Issuance of Commemorative Coins in Conjunction with APEC 2020

We have the third commemorative coins issue from Bank Negara Malaysia which they announced on 20th November 2020, the link for the coins which issue in conjunction with the APEC 2020 can be found in BNM official website here. 

In the previous 2 issued of commemorative coin, which BNM is using the balloting method which they introduce few years ago, and there are one more changes they have done due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, BNM had cancel the self collection option for the success ballotter, instead all success ballotter will get their coin by courier service.

In this process, each application process they will be a charge of courier fee, on top of that, the courier fee will be charge on every single coin (in case of coin card, it will be lot of 5 pieces) you apply.

Those who apply full set for both version in previous issued  may need to pay RM1,491.65 in advance and the courier fee is charging at RM177.15.

Initially some may feel the extra courier cost may consider drive up the coin cost, which may make some collector decide to wait and see how the public respond on this new normal.

The balloting result is already out and judging from the feedback in social media, it seems most of the coin is fully subscribe, looks like the extra courier charge didn't dampen the collector interest at all.

      

 

Bank Negara announced 2 Commemorative Coin Issuance in 2 days

It is quite surprise for me to know that Bank Negara Malaysi (BNM) had announced the issuance of commemorative for 2 different theme in the 2 days time-frame.  Not sure if it is happened before in the previous commemorative coin issued history, but for sure the numismatic lover need to prepare more money for 2 coin balloting application at the same time.

The first announcement from BNM is on the 27th August 2020, on the issuance of Commemorative Coin in Conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the specification of the coin and the selling price can be found at the BNM link here.  

The second announcement from BNM is on the 28th August 2020, on the issuance of the Commemorative Coin in Conjunction with the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of Putrajaya, the specification of the coin and the selling price can be found at the BNM link here.

The application for the balloting details will be announce at BNM website on the 25th September 2020.

Source of Photo: Bank Negara Malaysia official website

A visit to Trigometric new office

On the 1st July 2020, Trigometric Sdn. Bhd. had shifted their office from Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya to EkoCheras Mall office tower. I'm quite exciting to have a look how is their new office looks like, so I decided to visit them on the 11th July 2020 after finish my work.

That is a raining day, I park my car at the Mall ground floor parking zone, and walk into the Mall area, after have walk around, only notice that their office is actually located in an office tower beside the Mall and not inside the Mall.

Their full address is Unit A-03-03, EkoCheras Office Tower, No. 693, Batu 5, Jalan Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

You have to registered at the Office Tower lobby to get the access card, and scan the access card  inside the lift which will lead you to the third floor.

Once enter to their office, I can feel the relaxing atmosphere and you can have a look at some of the owner collection which display nicely in the cabinet.

I'm taking the opportunity to take some photo of the owner collection, which I won't think it can be easily seen elsewhere.

By the way, Trigometric will be organizing their 12th Auction in the month of October 2020, and is currently accepting consignment until the end of this month. Further info can be found in their Facebook Page here.

The Square Shape Coin

For the younger generation, they might find that a coin in square shape is interesting, this square shape coin can be found mostly in half cent and one cent coin with bronze material.

Between the Straits Settlements to Malaya & British Borneo era, only 3 British Royal portrait can be found in the square shape coin design, which is King George V with half cent dated 1932 and one cent dated 1919, 1920 and 1926. Next is King George VI with half cent dated 1940 and one cent dated 1939, 1940, 1941(some call it as 1941i due to the mintmark on coin), 1943 and 1945. And for the Queen Elizabeth II version only have the one cent which dated 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1961.

1939 Malaya 20 cents coin

In this post, let us have a look on the 1939 Malaya 20 cents coin, with the portrait of the King George VI minted on the coin.

This coin is not expensive for numismatic collector, but it have some interesting history fact that I would like to share on this coin.

1939 is the year that Malayan Dollar replace the Straits Settlements currency, and it is issued by Board of Commissioners Currency Malaya, the history of the Malayan Dollar can be found in the Wikipedia link here.

