Odds & Ends of South East Asian Banknotes & Coins

New Year Greetings again..............................

2012-01-14T17:55:00.000+08:00

Wishing all my Chinese friends and fellow collectors...............................................................

                             A Very, Very Prosperous and Happy Chinese New Year!
                      May you get the banknotes you want at a bargain and sell with reasonable gains!!

This ang pow has a picture of a 1961 $10 'duit kerbau' banknote with a so called Chinese auspicious serial numbers. A stack of it was recently given to us by a friend, who had kept it for a long time.I wonder who printed this ang pow and whether are there any no other ang pows depicting banknotes? Anyone care to share?

Recently, I managed to acquire this serial number A/1, 1961 $10 'duit kerbau'............after selling my only A/1 AU piece to a good friend many, many 'donkey' or "kerbau" years ago for peanuts as they say..........S$35.00 YES!YES......S$35, Singapore Thirty Five dollars. This piece cost me more than 10 times of what I sold for!

Was it worth it? You tell me..................

Another very interesting point that I want to share with fellow collectors................

At the last Mavin International auction the following set was put up for bidding and the reserve price was S$75,000.00 (about RM183,750.00)

and sadly for the owner it was not sold, thereby probably costing him to pay auctioneer fees of about S$3,750.00 (may have cried lah! ...having to pay the commission for nothing)

Now the interesting part...............................roll back about 23 years to the year 1989 and this what it is all about:

An international coin & paper money auction & exposition "NUMISMEX '89" jointly organised by Merit Direct Marketing P/L and Spex P/L held an auction at The Oriental Hotel Singapore on 31st August, and this very same set was put up for bidding with a reserve price of US$500.00 and sold for US$1,400.00 + 10% commission ( about S$3,350 or RM9,000....1989 exchange rate)............now I want to cry lah!! so cheap, cheap, cheap!! don't know how to bid!

So the moral of the story or article?

Belated Happy New Year!

2012-01-07T05:30:00.000+08:00

A very Belated Happy New Year, 2012 again to all my friends and collectors out there!

This year began well for me as I managed to get a rare signed banknote from an American dealer, this particular note was mentioned in my last blog article.................

and only just yesterday, an uncut piece of this banknote graded by PCGS as NEW 61,

was sold for:

This translates to about SGD6,350.00 or about MYR15,360.00, and in the mid 1990s a better piece of this series of uncut sheet was going for about SGD800.00.

May this piece of good news bring cheer and happiness to all banknote collectors that the banknote market is alive and well despite all the depressing world current economic situtation.

A Singapore Banknote No More Legal Tender!!

2011-12-24T07:14:00.000+08:00

You will be wondering.................what on earth am I talking about!!

Seriously, this Singapore banknote existed and was legal tender at one time but not now ..................................

Extracted from "Buried Singapore: Michigan's Imaginary Pompeii" by Kit Lane

This book was acquired via Amazon.com in the mid 1990s

The following uncut sheets and note are from my personal collection acquired from reputable US dealers from the early 1990s:

A detailed write-up of this Singapore Banknote from Ken Cook.

Singapore Michigan Obsolete Bank Notes

"A Little Piece of History"

