Free World coin picture

My blog reader asking me where to find world coin picture? Especially coin picture for old Brunei coin. My answer is try to Google the coin title, you will never know what you will find. Old world coin pictures sometimes a bit hard to find but with patience and a bit of time wasting looking at the search result page, you will find what you are looking for. Do you know that I start my own web page by googling around? Google is the most powerful search engine and they really help me a lots.

Photo: Wikimedia commons logo

Photo: Don's World Coin Gallery

Back to the story on where is the best place to look for a good coins picture. I am suggesting two place on the world wide web that you can use their coin picture for free as long as you are not using it for commercial purposes.

The first one is Worldcoingallery.com. This site had over 26,000 coin photos from over 1,064 places in their gallery. This site own by Don Norris from United States. The website has been in the world wide web since July 2002 with over 1 million unique visitor. Web design a bit old but there are a lots of information that we can find from this site.

Here what he is saying about his collection:

This is my collection of world coins. Here you will find foreign coin photos, coin values and other information useful for coin collecting. Some coins came from the coin mint, some came from coin dealers, some came from coin auction. Some are stored in coin folders, others are stored using other coin supplies. Many of these coins are silver coins and a few are gold coins. This information is useful for coin collecting software and cataloging coin types and coin values in U.S. dollars.

Photo: Result for Current Circulation Coin Sets link

Photo: Country tab menu

There are two ways to find your coins; Country tab menu and Current Circulation Coin Sets of the World link. When I click on the country tab menu for the Brunei coin, I can see that he also link the page with eBay coin sales. You can see all the coins that is on auction in eBay. I try to click on the Brunei 1887 Silver 1 cent and the pictures come with a small ruler showing the coin diameter. It should be better if they have all the coin information on the coin page. Clicking on the circulating Brunei coin sets, I can see all of the coins in circulation from 1 cent until 50 cents.

Photo: Coins on wikimedia commons

Another site that you can try find free picture for your coin is wikimedia commons by wikipedia. Wikipedia is a free, multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Free content, multilingual encyclopedia written collaboratively by contributors around the world. Wikimedia have so many category for you to choose. You can see picture of Coins by year, motif, composition, century and country. There are also collection picture of coins on Islamic, Medieval Europe, Tokens and Counterfeit.

Photo: Category in wikimedia commons

Photo: Picture Licensing for wikimedia commons

Clicking on the subcategory of coins by country, I found pictures of Brunei coins. Photos placed one by one according to the type of coin, single photo for each type of coin. Its a little bit hard to find old coins picture in there though. I can only see people are contributing on circulation coin not the obsolete coins. One thing you need to be aware of before you will be using wikimedia picture is the picture licensing. Some of the picture is cannot be distributed. While some can be used on your site as long as you don't put text on the picture.

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Wrong fake pound advice

A wrong advice by police in Northern Ireland make retailers rejecting genuine pound coins as fakes, following a warning about an increase in counterfeit coins. Police warned people to look out for fake coins which do not have a ring of dots normally found around the circumference of the coin. However, some genuine 2008 and 2009 £1 coins do not have any dots. Police and bank had created panic around the issue of counterfeit coins. Police warning about fake pound coins described them in such a way as to easily confuse them with the legitimate 2008 coins. On monday, many retailer had refused to take 2008 shiny pound coins.

Photo by BBC News: 2008 pound coin that people think fake coin

Here is the official advice on how can you tell if your pound is fake, that we can get from The Royal Mint UK website:

• The date and design on the reverse do not match (the reverse design is changed each year). A list of designs and dates is available One Pound Coin.
• The lettering or inscription on the edge of the coin does not correspond to the right year.
• The milled edge is poorly defined and the lettering is uneven in depth, spacing or is poorly formed.The obverse and reverse designs are not as sharp or well defined.
• Where the coin should have been in circulation for some time, the colouring appears more shiny and golden and the coin shows no sign of age.
• The colour of the coin does not match genuine coins.
• The orientation of the obverse and reverse designs is not in line.

To make it easy to identify, the £1 coin is thicker than other coins while the 'yellow' colour allowed it to stand out from the cupro-nickel 'silver' coins already in circulation. The weight of the coin was decided largely on the grounds of cost and the need to allow for higher denomination coins in due course. The reverse designs represent the United Kingdom and its four constituent parts - Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. The first series of designs took floral emblems as its theme, while the second series was heraldic in approach.