Here are some fact that I like this coin,

1. In their previous issues of Straits Settlement coin, the highest denomination for Queen Victoria version is 50 cents, and one dollar for King Edward VII and King George V, even after that the Queen Elizabeth II have the highest denomination of 50 cent for coin, but the King George VI series 20 cent is the highest denomination for coin.

2. This is consider the last series of the coin minting using silver as material, from 1948 onwards, the King George VI series of coin change the minting material to copper-nickel and it continues to the Queen Elizabeth II series, this is due to the shortage of minting material during the World War II at that period of time.

3. Due to the shortage of minting material as stated in the above fact, there are paper money of 20 cent banknotes issued, it is also the era when the 1 cent to 20 cent have both coin and banknotes version.

Knowing the Bank Negara Malaysia Gabenor Signature

In the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Official website, at the time of writing, Malaysia have total of 4 series of banknotes issued since the BNM taking the authority of banknotes issuing power after the Malaysia independence.

But in the local numismatic guide book, you may found that will have a total of 14 series of banknotes, so how did this happened?

Firstly, when BNM stated there are 4 series of Malaysia banknotes, it is mainly straight forward as stating there are total 4 design of Malaysia banknotes issued until to date. As for every Malaysia banknotes are printed with the BNM Gabenor signature, due to one design of the said banknotes may have 2 to 3 different Gabenor signature, due to the resignation or new appointment during that period of time, numismatic collector will consider each different Gabenor signature as a different series.

So some banknotes of design may have different Gabenor signature and some Gabenor may have the opportunity to have their signature on 2 different design of banknotes.

In this post, I'm sharing the info of BNM Gabenor with their signature which this photo are taking from one of the past exhibition at Sasana Kijang Museum.  

Trigometric Auction 11

Trigometric Sdn. Bhd. initially plan to organize their 11th auction and 5th Kuala Lumpur International Numismatic Fair on 19th to 22nd March 2020 at Parkroyal Hotel Kuala Lumpur, the auction have to be postponed and the fair need to be call off due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) announce by Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16th March 2020, which the MCO started from 18th March 2020 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, and have been gone through few stages at the time of writing.

Today Trigometric announce that the 11th auction will be re-schedule to 6th to 7th June 2020 which the bid can be carry out at their website https://auctions.thetrigo.org/ .

1920 Straits Settlements One Dollar

In the previous post, I had share some of the photo of Straits Settlements one dollar coin with King Edward VII portrait, and since there are no one dollar coin issued under Queen Victoria era, so for one dollar Straits Settlements coin there are only 2 portrait had been issued, King Edward VII and the King George V.

Getting one beautiful photo from the Pegasus Auctions website, this is the piece dated 1920, the King George V portrait can be seen on this one dollar Straits Settlements coin with year 1919 & 1920 minted on coin, which is the most common years found in the market, although it have the 1925 & 1926 record in the numismatic guide book, but their mintage is unknown, and I haven't seen one selling in the market.

This particular of Straits Settlements one dollar coin also have the restrike proof version.

Queen Victoria 50 cents Private Medalic

Queen Victoria Straits Settlement coin is one of the favourite theme for Malaysia numismatic lover, the largest denomination in this series is 50 cents coin that issued between 1886 to 1901, but this coin is not cheap even in the EF condition, so UNC is consider rare with much higher pricing.

In 2019, I found that there are 100 pieces of the private issue medallic, using the design of 1889 Queen Victoria 50 cents Straits Settlement coin, is selling in the local numismatic channel in NCG slab, I think this is a very beautiful design which NGC give them a PFUC (Proof Ultra Cameo) grading. For those who wish to enjoy the eye appealing design can consider to have it but of course in numismatic value, it is still just a private issue medallic and not a real coin.

And when I browse through the NGC population record, interestingly found that there are another 100 pieces of the private issue medallic issued in this year, and it is in the design of 1893 Queen Victoria 50 cents Straits Settlement coin, at the time of writing I still didn't see any of them selling at local market.

