January Postings 2015 (Happy New Year)

1 January 2015
Brunei - I have added the 500 Ringgit dated 2013 Polymer note to my previous post. This is the first reprint of the 2006 first issue. The entire Brunei polymer notes series comprises of 8 notes from One Ringgit to 10,000 Ringgit. Here, I have not included the 2007 Twenty Ringgit one off commemorative issue. Of the 8 notes, only this 500 Ringgit has the portrait of the late Sultan Haji Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien Saádul Khairi Waddien lll (b.23.09.1914-07.09.1986). Sir Omar was the father of the current Sultan of Brunei, Haji Sir Hassanal Bolkiah Muízzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Saádul Khairi Waddien or in short, Sultan Sir Hassanal Bolkiah. I believe that the 2006 notes were only printed with Prefixes D/1 and D/2, and this D/3 note must be the first prefix of the reprints (or perhaps the only prefix printed, unless the D/2 first prints were not printed in full. I suppose if any visitors have such information, please feel free to share this with us here. P/s.. the image of the 2006 $500 note was scanned at 100dpi and that is why the scan quality is not that great.

3 January 2015
Madagascar - This is a 500 Ariary (2,500 Francs) note printed with the year date of 2004. I am not sure when these were notes released. These notes were recently reported to be a Hybrid banknote manufactured with a combination of very thin layers of protective polyester film around a cotton fibre core. The polyester film enable the banknote to last a bit longer in circulation, just like the polymer banknotes. Honestly, I can't tell this from a normal paper note, so I went and bought two pieces with suffixes "T" and "V". Now that I have these two notes in hand, I am not sure if both are Hybrid notes. The feeling for the Suffix "V" note with my bare hand is very much difference from the one printed with suffix "T". It feels that the note with suffix "V" is much thicker and heavier. From what I can see, Suffix "T" note may not be a Hybrid note. I understand that it has been reported that notes printed with suffixes from "S" to "V" are Hybrid, but one has to get them physically in hand to judge for themselves, and here I am disputing this claim. Seeing is believing! Unless I get to see the Printer's confirmation or official press release from the country's Central Bank, notes printed with suffix "T" is more like a normal paper banknote. Either way, one of the notes is not Hybrid. In case you wonder, I have more than one note each for the above posted. One must also remembered that not everything reported on the Internet are always correct. It should also be noted that the above notes are all printed with a printing plate number. You can see the number on the front of the note just underneath the map of Madagascar. I have so far spotted plate numbers E1, E5 and E6. I am not sure if this will tell us anything about the material of the notes used, just Paper or Paper/Hybrid. The next step for me is to look for one printed with suffixes "S" and "U". I honestly doubt suffix "S" will be a Hybrid material note either. If you have bought one with suffix "T", it's time to get one with "V" now.

7 January 2015
Malaysia - This is the only replacement note known for the Malaysia 2000 five ringgit note. I must say that this is indeed a surprise as this series were printed with letter prefixes from "AN" to "BJ" between 2000 to 2004 and for 5 years, only only one replacement prefix reported. I suppose one is enough. Either the security printing company was doing a great job with excellent quality control or there were more than one printers and one of the printers need to print these to replace error notes.

10 January 2015
Estonia - This is a commemorative note printed with a face value of 10 Krooni. This note was issued in 2008 celebrating the country's 90th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. This is rather a large note in today's standard, measuring approximately 80mm by 160mm. The front design of the note came from the 10 Krooni issued in 1928. The note is issued in a A4 size folder and the note is encased in a protective folder. The folder also includes a 1 Krooni uncirculated coin. A total folders of 30,000 were released to the public at a price of 200 Krooni each. As Estonia is part of the EU community since 1.5.2004, the country adopted the Euro currency since 1.1.2011.

