May Postings 2014

1 May 2014 - Hong Kong Bank of China $100 3-in-1 Uncut Sheet. This is a limited commemorative uncut sheet which was issued in 2012 to celebrates the bank 100th year of establishment (5.2.1912). A total sheets of 100,000 were issued at a price of HK$600 each. The bank originally started in 1905 when the last Chinese Imperial government (Qing Dynasty 1644-1911) established Daqing Hubu Bank. In 1908, the bank changed it's name to Daqing Bank. Following the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911, the bank was then renamed Bank of China by the Nationalist Kuomintang government let by Dr Sun Yet-sen. After the Chinese civil war ended (1.10.1949) between the Communist and the Nationalist, the bank split into two operations, with one part of it's operation shifted to Taiwan under the Nationalist Kuomintang government let by Chiang Kai-shek. The Taiwan operation later changed it's name in 1971 and merged with the Taiwan Bank of Communication. The mainland operation's name remains unchanged. BoC, by market capitalisation, is the 5th largest bank in the world. Even though BoC is owned by the government of the Peoples' Republic of China, it is not the Central of China (Peoples' Bank of China). BoC operates in 27 countries and employed staffs in excess of 280,000 worldwide. The BoC (Hong Kong branch) commenced it's operation in 1917. The bank was forced to closed temporary during the Japanese occupation in 1941 and reopened in 1946 following the end of the war. Right up to 1942, BoC issued banknotes in China on behalf of the Nationalist government. In 1994, the BoC (HK) was granted the license in Hong Kong to issue banknotes in the territory. The primary colour of this note is in red, an auspicious and iconic colour, representing jubilation and passion.


3 May 2014 - Australia 1995 NPA annual Premium full set (Red Serial Nos set). This is the second set of the series, after the first issue in 1994 which comprises of the $5 and $10 notes. This set comes in three notes, $5, $10 and $20 and all printed with red matching serial numbers. A total sets of 1,000 were printed but as usual only 900 sets were released to the public with the remaining 100 sets retained by the bank's archive. These folder sets were sold separately but back then when you purchased them in full set you can request them with matching serial numbers. The original issue price for these folders were $50 for the $5, $65 for the $10 and $85 for the $20. Despite only 900 sets were made available to the public, the demand for these notes were not as good as compared to those Deluxe sets (black serial nos). Until now, you can still be able to find them selling at a fairly reasonable price. When come to demand for Premium sets, Australia does not always follow the rest of the world. Low quantity does not necessary resulted in higher in demand as collectors are looking for value for money and reasonable pricing too, like the Deluxe set. Based on what I have observed for many years, not many dealers are also willing to stock such products either, mostly due to poor in demand by collectors or the lack of interest in such numismatic products. The number one premium set was sold at an auction for $3,000. Proceeds from the sale was donated to a charity organisation.

8 May 2014 - Brazil, a full set of the 2013 new issues. The modern Real was first introduced in 1994, replacing the previous currency - Cruzeiro, following a monetary reform to stop three decades of rampant hyperinflation in the country. The Real was initially  introduced at par with the US Dollar but devalued over the years to now less that half the value of US dollar. This set of new notes was first announced in February 2010 and later released to the public for circulation in December 2013.


11 April 2014 - Great Britain £5 Commemorative note. This note was issued in an envelope folder together with a £5 coin and a £5 postage stamp. This was a joint issue with the Bank of England, the Royal Mint and the Royal Mail to celebrate the late Queen Mother Queen Elizabeth 100th birthday. The Queen Mother was born on 4.8.2000 and passed away on 30.3.2002, aged 101 plus. Like all previously numismatic issues, this £5 note is the same as the normal Merlyn Lowther £5 note issued but with special prefix of QM10. Only 10,000 sets issued of which 1,000 were issued with a postage stamp of £5.


