2010 coin of The year award

2010 coin of The year award had been announced on 12 January 2010. A Coin of the year international panel of judges concluded voting 8 January 2010 and the public online voting for the People’s Choice Award ended 10 january 2010. World Coin News is a sister publication to Numismatic News that covers the field of world coinage. This year’s competition featuring coins dated 2008 was hotly contested. The Coin of the year winner was chosen in two rounds of voting. The first determined the winners of 10 categories and the second round chose the Coin of the Year from those 10 initial winners.

Coin of the year award won by 20 lati issued by the Bank of Latvia. It marks the 15th anniversary of the renewal of the lats currency after Latvia regained independence from the old Soviet Union. The original design was created in 1922 by Teodors Zalkalns but never used. The new Coin of the Year also topped the Best Gold category.

People’s Choice winner won by Hungarianis 5,000 forint .925 fine silver coin designed by Gabor Gati to honor the Tokaj wine region of Hungary. There is just one round of People’s Choice voting and the nominees are handled independently of the COTY competitors. This is also the third time Hungary has won the People’s Choice Award.

The U.S. American Eagle one-ounce silver coin won the Most Popular coin category in the first-round COTY vote.

This year’s Trade coin category winner is a bimetallic 2-euro coin issued by the Central Bank of Cyprus. The coin depicts an ancient statue cross.

First-round winners include a silver 100 tenge commemorating Ghengis Khan from the Kazakhstan Mint. It topped the Most Historically Significant category, which honors persons or events of 100 or more years in the past.

In a related category of Best Contemporary Event, which marks events or persons from less than 100 years ago, a silver 10 sheqalim from the Bank of Israel that commemorates 60 years of statehood of modern Israel received the most first-round votes.

A German silver 10-euro commemorative coin topped the Best Silver Coin category. The issue honors writer Franz Kafka, who was born 125 years before, in 1883.

The Austrian Mint’s 10-euro silver coin for Abbey Klosterneuberg received the most votes in the Best Crown category. Crowns are coins that are 34 millimeters or larger in diameter and usually are silver or a base metal silver substitute.

The 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the Nazi occupation is the theme of the 200 zlotych gold coin issued by the National Bank of Poland that won the Most Artistic Coin category.

Winner of the title of Most Innovative Coin is an Austrian 25-euro piece that consists of a silver ring and niobium center. The niobium is colored a shimmering green by a special oxidation process and this effect celebrates the phenomenon of light. The design on the obverse shows a gas lamp of the 19th century and the other side carries a portrait of Austrian inventor Auer von Welsbach and an evolutionary series of lightbulbs.

Canada was the 10th category winner. Its $2,500 gold piece, “Towards Confederation,” was named Most Inspirational Coin. It is part of a series for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the design presents the full sweep of Canadian history.

World Coin News will recognize both winners Jan. 30 at the World Money Fair in Berlin. Nominations for the 2011 award can be made by anyone from among the many world coin issues dated 2009. Submit them with images and full descriptions to Lisa Bellavin at lisa.bellavin@fwmedia.com.

Source: numismaster.com, coinnews.net

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Fake Lebanese Billionaire caught using fake US dollar notes

Do any of you in Malaysia remember about the Controversial self-proclaimed billionaire Elie Youssef Najem, who pledged RM1bil to the National Cancer Council (Makna) in 2006? Yesterday, Elie was caught with allegedly US$66mil (RM220mil) in fake money. He gave up a US$500 note as a tip to a hotel cleaner in a 4 star hotel. Kuala Lumpur commercial crime unit division chief ASP Izany Abdul Ghany said the 50-year-old Lebanese national had been renting a room in a four-star hotel in the Bukit Bintang area here for a few days when the incident took place.

A police team led by Insp Ridhwan Ani raided Elie’s room and discovered a leather bag containing 60 “US$1mil” bills, 60 “1934 US$100,000” bills and 40 “US$500” bill which added up to US$66.2mil. There are no such denominations in US currency. Izany said the highest legal banknote used currently in the United States is the US$100 note. The US$500 note was issued in 1934 and still has value, but can only be traded in the US Federal Reserve. The US$500 Federal Reserve Note features a portrait of President William McKinley.