Photo: inscription on the edge of the one pound coin

Royal Mint spokesman Kevin Clancy said that while the ring of dots was "a real red-herring" when it comes to spotting a dud coin, there are a number of factors which can help in picking out the fakes.

He said the lettering might be more crude than on a genuine coin and it may show little sign of aging even after supposedly having been in circulation for several years.

"If you are given a £1 coin in your change, without even thinking you're instinctively assessing a range of factors - its weight, its diameter and colour," he said.

"The most obvious thing to look out for is the colour, as the weight is probably not going to be a deciding factor.

Fake pound coins may be darker in colour and the heads and tails could be non-symmetrical.

Source: BBC News, Royal Mint Website

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Foreign Currency Trading Schemes; BNM advice?

Yesterday (4 January 2010), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) release a press statement about Illegal Foreign Currency Trading Schemes. In the statement, Bank Negara Malaysia inform public not to participate in any illegal investment or training programme on foreign currency trading offered by individuals or companies both domestic and foreign. Many people related it to forex trading but doesn't this statement sound like it also involve with coin, banknote selling and buying?

Here is the statement by Bank Negara Malaysia:

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Bank Negara Malaysia would like to caution members of the public not to participate in any illegal investment or training programme on foreign currency trading offered by individuals or companies both domestic and foreign.

Members of the public are usually enticed to attend such investment or training programmes with promises of quick and good returns. The modus operandi of such programmes have included:

• Offering free training, seminars or workshops to lure investors, prior to inviting investors to set-up an online foreign currency trading account with a principal company (purported to have valid licence to trade foreign currency overseas);
• Providing convenient access to the principal company's website and trading facilities to facilitate online foreign currency trading by investors;
• Recruitment of fresh graduates as marketing executives and encouraging them to get their family and friends to trade foreign currency; and
• Requiring investors to deposit an amount of money into a bank account to begin trading foreign currency, and subsequently, requesting for a top up on their initial investment ("margin call") to avoid losing their capital.

Under the Exchange Control Act 1953 (ECA), it is an offence for a person in Malaysia to buy or sell foreign currency or do any act which involves, is in association with, or is preparatory to, buying or selling of foreign currency with any person, other than an authorised dealer. It is also an offence for a person to aid or abet another person to buy or sell foreign currency with any person, unless the person is an authorised dealer.

The list of authorised dealers and financial institutions permitted by the Controller of Foreign Exchange to buy or sell foreign currency can be obtained from Bank Negara Malaysia's website (http://www.bnm.gov.my).

For further enquiries, members of the public can contact Bank Negara Malaysia at:

BNMTELELINK (Customer Service Call Centre)

1-300-88-5465 or

E-mail: bnmtelelink@bnm.gov.my

Bank Negara Malaysia
4 January 2010

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Bank Negara always make unclear statement for the public. There is many business involving foreign currency in this country? Which one do they mention about? Collector like me also do foreign currency collecting; buying and selling a one piece of US dollar notes by none authorised dealers will be an offence? People has been doing this thing for years. Right before I even born. Will they be catching Iraq Dinar Scam after this? That is a true scam but BNM never do anything about it. If it is about forex trading, why don't they just catch people who arrange that illegal forex trading programme? Why do we need to stop trading forex itself? When I click the list of the authorised dealers and financial institutions permitted by the Controller of Foreign Exchange, I can only see banks list. 

What is it exactly Illegal Foreign Currency Trading according to Bank Negara? Do anybody know? Do BNM read my blog? Can you please reply to this matters and make it clear? Is it true that BNM has lost a big billion of ringgit in forex in the 90's?

Source: Bank Negara Malaysia

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Error money found

Error money found by a guy recently from an ATM machine at the Penang International Airport. The news that reported by Malaysia local newspaper the star, reported that The legal tender was found stuck among 20 pieces of RM50 notes which was withdrawn by remisier Norhazi Ismail, 45 years old. Bearing the serial number, ‘PP1981485’ on the back, the note had an extra flap on the front left top corner.

“This banknote is legal as it came straight from Maybank. Also the paper quality, serial number, photo of the Agung and watermark are all intact,” he said.