SINGAPORE, MICHIGAN OBSOLETE BANK NOTES
Around 175 years ago, there was a town on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan near what is now Saugatuck, Michigan called Singapore. The city was located in the southwestern part of the State of Michigan. This section of the state turned out to be one of the first areas settled. The area had promise for exploitation of the lumber located in the area and later for shipbuilding and trading with other cities located on the Great Lakes.
In 1820, Lewis Cass is believed to have traveled near there while he was exploring the Great Lakes and possibly the Mississippi River area. Also doing business was Gordon Hubbard, an employee of fur trader John Jacob Astor fame. Up to that time, it seems only fur traders were visiting the area which was inhabited by Ottawa Indians.
Around 1830, the first settling family of William Butler arrived.
The area was surveyed in 1831, noting numerous Sand Banks and a number of various trees. A large part of the property was purchased by Horace Comstock. Mr. Comstock and another early settler by the name of Stephen Nichols felt a warehouse and pier were needed to support the arrival of goods and household effects of new arrivals.
In 1836, Oshea Wilder, who had previously visited the area, and four other men agreed to invest in the states of Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin Territory and in Indiana. It was agreed that Mr. Wilder would be allowed to purchase land as appropriate for investment purposes. Mr. Wilder noted the Singapore site would be well suited for the building of a saw mill. By December of 1836, Mr. Wilder had purchased the necessary land which included the Village of Singapore and in the beginning of 1837 had contracts let to build a scow and boats, along with contracts for a saw mill and housing for the workmen.
Mr. Wilder noted that money was rather scarce, but real estate continued to advance and the general prosperity continued. During 1837, development within Singapore continued.
In 1837, the State of Michigan passed a general banking law that permitted any ten or more freeholders of any county to organize themselves into a corporation for the transaction of banking business, with a capital of not less than $50,000, nor more than $300,000. These banks were empowered to print an issue their own paper money. The act further provided that no bank should commence operation until 30% of the stock should be actually paid in, in specie or hard money, (defined in the act as gold coins, but usually gold in any form and many silver coins were considered acceptable). In the original act, the issuing Bank was required to redeem its banknotes and hard money on demand, or within 30 days thereafter. Failure to do so would result in dissolution of the bank.
As luck would have it, and before any new banks had completed the chartering process, the Financial Panic of 1837 started, and the subsequent run on banks, caused banks in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore to suspend specie payment and redemption of banknotes. Fearing that depositors, thwarted in other states, might flood the banks of Michigan with otherwise worthless paper money, the Michigan Legislature, in a special session in June of 1837 also suspended the specie redemption requirement. Surprisingly, the lawmakers left the general banking laws in force. New banks could continue to be organized and allowed to start the business of issuing bills while the requirements to redeem them were still in a state of suspension. AMAZING!!
These new banking institutions would later be called “WILDCAT” banks because these banks were as hard to find in the woods of Michigan as the alleged elusive wildcat! Thus, if the main office for the bank that was required to redeem its money was located in some far off and/or inaccessible place, the paper money that was issued by the bank could then be circulated in the far reaches of the state, and the East coast and as a result the money would be less likely to be presented to the issuing bank for redemption. One story that was passed down alleged that there was one bank found located in a saw mill, and another located in a hollowed out tree stump!
When the banking law was passed, Oshea Wilder was quick to act on behalf of the city of Singapore. First he tried to get his investors from the East involved, but they were not very keen on the idea. As a result, Mr. Wilder, turned to James Carter, a distant relative of his who lived in Leominster, Mass. The official organizers of the Singapore bank were all residents, as the new law required, and application was dated October 5, 1837. Mr. Wilder made application to the county clerk of Allegan to have the books open for the subscription of the capital stock of an institution to be located in the village of Singapore, County of Allegan, with a capital stock of $50,000.
Daniel S. Wilder, the son of Oshea, was named president of the bank, and Rob Hill, was to serve as cashier. The bank was located first in a boarding house, and then moved to a separate building. Records around that time show pressed brick was ordered and shipped from Boston for the construction of a vault.
According to Harold L. Bowen in his book of 1956 titled “State Bank Notes of Michigan”, ornate bills were printed by Rawdon, Wright and Hatch, a New York engraving firm, in one, two, three and five dollar denominations on each printed sheet for a total of $11 per sheet. There were 5,000 sheets printed for a total face value of $55,000. The bills, printed on one side only, were struck on a single sheet and then cut apart and signed by the cashier and president prior to be placed in circulation. Of the $55,000, records show that banknotes valued at only $15,952 were actually put in circulation during the bank’s short existence. (If you assume the $15,952 figure to be correct, and each sheet was worth $11, this would break down to roughly 1,450 of each note issued.).
There should have been $15,000 of hard money or specie reserve. All reports indicate that this was not likely.

Pictures of three of the four notes are set forth below.

