For those not following the Numismatic news, they might found this piece of RM50 is similar with the current normal circular RM50 banknote in Malaysia, but let's take a look at their issuing history.
First, Bank Negara Malaysia announced that they will issue the new RM50 banknotes to commemorate the 50th Anniversary Independence of Malaysia at their official website on 21st December 2007, and announced that it is available for public to purchase on the 26th December 2007, at that time, member of public need to go to Bank Negar to que up for the Banknote which the system is already change to online ordering and balloting at current Bank Negara system. The announcement from Bank Negara on this issue can be found here.
The issued quantity for this commemorative banknote is 20,000 pieces, with serial number AA0000001 to AA0020000, the RM50 notes that circular in Malaysia that time is different design from this commemorative banknote, until on the 15th July 2009, Bank Negara Malaysia announce that they will issue the new RM50 banknotes for normal circular, which is using the template of this commemorative banknotes, the announcement can be found here.
The after market price for this commemorative banknote is appreciating quite significantly over the years, to differentiate the commemorative piece and normal circular piece, the most simply is on the serial number, AA0000001 to AA0020000 is the commemorative banknote. Beside that, the commemorative banknotes have gold colour edge at both edge of note (PMG will label it as Yellow Edges) while the normal circular is with grey colour edge.
Another different is at the back side of the commemorative bank note it carry the 50th Anniversary Logo, while normal circular banknote is without the Logo. But you may find that Logo in the prefix AA0020001 to AE10000000, still that is consider normal circular banknote, you may find the news about the Banknotes with the Logo here.
It is very curious for me who is the first owner of this piece of first serial number on this commemorative banknotes, is it this is the first appearance of this piece of Banknote or is the first appearance is from Bank Negara own organizing auction? And for a very interesting fact, that Malaysia Prime Minister at the time, Datuk Seri Ahmad Badawi was receiving the serial number AA0000009 from than Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the news can be found here.
Photo Source: Trigometric Sdn. Bhd. Facebook Page