Norhazi, a former bank worker, said this was the second time he had found such a note.

“In 1984, when I was working in the then Southern Bank in Bayan Lepas, I received the old RM100 note which had two faces of the King on it.

Norhazi said he would keep both the ringgit notes as he felt they might be collector’s items one day.

Consider yourself a very lucky person at the end of 2009 Norhazi. Since many collector who dream of having this kind of banknote straight from an ATM machine but have no luck like you. Nowadays, many people will check their money for error before putting it into their wallet. Not just error notes; replacement notes, solid number notes and even a side signature notes. Having this notes is just like having "durian runtuh" or extra money since the price will be going up then the denomination value. For me, an easy money like this is a good new way to attract new collector. The only problem is that most of this paper money will be sale for a higher price without any guide for buyer on the price. KN Boon Book list a price for this kind of banknote (solid number notes) but for me the price is what they sale in their shop. It wasn't a true market price.

Good luck to anyone who is looking for error banknotes, replacement, solid number or even side signature paper money. I will not be hunting for them, less competitor for all of you. This is not a make money solution for me.

Source: The Star

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Gaya street gong seller

On my vacations to Kota Kinabalu on November, I try to find Gaya street gong seller I have been talking about in my gaya street post. Kota Kinabalu tamu@Sunday market held along Gaya street, near the state library. Gaya street tamu open once a week on Sunday from 6am until 12pm. Gaya street tamu is one of the most go places for tourist since you can found so many local crafts and souvenir. You can also found so many discount hotels near gaya street.

Photo: Gong

From a website sabah.org.my, I found out that Gong is a backbone to almost every social event in Sabah. The gongs are found in all parts of the state and are highly valued. They are also used as bridewealth, for animistic religious ceremonies, signaling and during harvest festivals. The smaller musical instrument is a Kulintangan. The instrument consists of a set of about eight to nine small brass kettle gongs. Each sounds a different pitch when struck. The gongs are arranged horizontally in a row on a low wooden bed-like frame. The player sits down on the floor in front of the gongs and beats them with two small wooden mallets.

A kulintangan being played

Kulintangan was first introduced into west Sabah by the Bruneis but it is also traditionally used by the Bajaus and some Dusun/Kadazan people. It is usually played on festive occasions, such as weddings and religious ceremonies, where it is often accompanied by other traditional gongs. You can hear the sound of this music in this video, almost a miles away when you pass by gaya street on sunday. The gong and kulintangan on sale here for as little as RM130 until over thousands ringgit depends on the quality and item used to make the instrument.


On my visit to gaya street on 15 november 2009, not so many coins and banknotes are on sale by this seller. Only a few foreign coins and paper money that not very valuable are on sale. Few years back, I remember this sellers bring so many north borneo coins and Sabah tokens. On my visit last, most of items on sale is Chinese ceramics from Song dynasty. I am not a fan of china dynasty porcelains but you can found Qingbai bowl, Ru ware, Ding ware and blue and white ware. The price is around RM200 until thousands of ringgit depending on the quality of the porcelain.


The owner is the old man wearing a white hat (kopiah putih); sorry, I forgot to asked his name and contact number. They will not be selling in this tamu, when Kota Belud (a town in Sabah famously known as the cowboy town) is having a tamu besar. He is also selling parang and keris, some of the traditional weapon in Sabah. If you going to Gaya Street Tamu, make sure you make a visit to this seller stall. He is buying his items from village people, most probably he will sell them at cheaper price then catalog. One of the seller that worth to look for when you visit this place.

Source: Wikipedia, www.sabah.org.my

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Jonker Street Melaka

If you're coming To Malaysia and looking for a historic place to visit, Melaka is one of the must go state in Malaysia. There are many place of interest in Melaka. One of them is Jonker Street or also known as Jonker Walk. The name Jonker mean junk, referring to Chinese vessels. Jonker Street once known for its Chinese Clan house. Most of the building in this street is dated in the early part of the 20th century. Nowadays, Jonker Street also known as Jalan Hang Jebat because of a tomb (makam) of Malacca warrior, Hang Jebat they renamed it Jalan Hang Jebat. But most people still prefer to call it Jonker Street.

