Malaysia coin story

The independent limited constitutional monarchy of Malaysia, which occupies the southern part of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia and the northern part of the island of Borneo, has an area of 127,316 sq. mi. (329,750 sq. km.) and a population of 15.4 million. Capital: Kuala Lumpur. The economy is based on agriculture, mining and forestry. Rubber, tin, timber and palm oil are exported.

Malaysia came into being on Sept. 16, 1963, as a federation of Malaya (Johore, Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis, Trengganu, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Penang, Malacca), Singapore, Sabah (British North Borneo) and Sarawak. Following two serious racial riots involving Malays and Chinese, Singapore withdrew from the federation on Aug. 9, 1965. Malaysia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Malaya gained its independent on 31st August 1957. Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Bank Negara Malaysia has been given the authority to issue Malaysia currency since 1958. This authority was given under Bank Negara Tanah Melayu Ordinance 1958. The Board of commissioners of Currency Malaya and British Borneo still continued to issue currency until 12 June 1967. On 16 January 1969, the old Malaya currency legal tender value been ceased. Before that, it been circulated alongside 1st Malaysia currency since June 1967.

MINT MARK
FM - Franklin Mint, U.S.A.
*NOTE: From 1975-1985 the Franklin Mint produced coinage
in up to 3 different qualities.

MONETARY SYSTEM
100 Sen = 1 Ringgit (Dollar)

Parliament building history

The obverse of Malaysia first coin is Malaysia Parliament building. In December 1959, an area near the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens was chosen as the site on which to build the Parliament Building Complex, a building that symbolizes the democratic principles that are practised. These principles are the rights and responsibilities of the citizens to rule their own country, the freedom of each citizen to voice his or her own opinions, the freedom to practise his or her own religion, equal rights before the law and the right to own properties.

Thus in September 1962, a hill 61 metre above the sea level was flattened to build this glorious building. The RM18 million-complex was the idea of Yang Teramat Mulia Tuanku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia's first Prime Minister.

The placement of the building's foundation stone was done by the third Paramount Ruler, Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, the Malay Federation, Tuanku Syed Putra Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail D.S.M, S.M.N. DK (BRUNEI) on 31 August 1962, which marked the beginning of the construction of the building. On 21 November 1963, His Highness was again given the honour to officiate the opening of the building.

Source: www.parlimen.gov.my, Krause Publication.

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Malaya coin Price

Yesterday A reader of this blog asking me about a Malaya 1950 coin and how much their price would be. It is hard to determine the price of the coin without looking at the actual coin itself. You need to see the condition and grading the coin. A coin with high grade (Uncirculated) is a very hard to find for an old coin like this. Normally coin in possesion is in Very fine condition and not worth so much. Here is the price from Standard catalog for Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore 18th edition Book by Steven Tan for that reader reference.

Source: Standard catalog for Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore 18th edition Book by Steven Tan

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Malaysia Numismatic Society

You can find Malaysia Numismatic Society website at www.money.org.my. The organisation has been form on 19th May 1968 at the Malayan Nam Ann Low Clansman Association, 17C, Jalan Gereja, Kuala Lumpur.

The founder members present at the inaugural meeting were the late Mr. Sim Ewe Eong JSM. FRNS., the late Mr. H. Ottevanger, Mr. Tony Lye Fong Nge, the late Mr. C.C. Low, the late Mr. M.L.A. Rashid, Mr. Yee Yue Phang, Mr. Low Yow Tian and Mr. J.M.M. Bell. Their website has been officially launched on 7th. August 2005. As the time of my last visit, there are only 7382 visitor to this website.

They have some tips on how to handle banknote and coin, how to do grading and something about specimen notes or replacement notes in their knowledge base section. Like any normal collector, they strongly advise their reader not to clean coins and banknotes. Most people who is new in coin collecting will do coin cleaning.

Since 2005, the only update that I can see in this website is their Auction list in announcement. Some of their auction is cheaper then standard catalogue price and worth to wait for. You need to be a member to participate in their auction. I normally will asked a friend who is a member to buy anything that I like in there. They usually held an auction 4 times a year.

I wish they will make more update for their activities to attract more new member.

Source: money.org.my

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Woman to appear on SKorean banknote for 1st time

I found this news via star online while searching for some information regarding some korean banknote and coin I found recently. I never realize that South Korea never have a women appear in their banknote after reading about this. I do wish Malaysia also will do the same to any coin or banknote that will be produced in the future. Woman also part of history and people who contributed for the development of any country. When I try to find further reading about this in south korea bank website, i received page not found error.

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Published: Tuesday January 27, 2009 MYT 9:01:00 PM

Updated: Tuesday January 27, 2009 MYT 9:02:22 PM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP): A woman will appear on South Korean banknotes for the first time, with the issuance of a new 50,000-won ($36) bill, the central bank announced Tuesday.

The front of the bill - South Korea's largest-denominated note _ will show artwork by and a portrait of Shin Saim-dang, a well-known artist who died in 1551. Shin was the mother of Yi I, a famous Confucian scholar, and is popularly referred to as a symbol of a "wise mother and good wife."

Some of Shin's artwork already appears on the back of the 5,000-won note; the front of the bill is adorned with a portrait of Yi, known by his pen name Yulgok. Shin was one of the most respected female figures in Korea's Joseon Dynasty, which ruled from 1392 to 1910.

An official with the Bank of Korea said the choice of Shin was significant because it marks the first time a woman will be featured on the banknotes of South Korea, a traditionally male-dominated society. The new note has strengthened anti-forgery technologies and will debut before June, said the official who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak to media.