15 May 2014 - Australia 1998 NPA Annual Premium full set (Red Serial Nos set). This is the second full annual Premium set issued, after the 1997 sets released the previous year. Unlike previous year, this was issued in a complete set of 5 notes and as such this is the only way you can get them with red serial numbers and not via individual notes. A total sets of 1,000 were printed but as usual only 900 sets were released to the public with the remaining 100 sets retained by the bank's archive. All sets were issued with matching serial numbers and the original issue price was $480.00. Despite only 900 sets made available to collectors and was initially selling for $480.00 ($285.00 for the deluxe black serial numbers set), the demand for these premium sets (just like all other Premium sets previously issued) were not that particular popular. Until now, you can still be able to find them selling at a fairly reasonable. When come to demand for annual polymer folder sets, Australia does not always follow the rest of the world in term of it’s demand. Low quantity issues do not necessary resulted in higher in demand as collectors are looking for value for money and reasonable pricing too. Based on what I have observed over the past few years, not many dealers are also willing to stock such products either, mostly due to poor in demand by collectors or the lack of interest in such numismatic products.


17 May 2014 - Great Britain - 2002 Queen Golden Jubilee Commemorative Cover. This is a numismatic product issued to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee 1952-2002. The cover comprises of two stamps, a £5 Crown coin and a £5 banknote signed by the Chief Cashier Merlyn Lowther. both the coin and banknotes are legal tender. The note used for this commemorative issue is the same design as those normal £5 note but with a special and unique prefix of QE50. This is the only prefix used for this commemorative issue and was not used for those in normal circulation. A total sets of 1,500 were printed. With such a large population in the UK, this is by any definition is a very small issue.


23 May 2014 - Croatia 2001 and 2002 Issues of six notes from 5 to 200 Kuna. The first 3 notes are all dated 2001 whilst the remaining three are with 2002 dates. These were reprints of previous 1993-1995 issues but under the new bank name of Hrvatska Narodna Banka or Croatia National Bank. Previous notes were printed with the central bank name of the National Bank of Croatia. Unlike previous issues, the highest denomination printed for this series was the 200 Kuna. However the 500 and 1000 Kuna printed in 1993 and 1994 respectively are still legal tender. These are the only high value denominations printed since independence. Below are details of the notes release dates;


25 May 2014 - Scotland Bank of Scotland. This is a reprint of the Bank of Scotland 100 Pounds note dated 1.8.2011. This Bridge series note was first introduced in 2007. A second reprint dated 2009 for the 100 pounds was then issued and now this 2011 reprint. This note bears the signatures of Antonio Horta-Osorio and Philip Grant. Two other denominations were also issued with the date of 1.8.2011, ie 5 and 50 pounds and I have added this to my previous post.

31 May 2014 - Australia 1999 NPA annual Premium full set of 5 notes from $5 to $100. Like the previous 1998 issues, this set was the last NPA annual Premium set issued. Again, a total of 1,000 sets printed and only 900 sets (AA99 000 101 to AA99 001 000) were made available to collectors at $480.00 per set. All notes come with matching red serial numbers. Red serial number notes are only issued either in annual folders or for notes printed for specific purposes, such as commemorative or joint venture issues like with Australia Post, Australia Royal Mint etc. In 1999, only the $50 and $100 were printed for general circulation. To get a full set, one will have to get either the annual Premium or Deluxe set. This is the last of the Commemorative/Numismatic product of Australia printed in Polymer since 1988 that I have in my collection. There are still 2 other issues that I so not have and there are the 1988 Bicentenary Three Coin & Three Banknote Portfolio Album and the 1998 Ten Dollar Note Portraits. The 1988 Bicentenary Three Coin & Three Banknote Album comprises of one $10 1988 Portraits Polymer notes. However the notes (including the paper $2 and $5) are just normal circulating type with no special prefix letters or overprint text. The 1998 $10 Portraits Polymer notes were not popular among collectors and was abandoned shortly after it was released. Again the notes used for this series was also normal notes but with letter prefixes of AA98 and AB98.