Several things are worth noting regarding these notes.
1. These bills are hard to locate, especially in decent condition.
2. They should be signed in and around the end of 1837 and early 1838. Note the bank went out of business in April of 1838 due to the suspension of the State of Michigan General Banking Law.
3. The signatures likely to be found would be Rob Hill, the Cashier and D. S. Wilder, the president. Other signatures should be questioned.
4. Printing was done only on the obverse.
5. The paper upon which the notes were printed is very thin and very susceptible to wear.
6. Based on Dr. James A. Haxby’s four volume book titled "Standard Catalog of United States Obsolete Bank Notes 1782-1866", we note concerning the cataloging of these notes that the title of the Singapore notes is “MI-420 Bank of Singapore, 1837-39”. The $1 note is numbered G2. The $2 note is numbered G4. The $3 note is numbered G6. The $5 note is numbered G8.
7. Uncut sheets can be found (likely not signed), of the four notes of Singapore which Dr. Haxby catalogues as X1.
In December of 1837, the state of Michigan Legislature sought to curb the worst abuse by appointing three bank inspectors, who would inspect every bank at least once every three months. Noted in the records of the inspectors in 1838, that “the singular spectacle was presented of the officers of the state seeking for banks in situations the most inaccessible and remote from trade, and finding at every step an increase of labor by the discovery of new and unknown organizations. Before they could be arrested the mischief was done.”
SPECIE OR NO SPECIE – THAT IS THE QUESTION
A major concern at this time was whether the Singapore Bank as well as other banks in the area had adequate specie or “hard money” to back up the notes that were issued. Because of this, it was not hard to run across “business relationships” that developed between individuals around Singapore and in the town of Allegan, around 25 miles away.

Relationships between the Allegan Company, The Boston Company and the Singapore City Company are noted. Because of these relationships, the grouping together for everybody’s benefit was apparent, especially as it related to banking in the area. The Bank of Allegan and the Bank of Singapore and likely others, would pool their specie to create an adequate amount to please the inspectors as they did their audits of the banks.
In a history of Allegan County in the 1880’s, a visit by one of the inspectors was noted as follows: “just before the day appointed for that event the president of the Allegan Bank, knowing that two of his neighbors had a considerable sum and gold coin, designed for the entry of lands, effected a temporary loan of the gold and placed it among the banks assets. It was counted by the Commissioner and with great complacency the succeeding night, and the same gold preceded him to the Bank of Singapore, at the mouth of the Kalamazoo, where the official also counted it as part of the assets of that bank.”
ANOTHER PASSED DOWN THEORY OF SPECIE VALIDATION
As noted in Kit Lane’s book titled “Buried Singapore: Michigan’s Imaginary Pompeii”, there is one of the great legends of Allegan County (which continues to this day), and which is based on some facts, but likely embellished over time, concerns the day that the pooled bank specie was being conveyed down the Kalamazoo River. It had been viewed by the bank inspector at the Bank of Allegan and was entrusted to a local Indian (probably Maksaube, an Ottawa Indian who had saved Alexander Ely from a near frozen river in 1834). Paddling swiftly to beat the bank inspector who was traveling by horseback, the canoe was just upstream from Saugatuck when it hit an obstacle in the river and capsized. The bag of gold sank to the bottom in a particularly deep part of the river. The Indian rushed ahead to Singapore and told his story. While James Harris, the village blacksmith, devised a drag hook to get the gold from the bottom of the river, word was sent back to Richmond (a nearby village) to intercept the inspector, as he would have paused there to cross the river. There was no bridge at that location yet, but there was a ferry for foot traffic. The inspector’s horse would have to wade or swim.
As to Richmond, which was onn the north bank of the Kalamazoo River, and was about opposite the present day settlement of the village of New Richmond, there was a small sawmill community under construction in 1838. It had been established by John Allen, founder of Ann Arbor, and a number of Eastern investors in late 1835 and early 1836. Two of the first men on the scene were Jonathan F. Stratton, who had contracted with Allen to grub a mill race and Ralph R. Mann, who first signed (and later backed out of) a contract to build the first mill. Stratton’s contract also gave him permission “to erect and build at his own proper cost and expense at Richmond, a large two-story public house for the accommodation of travelers.”
In 1837, Charles Moseley, one of the investors in the project, visited the settlement and noted that Stratton had already cut timber for his tavern house, and that Mann, who was not a great favorite of his, had been appointed Justice of the Peace “and will be a nuisance to our village. He calculated to keep a tavern, sell whiskey and do anything that a lazy unprincipled man can devise to make a sixpence….” He later reported that Mann “has already begun to keep whiskey and uses it freely himself.”
It was at this settlement that word was sent from Singapore asking either Mann or Stratton to delay the inspector long enough to give the Singapore men time to recover the gold. The inspector was invited for a drink, perhaps even a meal; maybe a party and a night’s lodging. Downstream using the blacksmith’s hook on the end of a dragging rope, the gold was recovered and sent to the bank to dry out a bit. Word was then sent back to Richmond that the inspector could proceed. Shortly afterwards, or perhaps the next day, the inspector and the specie met again at the Singapore Bank.

