January Postings 2013 - Happy New Year Everyone

1 January 2013 - Malaysia 2012 Fourth Series issue released on 16.07.2012. Here I would like to start off with the new year by posting a complete set of Malaysia 2012 series of First prefix (AA) and Replacement prefix (ZA) to kick off the year 2013. The 2012 issues comprises of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 100 Ringgit, all signed by Governor Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz (appointed since May 2000). Both the 1 and 5 Ringgit are printed on polymer material, whilst the rest are on paper. In general, both first (including last prefix) and replacement notes are favorites among collectors, and it appears that there are no shortage in supply for such notes for this series either. You just have to look for the lowest price to buy. Good luck if you are looking for a set.

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4 January 2013 - Mauritius 1978 Franklin Mint Specimen Banknotes From Around The World Set. This set comprises of 4 notes - 5, 10, 25 and 50 Rupees (P30c, P31c, P32c and P33c respectively). Initial issue price for this set was US$14. Current market value is based on supply and demand, but definitely not rare given that more than 10,000 sets were issued and sold. Still plenty available with most sellers selling slightly above the catalogue value but some asking for ridiculous prices.  I believe many of these are still in mint condition. After almost more than 35 years since it was first released, there are still plenty around to offer. You just have to look around for the best price to buy. This is a very nice set of notes. The 50 Rupees is also a very large note. My favourite piece.

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6 January 2013 - Jamaica $5000 Hybrid 2010 reprint. This is the reprint of the initially 2009 issue (P87) but with the signature of Brian Wynter. Governor Brian Wynter was appointed as head of the Central Bank on 23.11.2009. As the Governor, he is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank. The J$5000 is still the largest banknote circulating on the island nation and still the only Hybrid note issued for this denomination. This note has since been replaced by the 2012 commemorative note (celebrating 50th Year of Independence). I wonder if they will revert back to this for reprint when the stock for the 2012 commemorative ran out? Hybrid notes have been moving in a very slow pace since 2005. Even Fiji recently replaced the 2007 F$100 Hybrid note to a paper note. Is the manufacturing cost for such Hybrid note is still a deal breaker?

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9 January 2013 - Solomon Islands 1996 to 2000 series. This full set of banknotes comprises of five notes - $2, $5, $10, $20 and $50 (P18-P22). The $100 note was not introduced then until in 2006. Not much have changed in terms of the main designs of these notes since the removal of the portrait of the British monarch (Queen Elizabeth the Second) in 1986. These notes bear the signatures of both Rick N Houenipwela (Governor) and Warren Paia (Director). All notes are also undated.

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12 January 2013 - Nicaragua 2012 reprints. The 2012 reprints comprises of 5 notes with 3 printed on polymer and the remaining 2 on paper. Minor changes also included in the reprints. The 100 Cordobas is reported to be a commemorative note, to celebrate the 100 year of national currency. The Cordobas currency was first introduced on 20.3.1912.

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15 January 2013 - Australia 1997 Emergency Services Commemorative. Here I have posted a single note folder issued to commemorate the Australia Emergency Services. This issue was a joint venture between Notes Printing of Australia (NPA) and Australia Post. The folder, in addition to the $20 polymer note, also includes a pane of mint postage stamps of $1.20 x 10. This issue came with 2 varieties - Premium set (red serial number 1000 sets) and Deluxe set (black serial number 2000 sets). The prefix for this note is ES97.

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19 January 2013 - Macau 10 Patacas 2012 Dragon Commemorative notes. Early last year (12.01.2012) both the Macau Bank of China (BoC) and Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) released a 10 Patacas legal tender note each, celebrating the Year of the Dragon. Ten million pieces each were issued by the two banks and all sold out within 3 days of released. Due to popular in demand for such notes among the locals as well as overseas dealers/collectors including those from China, Hong Kong etc, a second reprint was ordered and was made available for purchase via online between 4.10.12 to 31.10.12 and for delivery between 3.12.2012 to 31.1.2013. Each customer was allowed to order 15 pieces each for the reprint or 30 pieces from both banks, and this quantity is predetermined with no alteration is allowed. Like the first issues, this second reprints are only available to the locals only (Macao residents). The total quantity for the second reprint is not known but one can distinguish the difference between the two by looking at the serial numbers. The first print has 7 digits, whilst the reprint has 8. Common sense will tell me that the second reprint should be cheaper to buy unless all Macao locals, dealers and collectors are just as mad as the first issues.

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20 January 2013 - Malaysia 5 Ringgit Polymer note ND2004 Issue. Here I have updated my previous posting by adding two scans of this series onto my previous post. The scans that I have added are the notes with prefixes "EM" and "ZA". Whilst we all know that "ZA" is traditionally a replacement prefix, I have been told the "EM" is the last prefix for this series. I can't be sure that this is correct as I have been told a difference story prior to this note. I suppose we all just have to sit back and wait to see if more will be made available to the public at a later date, despite the new series of notes were introduced in July 2012. If you have bought some prior to this "EM' prefix, perhaps you should ask for a refund LOL! It was also well known that this series was initially printed by NPA, and traditionally NPA does not print replacement prefix. Therefore one can only assume that the "ZA" prefix was printed by another company. The question here is by whom and what was the change over prefix? How many printers were involved in the printing of this series? If "BJ" was the last prefix for the RM5 paper series, is "CA" still the first prefix for this Polymer series? I will let the so called experts to figure this out.

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25 January 2013 - Tunisia 50 Dinars, dated 7.11.2008 P91. I can't confirm this, but I believe this is a commemorative note celebrating the 21st year of the overthrown of the Habib Bourguiba Government (7.11.1987) by Ben Ali, who himself has since been deposed by the Arab Spring Uprising in early 2011. Almost every notes issued during the Ben Ali era were considered as commemorative notes related to the overthrown of Habib Bourguiba government. This 50 Dinars note has also been recently replaced by a new design due to the overthrow of the previous regime.

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26 January 2013 - England Bank of England (BoE). Here I have posted 4 notes all signed by Chief Cashier David H.F. Somerset (1980-1988). These notes were issued between 1984-1988. Unfortunately I do not have the £50 piece. The £5 note has the thin thread. I also have the £5 with thick thread (P378d) in VF condition but I have not uploaded the image here. Only the £1 and £5 are in uncirculated condition. Needless to say the other 2 are not. The £1 note came straight out of a ATM in uncirculated condition many years ago. This note is in crisp uncirculated condition with no cutting cup marks or any signs of machine or human handling marks. Both the £10 and £20 were given to me as a gift.

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28 January, 2013 - Uganda 10,000 Shillings 2011 Reprint. Nothing much to talk about this note except that this is a reprint of the 2010 issue. I do not normally buy single note unless it's a commemorative, or the only single note issued in a given year. This note was supplied to me by a seller by mistake. I bought a 2010 full set but instead given a 10,000 Shillings 2011 reprint. Nothing has changed from the previous issue.