with many popular types and rare varieties, ideal for collectors of colonial and Confederation era coinage.

Highlights include lot 10026 — an 1853-O No Arrow half dollar in VG-8 (PCGS), CAC, OGH, one of only four such coins known. An 1853 silver dollar, graded MS-66 and housed in an OGH PCGS holder with CAC approval, will also excite bidders.

Further selections offered in the Rarities Night Auction include a silver Andrew Jackson Indian peace medal, as well as federal and territorial issues. A Choice AU 1793 Chain cent will be offered, in addition to a nicely toned and well struck example of the key date 1916 Standing Liberty quarter, graded MS-66 FH by PCGS. A toned, premium Gem MS-66 (PCGS) 1903-S Morgan dollar is sure to see strong participation, as will a Proof-67 Cameo (PCGS-CAC) 1878 trade dollar. A Sand Blast Proof 1912 quarter eagle in Proof-66 (PCGS) -- among the finest certified, -- will be offered, as will the finest NGC-certified 1894 half eagle, graded Proof-67 * Ultra Cameo. A Condition Census 1885 double eagle, graded PCGS MS-62, will also cross the auction block. High grade commemoratives are represented by a Proof 1893 Isabella quarter, and two Matte Proof 1925 Norse-American Centennial medals. Pattern and Territorial gold pieces round out the session with important rarities such as lot 10269 — an original striking Judd-79 half dollar graded Proof-64 (PCGS).

To view and bid on all lots featured in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Winter 2014 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo visit StacksBowers.com. For more information or to request a catalog, call 800.458.4646 (West Coast) or 800.566/2580 (East Coast).

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Royal Canadian Mint-Decade Of Remarkable Innovation

Ten years after ‎breaking new ground by launching the world's first coloured circulation coin on October 21, 2004, the Royal Canadian Mint has continuously raised the bar on innovation within the minting industry by introducing new technologies and coinage solutions.

"The Royal Canadian Mint is a great example of made-in-Canada innovation," said the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint. “The Mint has a proud history of advancing the art and science of coin manufacturing - a history all Canadians can be proud of."

"Our employees are innovating every day to bring Canadians and our international customers the most secure coins in the world, while developing products and services which have set us apart from the competition‎ time and time again," said Marc Brûlé, Interim President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "We will continue to push the envelope as we strive to meet our vision to be the best mint in the world".

A cornerstone of the Mint's ‎innovative efforts include the introduction of overt and covert security features which, since 2012, have made Canada's $1 and $2 circulation coins the most secure in the world. The unrivalled combination of advanced security features applied to these high-value circulation coins earned the International Association of Currency Affairs' inaugural Best New Coin Innovation Excellence in Currency Award for the world's most significant coin security advance of the year in 2013.

Industry-first security features were also added to the Mint's renowned Gold Maple Leaf (GML) and Silver Maple Leaf (SML) bullion coins. In 2013, the GML became a global security leader by featuring a micro-engraved laser mark, only viewable under magnification, which helps confirm a coin's authenticity. This same security feature is now integral to the 2014 1 oz., 99.99% pure SML, as is a new finish formed of complex radial lines machined at microns-wide intervals giving the coin an inimitable light diffracting pattern.

Other innovations introduced by the Mint over the past decade include the following:

• The establishment of its state-of-the-art silver refinery in 2006, using a novel and cost-effective process;

• Producing the 99.999% pure gold Million Dollar Coin in 2007, which was certified by Guinness World Records as the world's largest gold coin;

• Creating the unforgettable series of athlete medals for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. The radically undulating face of the medals was the boldest evidence of ground-breaking creative and technical achievement, writing a new chapter in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games medals;

• The 2012 glow-in-the-dark dinosaur collector coin was the world's first-ever photo-luminescent coin and global phenomenon, winning the Krause Publications 2014 Coin of the Year award in the Most Innovative Coin award category;

• Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 by being the first mint in the world to issue a coin integrating a genuine diamond, locked inside the coin's rim as the coin itself was struck:

• The Mint's popular 2013 Superman™ series included the world's first coin to feature an achromatic hologram. The Mint took a technology first developed for passports and other high security documents to new heights to give a flat surface the amazing look of a fully engraved, 3-D image; and

• The opening of its plating facility expansion and the Hieu C. Truong Centre of Excellence for Research and Development in 2013, ensuring that the Mint remains at the leading edge of minting technology.