The note will be the country's highest-denominated bill followed by the 10,000 won. The bank decided last week not to issue a 100,000-won (about $70) bill at the government's request.

Source: thestar.com.my, thechinapost.

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Eastern Carribean Story

The East Caribbean States, formerly the British Caribbean Territories (Eastern Group), formed a currency board in 1950 to provide the constituent territories of Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, British Guiana (now Guyana), British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada with a common currency, thereby permitting withdrawal of the regular British Pound currency. This was dissolved in 1965 and after the breakup, the East Caribbean Territories, a grouping including Barbados, the Leeward and Windward Islands, came into being. Coinage of the dissolved ‘Eastern Group’ continues to circulate. Paper currency of the East Caribbean Authority was first issued in 1965 and although Barbados withdrew from the group they continued using them prior to 1973 when Barbados issued a decimal coinage.

The East Caribbean dollar (sign: $; code: XCD) is the currency of eight of the nine members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. It has existed since 1965 and is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $ or, alternatively, EC$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. The EC$ is subdivided into 100 cents. It has been pegged to the United States dollar at US$1 = EC$2.7 since 1976.

Six of the states using the EC$ are independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The other two are British overseas territories: Anguilla and Montserrat. These states are all members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. The only OECS member not using the East Caribbean dollar as their de facto currency is the British Virgin Islands, which uses the U.S. dollar instead. Queen Elizabeth II appears on the banknotes and the obverse of the coins: she is the head of state of all the states and territories using the EC$, except Dominica.

Eastern carribean banknote is one of the most beautiful paper money in this world. What I have here is a 2004 five dollar banknote with almost the same security features with the current banknote. It have country code (I still cannot find M stand for which country) and machine readable bar code.

See-through Feature

On all of the banknotes, there are fish in the bottom left hand corner on the front of the notes. When the notes are held up to the light, parts of the fish fill in, as areas on the back of the note line up perfectly with the front.

Watermark

There is a watermark depicting Queen Elizabeth II on each of the notes. The mould-made watermark appears three-dimensional when the note is held up to the light.

Security Thread

The security thread has been upgraded. When the banknote is viewed from the front under reflected UV light, the letters ECCB and the denominational value of the note are clearly visible in yellow, against a blue background. A second security thread has also been added. This is a narrow, continuous black line, to the left of the Queen's portrait.

Source: Eastern carribean central bank, Wikipedia, Krause Publications.

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Singapore Duit Ayam

Singapore Merchant Tokens or Duit Ayam (1828 -1853)

Merchant tokens were "imitation" coins produced by Singapore Merchants in the 19th century to facilitate trade and commerce in the Malay Archipelago. These tokens owed its origin to the phenomenal growth of Singapore as a center of trade in the region. The Singapore Merchants felt that they should not be dependent on the Dutch for the subsidiary coinage and asked the English East India Company to provide the suitable coinage. This failed and the merchants resorted to the issue of their own doits which became known as 'Merchant Tokens'.

The initial tokens were imitations of the East India Company 1-keping coins, which were the predominant currency, used in the Sumatra Trade. In 1830, the Singapore merchants commenced the issue of tokens imitating the Dutch quarter stiver. The initial issue of tokens proved to be successful as they easily gained the acceptance of the native traders. By 1832, the tokens were firmly established and with the increasing development of trade, they were in constant demand.

Subsequently, tokens of a more varied type were introduced. A series was produced for the States in the Malay Peninsula. Further issues were struck for Sumatra States and the Celebes. These tokens were in general use in Singapore. The official Dutch doits were generally replaced by the tokens in the native states. However, with the protest by the Dutch on the imitation of the Dutch doits, the British government began to intervene and minting of the tokens was suppressed. The Singapore merchants however, refused to be deterred as they had no intention of leaving the supply of copper coinage in the hands of the Dutch which would deprive them of a share in the very lucrative trade. The merchants promptly placed new orders for tokens not imitating any official coin. This resulted in the general extension of the 'cock' (ayam) tokens that became the standard design. The Soho Mint in Birmingham, UK, produced the 'cock' tokens. There were numerous die variations of the 'cock' tokens.

These tokens continued to circulate until the demand fell after 1847 when the East India Company introduced the first copper coinage for the Straits Settlements.

Source: Monetary Authority of Singapore

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Klang : 31 january 2009 hunting trip

Another place I visit for my hunting trip on 31 January 2009 is in Taman Sri Andalas. A friend told me that an old man is selling banknote and coin near a 4D shop beside a Public Bank in that place. I try to look for Public Bank upon my arrival there but I cannot see any person Selling banknote beside that 4D shop. I walk and browsing near that place and found Uncle Ah San at a 4D Magnum.

Uncle Ah San told me that he only doing sale at 4D Shop beside Public Bank on Friday. Saturday and Sunday he will be doing his sale at this 4D shop(Magnum). He will be there from 10.00 am until 3.00 pm. He has been selling banknote & coin at this places for almost 7 years. At the time of my visit there, I saw him talking in Chinese dialect while holding a piece of Malaya & British Borneo $10 dollar (duit Kerbau). When I asked him if that banknote is for sale, he said no. Only that the last digit of his banknote almost come up and strike 1st price for Magnum 4D.

I saw many old Malaya & British Borneo coin in his possession. He also sale some world coin but the condition for all the coin is almost very fine. He is also selling amulet (I don't pretty sure is it a Chinese or Thailand amulet). Almost all his banknote is in fine condition. He don't have any hand phone number that I can put in here so if you passed by Taman Sri Andalas in Klang on Friday until Saturday, feel free to check his sale.

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