“He had apparently tipped one of the cleaners with a US$500 note. The woman, ecstatic over the windfall, went to a money-changer nearby to convert it to ringgit. Instead, she got a shock when told it was fake. She complained to her supervisor who then alerted the police,” Izany said.

When questioned at the Dang Wangi police station, Elie did not divulge any information as to where he got the money or what he intended to do with it, Izany said.

“When asked why he was renting a hotel room when he owns an apartment in the city, he said he staying there because it was convenient for him as he is attending a court hearing in a case against him,” he said.

It is understood that Elie was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court on Jan 8 under Section 417 of the Penal Code for cheating. It is learnt he was charged for being involved in cheating over office supplies sales in 2005. As a result of the pending case, his passport has been withheld. Izany said police were investigating the case under Section 489(c) of the Penal Code for possession of counterfeit notes which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine. Elie has been remanded for 14 days until Jan 23 to facilitate in investigations.

To me this fake banknote is just look like a novelty collector banknote, not a fake or counterfeit banknotes. The re is a novelty collector banknote that also have a face of the current US president Barrack Obama. But when it come to this self claimed billionaire, I am also not sure what he intended to do with this money? Some people really don't know that this kind of banknotes is just for fun and allowed in United States.

Source: Star.com.my, Utusan.com.my

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Ancient coin found in Malaysia

Look like coin collector in Kuala Terengganu (state in Malaysia), were digging their own ancient coin for this past few days. A news by the star newspaper reported that some ancient coins and artefact's found in Terengganu’s Chinatown work site. Earth-works for the new ring road and sewage system in Terengganu Chinatown here have uncovered hundreds of ancient coins and other artefact's. There is also concern that workers at the site and the public may have been quietly digging up these items to sell.

Site manager Omar Mahmod said many items might have been sold before he realised that his work site contained buried treasures when he uncovered a porcelain vase that he believed was from ancient China. He questioned his workers and discovered that many items had been found at the site. Many of these artefact's were found when they started earth excavation in February last year, but the workers concealed their find from management. Realising that the items were being sold off on the quiet, he directed the workers to declare any artefact's found from the site.

Since discovering the porcelain vase, Omar has dug out coins with early Jawi writing, Arabic script and ancient Chinese emblems, ancient Indian ornaments and Chinese jars, plates and vases.

An Indonesian worker from the site who requested anonymity said he surrendered most of the artefact's to his superior but admitted he had sold some to collectors.

“Such coins are collectors’ items some of which I will take back to Surabaya,” he said.

State MCA chief Toh Chin Yaw said the items were priceless and part of the state’s history. He said the contractor had been asked to declare any future discovery of artefact's. “We want to preserve valuable items extracted at the site for our future generations,” he said.

Toh said he had informed the relevant authorities to visit the site and claim any artefact's found.

Sound to me that Department of Museum Malaysia a bit late on handling this matters. The treasure hunting had been going on for almost a year now and nobody stop the illegal digging. This is national treasure, they should act fast to stop people from doing the illegal treasure hunting. I can see that man in the picture is holding some pitis coins, Chinese Tin cash coin and some coin that look like a Spanish coin. This is the first time an ancient coins found in Malaysia reported by a news this year.

Source: The Star.com.my

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Old coin found in world oldest living city

Yesterday, The Hamas-run ministry of tourism and antiquities in Gaza announced the discovery of ancient artifacts near the Egyptian border town of Rafah. 1,300 ancient silver coins, both large and small found at the archaeological dig. Archaeologists had also uncovered a black basalt grinder, a coin with a cross etched on it, and the remains of walls and arches believed to have been built in 320 BC. They also discovered a "mysterious" underground compartment with a blocked entrance that appeared to be a tomb, Agha said.

Photo: ancient silver coins recently discovered near the Egyptian border town of Rafah

The Palestinian Authority has been carrying out archaeological excavations since the 1990s, but this was the first major find to be announced by the Hamas-run government. The archaeological dig, still under way, is close to where a vast network of smuggling tunnels provides a vital economic lifeline amid strict Israeli and Egyptian closures imposed after the takeover. The News released by Mohammed al-Agha, tourism and antiquities ministerof the Palestinian National Authority.