The story has been told and retold over the years. In 1898, when Mr. Henry Hudson Hutchings interviewed the old-timers of the area and compiled their memories into a series of newspaper articles, the basic facts were upheld by John P. Wade who had come to Singapore in 1844 and R. Wadsworth who settled in nearby Ganges Township in 1840, and had heard it from the earliest settlers in the area. For many years a set of drag hooks, said to be the very ones that recovered the gold from the river, were on display in the nearby Saugatuck village hall.
A THIRD NARRATIVE USING QUESTIONABLE SINGAPORE CURRENCY
There is another interesting story as to use of the Singapore notes by one Levi Loomis, who was believed to be one of the first settlers in the Singapore area.
During the late 1830’s, there seems to have been a shortage of footwear in the area. Mr. Loomis noted this and thought he had a solution to the problem. He wanted to order footwear from the east, and when received would try to sell them locally. When the locals tried to buy the footwear, they presented Mr. Loomis with Bank of Singapore notes, which, as it turned out, Mr. Loomis refused to accept.
Because the locals also knew the people who ran the bank, and the fact that the bank of Singapore wanted to try and please its customers, the bank worked out an arrangement whereby it agreed it would redeem the Singapore bills with bills from the east and would do so in time to enable Mr. Loomis to pay timely the invoices for the footwear. Mr. Loomis agreed to this arrangement and it is believed he sold his stock of footwear for the sum of $600.
As one could imagine, when the time for the redemption came due, the Bank of Singapore started to look for ways to delay this process. The bank first tried to make a draft on one of the Eastern banks, but it came back worthless. This continued for another month, and Mr. Loomis was getting worried. After all, Mr. Loomis had his credit and reputation at stake and as the delays continued he felt he needed to take desperate measures.
Mr. Loomis is thought to have rented a room to the Bank of Singapore’s cashier, Mr. Rob Hill. Mr. Loomis suspected that Mr. Hill had with him the real specie of the bank and kept it in his room. When Mr. Loomis was sure no one else was around, he went to the room of Mr. Hill, who was sleeping at the time, and woke him up and dumped the worthless bills on top of Mr. Hill’s mattress. Mr. Loomis, who had a pistol, pointed it toward Mr. Hill and demanded Mr. Hill trade him good money for the bad.
Mr. Hill it is claimed, was taken by surprise and tried to stall, but Mr. Loomis would have nothing of it. Mr. Loomis would not allow Mr. Hill to leave the room until the exchange was made. As a result, it is believed Mr. Hill, taking Mr. Loomis’s threat seriously, went over to his bed, lifted up his pillow, under which there is claimed to have been a roll of $1,000 of real bank money, and traded the Singapore money with the “good” bank money.
It should be noted the during this whole time, the currency issued by the Singapore Bank was never really accepted by the people or the merchants. Its actual circulation was believed to be small and short lived. Thus, little was ever issued, and even less ever survived!!!