Photo: Hang Jebat Tomb (Makam Hang Jebat)

I can not see any Malacca hotel along Jonker Street. Maybe because my eyes a bit busy looking at antique and souvenir on display in shop houses along this street. Most of the shops in here are selling tin coins from Melaka coinage. The only problem for me is that the price ain't that cheap. Most of the shop selling price is double then what I can get from other places in Malaysia. It sound a bit ridiculous for collector like me but this is a place for tourist, most probably the seller just want to take extra profit. Almost any antique shop in Malaysia will be selling their item a bit higher then market price. Make sure you knew how much is the market price for your item before you're buying from any antique shop or you will need a laser eye surgery after buying from those antique shop because of the high price tag.

One of the shop that attract me the most is Gold Moon Coins & Curios Trading shop. Almost all the shop front are full with a display of old coin. Most of them are from Melaka Coinage. I can see Animal tin money, Malacca sultanate coin, Chinese tin cash, Dutch East Indies coin and Portuguese tin coins. Some of the coin is a rare coin, including Straits Settlements 1883H 10 cents on sale for RM3,800.00. A 1908 King Edward Straits Settlements one dollar coin on sale in here for a whopping RM400.

Here are some antique shop that worth to look at along Jonker street;

Photo: Melaka Saw Clan Association

Photo: Kedai Antik Chin Teck

Photo: Syarikat Abdul Company Antique Shop

Other then antique, paper money, stamps and coins, you can find many shop selling souvenir. You can found wood-craved statues, decorative item for your house, fashionable clothes, key chain, beautiful wind chimes made by sea shell and photo frame. Most people coming in here buying a wooden clogs made by wood and painted with striking flowery pattern. If you're tired searching for souvenirs, there are many cafes, restaurants and stalls selling local delicacies such as Chicken rice ball, curry noodles, assam fish, cendol, dodol and many mouth watering food that you should try.

To all my antique reader out there, go get yourself a cheap airline ticket to Malacca and make sure you include Jonker Walk as a place you must visit. To anyone who have been to this place, share with us what do you like the most?

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Malacca stamp & money fair 2009

This will be the last money and stamp fair held in Malaysia this year. Malacca stamp & money fair held from 25 to 27 December 2009 at Malacca Famous Jonker Street. It is held in a Hainan Clan House in Jalan Hang Jebat or famously known as Jonker Street or Jonker walk. Chinese clan associations are formed by Overseas Chinese based on dialect groups or same family names to look after their member's affairs and welfare. On my visit there on Saturday, only 6 dealers joining the Jonker stamp and money Fair. Some of them are regular seller from Kuala Lumpur.

First of all thanks for the invite by man without name to his hometown. Without him, I will most probably stranded in a bumper to bumper jammed along jalan Hang Jebat that day. Its a big holiday in Malaysia and Singapore, most people going to Melaka for a holiday. This is man without name new blog A fistful of ringgit. Wish you good luck on your blog. Many hard work need to be done for a new blog like yours. thanks for the hospitality and a great tour.

There is not much of thing happening in the fair that day. Accept from Mr. Govin (US Agency) who is eagerly participated in almost any money fair around Malaysia, not many people (collector) coming to this fair. Most probably because we where going a bit to early at around 10.30am. The Jonker Stamp and Money fair open from 9.30 am until 9.00 pm. According to man without name, most people will be coming to Jonker street during night time.

Photo: Malaysia one ringgit, Tan Sri Dato Seri Ali Abul Hassan Signature

Photo: Fossil Stones

Photo: Old ge Sewing machine sell by Mr.Govin

Some of the item that attract the most to me is this Malaysia one ringgit, Tan Sri Dato Seri Ali Abul Hassan Signature. Do you know how much this banknote price during this fair? It goes for a whooping RM1,700 for this extremely fine condition banknote. When I am visiting Amcorp Mall early this month, the price for almost the same quality banknote is just around RM1,000. This is certainly a good value for collector who want to invest and not collecting money for hobby. Another item that interest me is fossil stones. I am not a fan of fossil stones but I have seen some friends using them as amulets and decorative object. Do you know how old this GE (general electric) sewing Machine?

Other item on sale in here are mostly stamp, first day cover, world banknote, world coin and reference book for this hobby. I wish this fair will be held again next year with more dealer and a little bit more on advertisement. Without a friend help on telling me that a money fair will be held in Jonker street, I will never know about it.

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