According to the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquity, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip there are 12,000 archaeological and cultural heritage sites, 60,000 traditional houses, 1,750 major sites of human settlement, and 500 sites which have been excavated to date, 60 of which are major sites. Gaza's main highway, the Salah al-Din road, is one of the oldest in the world, and has been traversed by the chariots of the armies of the Pharaohs and Alexander the Great, the cavalry of the Crusaders, and Napoleon Bonaparte.

Having long been overlooked in archaeological research, the number of excavations in the Gaza Strip has multiplied since the establishment in 1995 of the Department of Antiquities in Gaza. Plans to build a national archaeological museum also promise to highlight the rich history of Gaza city, which has been described as, "one of the world's oldest living cities." Rapid urban development makes the need for archaeological research all the more urgent to protect the region's archaeological heritage. Population pressure in the tiny Gaza Strip is intense, which means that numerous potential archaeological sites may have been built over and lost. According to specialists, there is much more under ground and under the sea than what has been discovered to date.

Source: AFP News, Wikipedia.

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Photo Journey in 2009

Year 2009 was a year that brought many memories to me. Almost all my wish list for 2009 achieved successfully. I have meet Tun Dr. Mahathir when I am doing my coin hunting trip in Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur. 2009 had bring me coin hunting trip to Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Johor, Sarawak, Sabah, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. This post is my photo journey in 2009, the best moment that happened to me and this blog. A collection of the best photo in 2009 and their story. Will be posting another post about lunaticg.blogspot top 10 post for 2009 for the posts that all of you read the most.

January 2009: Meeting Tun Dr. Mahathir at Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur.

February 2009: Buying this Straits Settlements five dollar King Edward VII below RM1000.

March 2009: Found a 4D shop selling coins & paper money.

April 2009: This is my first time see how coins cleaned.

May 2009: Heard that my blog reader from Australia bring this photo in his visit to Penang searching for Malaysia 1971 10 sen coin.

Jun 2009: This South Korea banknote is having a controversy and bring Korean traffic to my blog.

July 2009: My first hunting trip to Alor Star, Kedah.

August 2009: Is this the original Kelantan kijang gold kupang?

September 2009: Buying The Collection of Mallaca Coinage Book and signed by the writer Tony Lye Fong Nge himself.

Oktober 2009: Do you know that this is my first visit to Amcorp mall flea market after 5 years?

November 2009: First money and Stamp Fair report in this blog.

Disember 2009: End the 2009 year with a visit to Jonker Street, Melaka.

What about you? How about your Journey in 2009? Do you put it in your blog?

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Mona Lisa of Rare Coins: 1913 Liberty Head nickel

A rare 1913 American nickel five-cent piece also known as The Liberty Head nickel, sometimes referred to as the V nickel due to its reverse design, Recently dubbed "The Mona Lisa of Rare Coins," was sold for more than $3.7 million (2.3 million pounds) in Heritage Auctions Platinum Night. The so-called Liberty Head nickel, one of only five known of that specific date and design, was sold "in spirited bidding" to a private East Coast coin collector in Orlando late on Thursday, said Greg Rohan, president of Dallas, Texas-based Heritage Auctions. The buyer wished to remain anonymous.

Photo by Heritage Auctions Gallery

Photo by wikipedia: Reverse design of Liberty Head nickel

Officially, Liberty Head nickel was minted from 1883 to 1912; a few patterns were struck in 1881 and 1882, and five pieces were surreptitiously struck in 1913, which today number among America's most fabled numismatic rarities. The Liberty Head nickel's composition was the same as that of other U.S. five-cent nickels: 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel.

"It is probably the most famous United States rare coin," Rohan said in a statement.

"The 1913-dated Liberty nickels are among the greatest mysteries of American coinage," said Rohan. "James Earle Fraser's famous 'Buffalo nickel' design should have appeared on every coin dated 1913. Yet there are five 1913 nickels that have the old Liberty design instead."

Of the five Liberty nickels, two are in museum collections, leaving just three available to collectors. In the past decade auction appearances of 1913 Liberty nickels have been rarer than the coins themselves. Like the other 1913 Liberty nickels, the example offered by Heritage has become individually famous. It is known as the "Olsen specimen" after an early owner, but his is hardly the only notable name in its provenance.