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1st bi-metallic coin for general circulation

Did you know, what are the first bi-metallic coin produce for general circulation? It is a 500 Lire from 1982 minted by the Italian state mint, a circulating commemoratives, introduced for circulation in Italy, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

The coin obverse show woman head with the symbols of the Italian regions. The coin reverse show the Quirinal Palace in Rome, official residence of the President of the Republic. On top of the outer ring is the coin face value written in Braille characters and the coin value below.

The coin is made with a Bronzital center in Acmonital ring. It had a weight of 6.80g and a diameter of 25.8mm. Only 162,000 pieces are minted for 1982 coins but the coins were made until 2001 with obverse portrait varieties. For you information, Italy joined euro on January 1, 2002 and the Euro coins began to be used as the Italy official coin.

Michael Alexander from coinupdate.com asked Angelo Rossi, Director of the Instituto Poligrafico Zecca dello Stato (IZPS), the Italian State Mint in 2011 about the development process and the technology involved for the 1982 500 lire coin, he then answered:

"The production of this innovative technique was initiated by the former Mint Director, Nicola Ielpo and the designs were developed by the Academy of Medallic Art’s Director, Laura Cretara. In 1981 after the technical feasibility of these innovative coins had been assessed, the IPZS filed a patent and the tools were ready at the beginning of 1982. The coin was also officially presented at the XII Mint Directors Conference in Lisbon that same year. The new coin merged two different metals in color and composition and also introduced the indication of the value in Braille characters. At the beginning of this process, the two pieces had to be pre-assembled, with a second step to devise little crevices on the internal rim of the external ring, which contrasted the internal core of the coin. Later on, it became possible to both assemble and strike the coins at the same time. Schuler, the company providing the monetary presses, set up a device to carry out this operation. This coin was also produced not only for Italy’s use, the IPZS produced this new coin for other countries as well. So, as far as modern coinage is concerned, yes, our Mint was the first to produce a bi-metallic coin for general circulation and it was big news at the time."

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Hang Tuah on a Malaya Pattern notes

Have you seen a Malaya banknote with Hang Tuah portrait on the 50 Ringgit obverse? If you have been visiting Sasana Kijang before, you might have seen the pattern notes but most people will not aware about the Hang Tuah banknote. It is placed in the Malaysia banknote section inside The Galeri Numismatik, 2nd Floor.

For your information, before Bank Negara Malaysia exist, Malaysia Central Bank is called as Central Bank of Malaya (Bank Negara Tanah Melayu). The Central Bank was officially open on 26 January 1959 with a paid up capital of $30 million by the Government of the Federation of Malaya. The 1st Central Bank of Malaya governor is an Australian, Tan Sri William Howard Wilcock. The basis and legislative recommendations for the set up of Central Bank of Malaysia (Bank Negara Malaysia) is a "Watson Caine Report" that was released in September 1956. The Bank Negara Tanah Melayu never issued any notes or coins until Malaysia was established and it changed name to Bank Negara Malaysia.

The Hang Tuah 50 Ringgit banknote is one of the pattern banknotes shown in the Bank Negara Tanah Melayu pattern notes display. There are also several other banknotes that proposed to be used in Malaya in 1962 displayed next to the banknote.

The date 1st March 1962 written in front of the banknote with two "signature", the inscription "WANG KERTAS INI SAH DIPERLAKUKAN DIDALAM NEGERI PERSEKUTUAN TANAH MELAYU, SINGAPURA, BRUNEI, SARAWAK DAN BORNEO UTARA". The denomination written as "LIMA PULOH RINGGIT". A portrait of the legendary Melakan warrior, Hang Tuah drawn in black and white with an inscription "HANG TUAH" on the bottom.

Hang Tuah lived during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah of Melaka in the 15th century. He was the most capable of all the laksamana, or sultan's admirals, and is is arguably the most well-known and illustrious warrior figure in Malaysian history and literature.