I'm also curios it is which party or company issuing this private issue medallic.

Bhutan The Word's Happiest Country

In the current global Covid-19 pandemic, there are many peoples in the world caught in stressful emotion due to their financial condition as many economy activities need to be stop due to the social distancing measurement that need to carry out to break the chain of the virus infection.

Bhutan is a very unique country that first adopt Gross National Happiness  (GNH) in the world, more about GNH can be found in the Wikipedia link here. Although in the recent year ranking for the most happiest country, Bhutan is not in the top list, but the country is taking the crown before.

In the current world condition, I think many have to learn about the lifestyle of Bhutan to have some inner peace for oneself, I'm not really a vegan, but I think the vegan culture in Bhutan also play some big role in their happiness index.

Photo from internet show the King of Bhutan together with Queen and Prince, and the commemorative banknotes issued in 2016 to commemorate the birth of Prince Bhutan.

Series of China Commemorative Banknotes

This commemorative banknotes issued in 1999 is to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of People's Republic of China, it features Chairman Mao reading "China Resurrected" on 01-01-1949 in Tiananmen, Peking.

This piece of commemorative banknotes issued on 2000 to celebrate the new millennium. With vibrant red and orange hues, this "dragon" note has great eye appeal.

This commemorative banknotes issued on 2008 in conjunction with the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic, this is the smallest denomination commemorative banknotes issued in China so far, but at the time of writing, it carry highest market value compare to other China commemorative banknotes. Feature with the design of the Olympic main stadium where they call it "Bird Nest".

This commemorative banknotes issued on 2015 to celebrates first China Aerospace Day. This was a way to annouce future space exploration and as well as honour China's pioneers on space travel. Feature with very unique satellite design.

This commemorative banknotes issued on 2018 is to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of renminbi.

The Beauty of the Straits Settlement One Dollar Coin

One of the charming view of the Straits Settlement One Dollar coin is its reverse side of coin, which have the total of 3 languages of the denomination letter struck at this side of coin, the denomination of one dollar is shown in English, Chinese and Jawi, even in the British Trade Dollar which the reverse side have about the similar design, their English denomination is putting at the obverse side.

In this post, I'm showing the obverse side of the 1907 Straits Settlement One Dollar coin, which the design is portrait of King Edward VII with the crowned bust facing right, which is the master piece of the engraver George William de Saullers, and for different year you may found Straits Settlement coin with different portrait like Queen Victoria and King George V which both of coin is design as such crowned bust facing left. But there are no one dollar Straits Settlement coin with Queen Victoria portrait which at that era of time the one dollar is using the paper money design.

Commemorative Coins of the Installation of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI

On the 1st August 2019, Bank Negara Malaysia in a press release announce that the issuance of Commemorative coin in conjuncti on with the Installation of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah as the sixteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 30th July 2019.

The details on the issuance can be found in the Bank Negara website here.

In this post it is to show some interesting process on the making of this coin.

In one exhibition held at Sasana Kijang Bank Negara recently, on of the column have show the simple process on the making of this coin, in the above photo, there are numbering below each item with the below description.

1. Coin dies for production of silver commemorative coins
Coin dies are the tool for the coins minting. There are two faces of die, observe and reserve

2. Silver Coin Blanks and Nordic Gold Coin Blanks
Coin blank is a disc-shaped metal used to produce a coin. Upon striking process, the image from coin dies will be transferred onto the coin blanks.

Clay
In designing the YDPA  Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah commemorative coin, an experienced Coin Designer will properly handcraft the clay, i.e. into the muskat, head-dress and portrait of the YDPA. The clays will be scanned to produce digital files. With using software, the digital file of muskat, head-dress and portrait will then be combined to carve a master dies.

3. Muscat Clay

4. Head-dress clay

5. Clay portrait of YDPA  Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah clay

6. The approved image of YDPA