Colonel E.H.R. Green, son of Hetty Green ("The Witch of Wall Street"), owned all five 1913 Liberty nickels, as did the numismatist-scholar Eric P. Newman. King Farouk of Egypt held the Olsen specimen for several years in the 1940s, and from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, it belonged to Dr. Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.

A coin such as the Olsen specimen is often in the limelight, and this was never truer than in 1972 and 1973, when it sold for a record-setting price and became part of TV history.

"In 1972, World Wide Coin Investments paid $100,000 for this 1913 Liberty nickel, the first time a collectible U.S. coin was bought for a six-figure sum," said Rohan. "The news making nickel went on-location to film scenes for an episode of the famous police drama Hawaii Five-O."

Millions of viewers were watching on Dec. 11, 1973, as a thief and the police sought the precious coin. In the space of an hour, the Olsen specimen became the single most famous coin in the world.

"The title of that episode was 'The $100,000 Nickel,'" said Rohan. "Times have changed. Today, the Olsen specimen is valued in the millions of dollars."

The $3,737,500 price for the five-cent coin included a 15 percent buyer's premium. The value of the rare coin, which was made at the Philadelphia Mint with the Miss Liberty design, crossed the million dollar mark in 2003.

Source: Heritage Auctions Gallery, Wikipedia.

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Sea Life : Clownfish 1/2oz Silver Proof Coin

Australian waters host some of the most famous reef systems in the world. From spectacular tropical corals to towering forests of kelp, these dynamic environments are teeming with aquatic life. Celebrating five fascinating reef dwellers, this month, Perth Mint is releasing Australian sea life 1/2 oz silver proof clownfish. The future release will be Seahorse (March 2010) and Moray Eel (May 2010). The coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1/2oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality.

Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. About twenty eight species are recognized. Depending on species, clownfish are overall yellow, orange, reddish, or blackish, and many show white bars or patches. The largest reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in), while the smallest barely reach 10 centimetres (3.9 in).The clownfish feeds on small invertebrates which otherwise potentially could harm the sea anemone, and the fecal matter from the clownfish provides nutrients to the sea anemone. Clownfish are omnivores. Algae accounts for around 20 to 25 percent of its diet in the wild (and should also account for its amount of algae diet in captivity as well). It has also been suggested that the activity of the clownfish results in greater water circulation around the sea anemone. In addition to providing food for the clownfish, the sea anemone also provides safety due to its poison.

Clownfish live in small groups inhabiting a single anemone. The group consists of a breeding pair, which cohabit with a few non-reproductive, "pre-pubescent", and smaller male clownfish. When the female dies, the dominant male changes sex and becomes the female. This life history strategy is known as sequential hermaphroditism. Because clownfish are all born as males, they are protandrous hermaphrodites. This is in contrast with another form of hermaphroditism, known as protogyny, in which all fish are born as females but can change to males later. Clownfish lay eggs on any flat surface close to their host anemones. In the wild, clownfish spawn around the time of the full moon and the male parent guards them until they hatch about 6 to 10 days later, typically 2 hours after dusk.

Reverse: The coin’s reverse portrays a Clownfish in colour. Bright orange with three black-bordered white stripes, this remarkable fish has natural protection from the stinging cells on the waving tentacles of the sea anemone in which it prefers to live. Growing up to 8cm in length, Clownfish occur in sheltered tropical waters, including the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. The coin’s reverse also incorporates The Perth Mint’s historic ‘P’ mintmark.

Obverse: Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin bears the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the 20 year-date on the obverse.

Technical Specifications:

Silver Content (Troy oz) 0.5
Monetary Denomination (TVD) 0.5
Fineness (% purity) 99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g) 15.573
Maximum Diameter (mm) 26.6
Maximum Thickness (mm) 2.3

This coin is available online and no more than 10,000 clownfish coins will be released by The Perth Mint. Each coin is housed in a presentation case which comes in a colourfully illustrated box-shipper. When lined-up in release order, the shipper illustrations form a linked image depicting all five reef creatures. Each coin also accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Source: Perth Mint, Wikipedia

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