April Postings 2015

1st April 2015
Malawi - In 2004, the Reserve Bank of Malawi released a 50 Kwacha commemorative note celebrating the country's 40 Years of Independence 1964-2004. Fast forward 10 years, and in 2014, the Reserve Bank issued another commemorative note. This time is a 1000 Kwacha value, celebrating the country's Golden Jubilee of Independence 1964-2014. Independence day is celebrated on 6th of June. The official name of this country is the Republic of Malawi. Prior to gaining independence, the country was known as Nyasaland between 1907 to 1964. The designs for this note is the same as the current 1000 Kwacha in circulation except that it has the following text printed on the lower right corner of the note - "50 Years of Independence". The Independence date of 6th July 2014 is also imprinted on the note. This note depicts the portrait of the late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda (b.1898-1997), who ruled the country from 1964 to 1993. He was first appointed as the Prime Minister following gaining independent from the British. In 1966 he became the country's first President and later in 1970 as President for Life under a one-party rule system. In 1993 a referendum was called ended his one-party state system. He then ran for the President post under a democratic systems in 1994 and lost. He died in South Africa in 1997.
Tags: Malawi; Commemorative

4th April 2015
Cape Verde - This is the first and only polymer note issued by Cape Verde following the announcement of the new family series of banknotes. This polymer note was issued on 23.12.2014. The design of this note depicts the portrait of Henrique Teixeira de Sousa (b. 19.9.2019 - 3.3.2006). Dr Henrique Teixeira de Sousa was a medical trained doctor and also an author. Apart from these, he was also a Mayor of Mindelo on the island of São Vicente in Cape Verde, in the 1960s.
Tags: Cape Verde; Polymer

10th April 2015
Argentina - 50 Pesos 2014 invasion of Guerra de las Malvinas Commemorative. The Argentinians called it Islas Malvinas and others called it Falkland Islands. For this post, I will refer the islands here with both names. This is a 50 Pesos note issued to commemorate the 32nd Anniversary of the invasion of the Islas Malvinas in 1982 by the Argentina Military Junta government let by Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri Castelli (b. 1926-2003). Here are some interest facts of this conflict between Argentina and Great Britain.

* 02.04.1982 - Argentinian forces launched an invasion of Islas Malvinas, including South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, following a long standing territorial claim;
* 05.04.1982 - The then British PM Margaret Thatcher (b.1925-2013) dispatched both naval and air task forces to the south Atlantic in preparation to recapture the islands back from Argentina;
* 25.04.1982 - The British forces recaptured South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands;
* 21.05.1982 - About 3,000 British troops landed on San Carlos in East Falkland;
* 14.06.1982 - The Argentinian troops surrendered and the British troops recaptured Falkland Islands.

The Argentinians managed to hang onto the islands for only 74 days before surrendering. A total of 908 lives were lost in this conflict, comprises of 255 British, 650 Argentinians and three Falkland Islanders. Since then the Islands sovereignty remain unresolved. In March 2013, a referendum was held in Falkland Islands to decide their future. The results was that 1,517 voted to stay with Great Britain with three voted against this. The Argentinian government has not given up on Islas Malvinas claim and is still hoping that one day it will return back to them. Given the result of the referendum, it is most likely that this matter will remain unresolved for a long, long time to come. The announcement of this new note was launched on 2.4.2014 by the Argentinian President Cristina Fernandes de Kirchner at her Presidential office at La Casa Rosada (the Pink House) in Buenos Aires. This note was released in early March 2015

The design of the note depicts gaucho Antonio Rivero (Entre Rios 1808-Buenos Aires 1845) riding on a horse waving the Argentinian flag in his right hand. The note is also printed with the following texts - en union y libertad. Primer defensor de la soberania nacional en las Islas Malvinas. Recupero la soberania patria en el ano 1833. Lucho por los derechos sociales de los trabajadores en las Islas. (at union and freedom. defender of national sovereignty on the Falkland Islands. Country regained sovereignty in the year 1833. I fight for social rights of workers on the islands). On the front, it has the islands of "Islas Malvinas", South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands printed over what seems to be the southern tip of Argentina and Chile. The map of the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is printed in the wrong way round with the top end pointing north instead of north-west. I am not sure why they did that? Is this on purpose or just trying to fit the map onto the note or I may have mistaken this myself.
Tags: Argentina; Commemorative

15th April 2015
Singapore - $10 3-uncut sheet ND2011 signed by Goh Chok Tong. Only 500 sheets issued. Despite low issue it is everything but rare. As these are numismatic products, it is only money can buy as there are no shortage in supply, especially when the release of these uncut sheets are strictly control to ensure a certain premium is achieved.
Tages: Singapore, Polymer;

18th April 2015
Gambia - A new 20 Dalasis celebrating the country's 20 Years of Progress and Self-Reliance. In short, it's celebrating the country's 20 years of Presidential rule under Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh, and so does his portrait on the note. President Yahya Jammeh, was a young army officer when he took over the country on 22.07.1994 following a military coup. He was then elected as President in 1996, and then re elected in 2001, 2006 and 2011. The note was launched by the President on 26.02.2015 and released into circulation on the 2.3.2015. The new note is printed by De La Rue on Safeguard polymer material. The design of this note is based on the current 25 Dalasis paper denomination, except that the portrait of a man on the last paper note has been replaced with the portrait of President Yahya Jammeh. This note replaced the current 25 Dalasis paper banknote which is still legal tender and will be withdrawn over time. The new polymer note is also printed predominately in green colour and was released on 2.3.2015. This is the first polymer note issued by Gambia. This note bears the signature of the bank governor, Mr Amadou Colley
Tags: Gambia; Commemorative: Polymer;

20th April 2015
Singapore - More updates posted here. Here I have added more notes issued with the chief's signatures of Goh Chok Tong and Tharma Shanmugaratnan. These notes are the $10 with star symbol signed by Goh CT, and the rest are for T Shanmugaratnan with tiny symbols of diamond, triangle and shape of a house (both bold and hollow).
Tags: Singapore Goh CT, Polymer Goh CT; Singapore T Shannugaratnan; Polymer T Shanugaratnan;

25th April 2015
Guatemala - I have posted two more notes here for the 1 and 5 Quetzales. These are repeat polymer notes from the previous issues. The 1 Quetzal was first issued printed with the date of 20.12.2006. It then issued the second note dated 2008, then 2011, 2012. There are two issues for the 2012 reprints. The first issue with the date of 02.05.2012 and the second is dated 17.10.2012. Both the 2012 issues have minor modification to the designs. In the transparent window, it added the portrait of General Jose Maria Orellana Pinto. Here I have added the November 2012 note. The 5 Quetzales was first issued in 2010. The is the first reprint dated 11.05.2011.
Tags; 1 Quetzal Polymer; 5 Quetzales Polymer;

26th April 2016
Chile - More updates posted. Two notes from the polymer series of 1000 and 5000 pesos with year dates printed with 2011 and 2012 for the 1000 Pesos and 2012 for the 5000 Pesos. I have a feeling that I am not up to date yet on these notes.
Tags: 1000 Pesos: 5000 Pesos;