The banknote reverse show a coat of arms for the Government of the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak and North Norneo. The main design show a river but I am not sure what particular river is in the picture.

Some blogger mistakenly saying that the banknotes used in Malaya before. This banknote never printed for circulation, it is just a pattern notes or a test banknotes to show how the design will look like on the proposed banknotes. Different design and patterns will be proposed for approval of the authority.

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Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money

Every Malaysian, Singaporean and Brunei Numismatic Collectors have at least a copy of the Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money by Steven Tan. The 1st edition of the book was published in 1976 and the latest edition is the 21th edition. Steven Tan catalog is a must have for Malaysia coin collector.

For anyone who still don't know, Mr. Steven Tan is the Managing Director of International Stamp & Coin Sdn Bhd. He was born in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan in June 1938. Last year when I interview Mr. Steven Tan, He told that he started dealing in stamps since October 1960 and coins around 10 years later. He start dealing with stamps in a small way, doing part time business at home registered under the name "International Philatelic Agency". In 1969, he moved his business to central area at Medan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur.

He start to collect coins and banknotes in 1970's when a group of people come to meet him and asked his help to buy a coin collection of a men who has been passed away. They need the money for his funeral and he paid few hundreds ringgit for all his collection. He start to collect and sell coins and banknotes after that and changed the trading name to "International Stamp & Coin Sdn Bhd". In 1975, he moved his business to his own shop lot at Pertama Complex. I have written articles on how to go to International Stamp & Coin Sdn Bhd (ISC) here;Where is Steven Tan coin shop?

Today, people start to collect old edition of the Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money, some of the old catalogue already have a very good collectibles price. I am not aan avid collector of Steven Tan old edition books but every time there is a new edition comes out, I must buy it. Therefore, if I came across his old books in flea market at a very reasonable prices, I will buy it. For now, the collection that I have is a gift from Master Sifu Steven Tan and Sifu Dickson Niew.

For anyone who bought the 19th edition Steven Tan Standard Catalogue, you get the reprint of the 1st edition of Steven Tan Catalog, "Coin & paper money Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (1845 to date)" that were published in 1976. The book is reprinted and were given as a souvenir for the purchase of the 19th Edition Standard Catalogue of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Coin & Paper Money. The book printed in black & white and covering the coins and paper money of the Straits Settlements, Malaya, Malaya and British Borneo, Malaysia, British North Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak and Singapore.

Here are some of the older editions that I have in my library:

Title: Coin & paper money Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (1845 to date)
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 1 (reprint 2010), black & white
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 1976
Length: 72 pages
Original Retail Price: RM7

Title: Coin & paper money Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei 1845-1977
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 2, black & white
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 1978
Length: 90 pages
Original Retail Price: RM9

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins & Paper Money 1982
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 4, black & white
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 1981
Length: 123 pages
Original Retail Price: RM17

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 5, black & white
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 1982
Length: 148 pages
Original Retail Price: RM19

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 7, black & white
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 1986
Length: 177 pages
Original Retail Price: RM22

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 8, black & white
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 1987
Length: 171 pages
Original Retail Price: RM22

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 9, black & white
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 1989
Length: 184 pages
Original Retail Price: RM25

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 11, illustrated
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 1991
Length: 187 pages
Original Retail Price: RM36

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 14, illustrated
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 2000
Length: 216 pages
Original Retail Price: RM48

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 17, illustrated
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 2005
Length: 274 pages
Original Retail Price: RM65

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 18, illustrated
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 2007
Length: 294 pages
Original Retail Price: RM68

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 19, illustrated
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 2010
Length: 318 pages
Original Retail Price: RM78
You can read my review here: Steven Tan 19th edition Catalogue

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 20, illustrated
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 2012
Length: 356 pages
Original Retail Price: RM88
You can read my review here: Steven Tan 20th edition Catalogue

Title: Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins and Paper Money
Author: Steven Tan
Edition: 21, illustrated
Publisher: International Stamp & Coin Agency, 2014
Length: 377 pages
Original Retail Price: RM93
You can read my review here: Steven Tan 21st edition Catalogue

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