April "Fool" Postings 2014

1 April 2014 - Great Britain Five Pounds 2000 Millennium commemorative note. Like many countries around the world (a total of 16 nations including Great Britain), this five pounds note was printed to celebrate the new millennium. The Bank of England released more than 3 notes to commemorate the new Millennium. Apart from this note, it also released the £10 and £20 notes in a presentation folder separately (in partnerships with the Royal Post and the Royal Mint). This note used for this special occasion was the same as those notes issued for general circulation but with the special prefix of YR20 00. This note bears the facsimile signature of the Chief Cashier, Merlyn Lowther. A total of 1,500 pieces were printed for this denomination. I bought this note by itself only, ie no folder, coin or stamp etc

4 April 2014 - North Korea 2009 New Won. This is a full set of new Won (third Won series) reportedly issued in 2009 following the country revaluation of its currency in November 2009. The notes here posted are dated between 2002 and 2008. These new Won were issued to tackle hyperinflation and also black market activities. Following these releases, all previously issued notes ceased to be legal tender. The won is issued by the Central Bank of the Democractic People's Republic of Korea. The one won was not issued for this series.


5 April 2014 - Moldova 200 Lei 2013 Commemorative. This note was released on 29.11.2013 commemorating the country's 20th Anniversary of its currency Leu (MDL). The Moldovan Leu (plural Lei) was established on 29.11.1993 following the collapse of the Soviet Empire. One Leu equals to 100 Bani (singular Ban). The name of the currency "Leu" originally came from Romania which means "lion". Only 4000 Folder set were issued.

10 April 2014 - Hungary 10,000  Forint, dated 2008 P192g.

I have added this 10,000 Forint to my previous 2008 posting of 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 forint. I believe the 20,000 Forint was also issued in 2008 but unfortunately I do not have this note in my collection. Collecting them in full set is much more fun.I enjoy more if I know I have them in a full set.


12 April 2014 - China, The Chinese Italian Banking Corporation One Yuan 1921 PS253. Very little is known about this foreign bank operating in China prior to the communist cival war victory in October 1949. However it has been reported that the bank did operated a branch/head office in the city of Hankow (Hankou). Hankow was once a city by itself is now part of Wuhan city, the capital city of Hubei province. This is a reminder note as it's unsigned and has no location imprinted on it. It also missing the two red seals (chop) on the front. However it is believed that this note and the rest of the denominations (2, 10, 50 and 100 yuan) were issued but only for a very short period. It is also not sure how long the bank lasted in China before it disappeared from the face of the earth. Unfortunately this is the only note I have in my collection.

13 April 2014 - Qatar 100 and 500 Riyals 2007 Hybrid double digit prefix. According to some listings, these two notes have the reference numbers of P26b and P27b just because they have a double digit prefix. I am not sure if this should be the case, but anyway, here are the notes for your viewing pleasure. If they said so, it must be "koret", right?

18 April 2014. Sierra Leone full set. This is the last prints for the 2006 and 2007 series before they resizing the notes to a smaller version printed in 2010. This set comprises of 4 notes with values from 1,000 to 10,000 Leones. The Leone remains a fairly weak currency with a full set worth less than US$5.

19 April 2014 - Barbados $50 dated 2.5.2012 signed by Dr Delisle Worrell. I have added this note to my previous posting of 2012 Barbados issues of $2, $5, and $10 notes. The 2012 series comprises of only 4 notes, excluding the 2012 Bank's 40th Anniversary $20 commemorative issue. This 2012 has since been replaced by the 2013 new series. The 2013 new notes are all dated 2.5.2013 and also bears the signature of Dr Delisle Worrell. It appears that the $100 denomination was not printed for the 2012 series. How sad?

25 April 2014 - Iceland - 500 Kronur ND. This is a reprint with new signatures. I am not sure when this note was released. Iceland has a rather small population of just over 320,000 plus and because of that, not all denomination of banknotes are printed on a yearly basis like some other countries which have a much larger population. The design of this note was first introduced in 1981 and since then there were few reprints.

27 April 2014 - Malaysia forth Series Replacement notes. Today, I have uploaded the Malaysia forth series replacement note issued since 2008 for the One Ringgit (polymer), 5 (polymer), 10, 20, 50 and 100 Ringgit. I have previously posted a complete set of the first replacement ZA prefix for all denominations but since then they have churned out more. Whilst I do not have all the prefixes yet, I will update them as and when they are in hand. It seems that there are no shortage of supply for such notes. It's just that you have to find one with the right price. The selling price for such notes varies from seller to seller and therefore it is hard to know what would be considered as fair. This is a supply and demand item, and for that it is up to each individual to decide or how desperate they wanted these. Some think it's rare and others don't. I am not here to dispute this but if these notes were released by the bundles, in many cases, then it should not be rare. Rare are those that you can only find them as inserted replacement notes. This is just my 2 cents worth.