September Postings 2014

1st September 2014
Singapore - $2 Commemorative 1992. This is one of the rarer Singapore commemorative notes released in 1992 (3rd October) celebrating the tiny nation's 25th Anniversary of issuing it's own currency 1967 to 1992. The Board of Commissioners of Currency Singapore or BCCS (central bank) was established on 7.4.1967 following the breaking up of the monetary union between Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Prior to that, these three countries were using the common currency called the Malaya and British Borneo Dollar. Following the establishment of BCCS, the country issued it's first banknotes (Orchard series) in 1967. On 1.10.2002, BCCS merged with the Monetary of Authority of Singapore (MAS), which then took over the responsibility of the issuance of currency in the Republic. The design of this commemorative is the same as the $2 Ship series (1984-1998) but with overprint commemorative text added on the right side of the note. This note is also considered as an 'Error' note as it has a spelling error on the commemorative text. The word Commissioners" was spelled with the second "i" missing. Only 5,000 notes were issued at the official price of S$60.00 and was released together with a book called "Prudence at the Helm". Unfortunately I only got this note but not with the book and therefore I can't describe anything about the book. This note finally complete my collection of all commemorative notes (single note) of Singapore. Collecting older paper banknotes from a hot and humid environment, such as like in Singapore, is always a challenge as one has to avoid buying a note that may have foxing on the note, especially if they are not cheap. Given that this note was first issued in 1992, and if the note was not kept in a cool and dry environment, chances are you will find them with yellowish spots on the note by now. This note has been graded by a banknote professional firm with grading as EPQ 65 Gem Uncirculated. Personally, I do not pay much attending to any professional grading as I have two same notes both graded as same quality but I can tell one is better than the other. Why pay someone a fee when you can gauge the condition of the note yourself? And with Singapore celebrating 50th Anniversary of Independence next year, are we expecting to see a new note(s) for this special occasion too?

Listed below are all single commemorative notes issued since 1990

Year	Face Value	Brief Description	Quantity	Issue Price
1990	$50	25th Anniv of Independence (Polymer)	300,000 (i)	S$55
1992	$2	25th Year of Currency Issuing (as above)	5,000 (ii)	S$60
1996	$25	25th Anniv of MAS	300,000 (iii)	S$34 & $36
1999	$2	Millennium 2000	3,000,000 (iv)	FV
2002	$50 x 2	Change over from BCCS to MAS	5,000	S$168
2004	$10	First MAS note (Polymer)	10,000 (iii)	S$35
2007	$20 x 2	40th Year of Currency Interchangeable with Brunei	10,000 (iii)	S$88

Note (i) = also in folders; Note (ii) = as above. I have not included the 1994 S$2 commemorative with the symbol sign "$" overprint on the left, as I do not have any info on this note. This note is listed on the SCWPM as P31A; Note (iii) = folders only, also issued for general circulation; Note (iv) = also issued in hard covers with 3 notes at S$12.50 per set;

6th September 2014
Vanuatu - New polymer notes set of Vt200, Vt1000 and Vt2000 (Vatu). These are the new series of notes, first issued in 2010. These 3 notes were released on 9.6.2014 by the bank's Governor Mr Simeon Malachi Athy. Mr Athy was appointed to his current role since 15.11.2013. He replaced Odo Tevi who was the bank's Governor from April 2003 to 27.4.2013 (two terms of 5-year). Mr Tevi has since been appointed as the country's Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. Whilst the current denomination of Vt10000 polymer note (released in 2010) was printed by NPA, these new notes are all printed by Oberthur Fiduciare of France. This is the first time a Vt2000 denomination is introduced. The remaining denominations of Vt500 and Vt5000 will be released in the next two to three years. The theme for the newly released notes are; Vt200 - strong family bond; Vt1000 - agriculture; and Vt2000 - flora and fauna. These releases have been long over due since the released of the first polymer note of Vt10000 back in 2010. The Vt10000 is still the largest denomination circulating in the country. The smallest of the new Vanuatu polymer banknotes series is the Vt200. The Vt100 paper note was replaced by a coin in 1988. It appears that the Vt100 banknote has only been printed once and that was in 1982 when the country first adopted it's own Vatu currency two years after independence (from the British and French). Prior to that, the currency circulating in the country was called New Hebrides Franc. The Vanuatu Vatu is issued as a single unit with no sub unit, unlike the Australian currency - Dollar and Cents. Interesting to note that the Australian dollar was once circulated in Vanuatu (New Hebrides) prior to 1982 and it was pegged at 100 Francs to one Australian dollar (at par?). The facsimile signature of the Minister of Finance on this note is Maki Stanley Simelum, who was appointed to the role on 10.05.2013.

13th September 2014
Poland - Twenty Zloty commemorative note celebrating the Centenary of the Formation of the Polish Legions. The Polish Legions was created on 16.8.1914 during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy era. At the peak of their strength in 1915, the legions consists of more than 12,000 soldiers and officers and fought in the great war between the Austro-Russian front between 1914-1916. Although the Legions was disbanded in 1917, it remains in the hearts and souls of the Polish people and because of this, this note is issued to commemorate the 100th Year of the formation of the Polish Legions. The front of the note depicts the image of Marshal Jozef Pilsudski (1867-1935) and the back of the note with images of Grant Cross with Star of the Order of Virtuti Militari awarded to Marshal Josef Pilsudski, and also the badge of the First Brigade of the Polish Legions and the eagle badge of the Polish Legions. Marshal Josef Pilsudski was a Polish statesman, Chief of State 1918-1922, First Marshal (from 1920) and leader of the Polish Second Republic between 1926 to 1935. The design of the note also include a hologram depicting Belvedere Palace. This is the first Polymer note ever issued by Poland. This note is printed by the Polish Security Printings Works (PWPW) with 50,000 folders released to the public for sale on 5.8.2014. Issue price 60 Zloty.


20 September 2014
New Zealand - 1996 $20 Commemorative. Queen Elizabeth the Second (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) was born on 21st April 1926. She acceded to the throne of the United Kingdom following the death of her father, King Groege VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George 1895-1952) on 6.2.1952. In addition to the United Kingdom, she is also the constitutional monarch of 15 nations around the world, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The Queen is also the head of the Commonwealth of Nations.


25th September 2014
Kazakhstan - One Thousand Tenge 2013 Commemorative Note. This note was issued to commemorate the Kultegin, the moment of Turkic Runic Writing. This note was released to the public on 12.12.2013.

27th September 2014
Zimbabwe - Added here to my previous post are two Zimbabwe hyperinflation notes of $10000 (P46a) and 100000 (P48a). These two notes formed part of the bearer cheques of 30 notes issued between 2006 to 2008 with denominations from one cent to 100 Billion dollars. All notes are printed with the bearer cheque no of 02022909. These bearer cheque notes issued between 2007 to 2008 were only negotiable between three to 12 months from the date of issued. There are two versions for the $10000 and $100000 notes printed. The difference between these two prints was the numerical value of the notes. The first version was printed with a space in the numeral value ie 10 000, whilst the later prints have no space between the zeros (ie $10 000 vs $10000). Here I have uploaded the first print for both notes. These are the only two notes that come with 2 varieties for these two denominations. A complete set of Zimbabwe hyper inflation notes comprises of 68 notes issued from 2006 to 2009 with value from one cent to $100,000,000,000,000 (100 Trillion dollars). Happy hunting if you are looking for a full set.

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