16 January 2015
Chile - This is an interesting 500 Escudo commemorative note issued in 1971. The note is printed with the following text "1971 ano de la nacionalizacion del cobre, salitre y hierro" (1971 year of the nationalization of copper, nitrate and iron). The note was issued to commemorate the nationalisation of the country's natural resources, copper, nitrate and iron. The nationalisation of natural resources was started by the government under the country's President of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo and culminated during the President Salvador Allende, who then completed the nationalization process. This process only affect foreign-owned section of the Chilean copper mining industry and involved mainly three large mines only. Local Chilean-owned smaller copper mines were not affected. This nationalisation act let to international economy boycott against the country which later caused the down fall of the Allende socialist government in 1973, following a coup d'etat carried out by army strong man Angusto Pinochet. President Allende did not survived the coup d'etat, and until now, it was not sure if he was assassinated by the coup plotters or he committed suicide. As you can see, there are two varieties for this issue. Both the designs are the same except the signatures. Both are also printed by Casa de Moneda de Chile. Here I have posted two notes with difference signatures.
Tags: Chile; Commemorative.

22 January 2015
Canada - $50 ND1975. This is by far, one of the most beautifully banknotes ever designed (reverse) that I have ever came across. The design on the back of the note showing the Canadian Mounted Police in dome formation. This is the second print from the original issue and is signed by John Crow and Gerald Bouey. I bought this uncirculated note at a very affordable price. I was told that this note came from an estate sale and to whoever you are, your note is in good hand and will be with me for many years to come. In my opinion, this is a must for collectors of Canadian banknotes. I have few pieces of this note, however only this one is in uncirculated condition.
Tag: Canada

24 January 2015
Indonesia - 2010 full set of 6 notes. All notes are printed with a tiny year date of 2010, as well as the year of first introduced. The 1000 Rupiah was not issued for this year. Whilst I have all the denominations collected for this 2010 issues, I am not sure if any signature varieties were issued as well, as not all notes have matching signatures.
Tag: Indonesia

26 January 2015
Nigeria - Few updates here for my Nigeria Polymer notes collection. Here I have added the 5 Naira for the year dates of 2009, 2011 and 2013; 10 Naira for 2010, 2011 and 2013; 20 Naira for 2013; and 50 Naira for 2013.
Tags: Nigeria 5 Naira; Nigeria 10 Naira; Nigeria 20 Naira; Nigeria 50 Naira

29 January 2015
Singapore - Few more updates added. These are $1000 notes signed by both Goh Chok Tong (MAS Chairman 2004-2011) and the current Chairman of MAS Tharma Shanmugaratnan (since 2011). These notes are all printed with tiny symbols on the back of the notes - being one Diamond, two Diamonds and one Star. Only one note is in uncirculated condition. Both notes of Goh Chok Tong are not. Singapore has a very difference systems whereby the Chief of the central bank is also a politician and a senior cabinet member in the government. Tharma Shanmugaratnan, apart from being the Chairman of MAS, is also the Finance Minister and is also one of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Singapore. The only $1000 note that I am missing now is the one printed with one Triangle signed by Goh Chok Tong. It is unlikely that I will get this note in the near future. Given that Singapore has recently announced that it will cease printing the $10,000 note, as a collector, we can now happily to say that it is now possible to collect Singapore banknotes in full set for all future issues. In addition to the above, I have also added the $50 bearing the signature of Tharma Shanmugaratnan. This note has the two Diamonds symbol on the back.
Tags: Goh Chok Tong; Tharma Shanmugaratnan

31 January 2015
Uruguay - This is an interesting note of 10 Pesos Uruguayos released in ND1995 Series A issue. The interesting story about this note is that, according to a report, the decree law for issuing this note was incorrect. The note is printed with the decree law in Spanish as "Decreto-Ley No14.316". However this was either incorrect or the decree was not related to this issue. The note was then re issued without the decree law and issued as Series B note. The reason I bought this note was due to the design. National flag on notes are one of my many favourites. In addition to this, the design on the back depicts all arms of the 19 Departments (States) that made up the country, Uruguay. These Departments are: Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevido (capital city), Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo and Treinta y Tres.
Tag: Uruguay