THE SUSPENSION OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN BANKING LAWS
The State of Michigan General Banking laws turned out to be of a short duration. The state suspended the law on April 3, 1838. With this suspension, these “wildcat” banks were put out of business.
The Bank of Singapore was no exception. In 1839, the bank did attempt to reorganize, however, after a state of Michigan bank commissioners’ visit, the operations ceased.
The charter of the bank was annulled by the state legislature on February 16, 1842 along with a number of the other wildcat banks.
It is claimed that during this time, Mr. Loomis was visiting at the home of one of the former bank officers on a cold winter evening. This visit is purported to have taken place to see the burning and destruction of the Singapore bank notes that were still on hand at the time of the suspension. The claim was made that there was a table covered with the bills of the bank alleged to be in three to six inch piles. It was stated that these bills were burned in a stove at that time.
The bank building was later used as a general store and then physically moved later on to the village of Saugatuck and became a small bookstore.
The city of Singapore continued on for a number of years until the lumber ran out in the later part of the 19th century. The lumber was used to help rebuild the city of Chicago after the great Chicago fire as well as other cities also destroyed by fire in the area.
WHAT ONCE WAS, IS NO MORE
Once the lumber ran out, the people moved on to other areas. The city of Singapore ceased to exist and was abandoned and became a ghost town. Today, there is little in the way of physical evidence left due to the city being covered by the shifting sand dunes that still exist to this day. Unless you are aware of the prior history, the average citizen to the area today, would have no idea that a once bustling city existed in that north side location at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River! The only real physical evidence existing today are those few obsolete bank notes accumulated by savy collectors, which continues to tell part of the story of the ghost town of Singapore.

My latest Malaya & British Borneo, Sarawak, BNBC & Brunei Banknotes

2011-10-08T07:17:00.002+08:00

These notes are my latest buys after some time on the sideline............................

A beautiful piece with slight foxing, crisp paper, clear firm colours and sharp corners...............can you consider this as UNC?

The reverse of the note.............how? Wonder whether to send to the people at PMG to get it appraised.......

A pair of 2nd Series Brunei Five Dollars progress proofs.................lovely?

Nothing much can be mentioned about this 1940 series of BNBC banknote or for that matter banknotes issued by BNBC.

This banknote carries the signature of BNBC's treasurer Captain William Anthony Casterton Smelt, who was in 1946 recognized for his services during internment. Beyond this fact, everything is zilt, zero, nyet, nada, kosong....... the company, the printer/engravers,etc....all gone......sad!

This banknote is my first that has a PMG certification, apparently it seems like there is now a local trend towards having the notes certified by an internationally recognized third party.

I suppose this will prevent most of the local "buaya"(cheaters), oops!......I mean dealers/flea market sellers from deceiving new collectors into buying 'doctored' high grade banknotes.

Once again, new collectors...............BEWARE..............most of our local dealers/flea market sellers are a bunch of "doctors" ..............banknote doctors!

They ought to have the intials MBBS next to their name, not Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery but Make Bogus BanknoteS.

My Prized Goh Keng Swee Orchid Series Banknotes Collection

2011-08-14T15:05:00.001+08:00

After gaining independence on 9th August 1965, the Singapore Government decided to issue her own banknotes and the Orchid series is the first amongst the Bird, Ship, I.T. and Portrait ones.

The series signed by the late Dr Goh Keng Swee was issued on 19th January 1970 and only in $1, $5, $10, $50, $100 and $1000 denominations.Only a small quantity of his signed banknotes were issued,thus making the Orchid series banknotes signed by him as the most sought after and valuable among all Singapore issued banknotes.

An UNC foxing $1 note with Unique serial numbers.

Almost a consecutive pair of $1 note with a small error smudge on one of the Orchids.

Can you spot it? Refer to my earlier blog for details.

The MOST sought after and very valuable of all the Dr Goh Keng Swee signed Orchid series banknote, may even be for the overall series of banknotes issued by the Singapore Government.......................the infamous $5.00 denomination:

Can you notice that all three signatures vary in the degree of thickness............you would probably have to enlarge the picture to view. Can these be considered as minor varieties? Any "gurus" wish to comment?

An uneventful consecutive $10.00, bought in the early 1980s for slightly higher than the face value of the pair........................sob! sob! should have bought more..............

At the last local auction, a single UNC $50 piece was sold for S$480 excluding buyer's premium and taxes.

Consecutive serial numbers printed withYellow banknote paper or is it even foxing?

Understand that the Dr Goh Keng Swee $100 is the second most sought after.

Another BOO BOO by the authorities, catalogers, etc?............ apparently it was published that the Goh Keng Swee $1000 banknotes bears his signature(of course! this is obvious.............or you will have had an error note) and his SEAL:

I have yet to see a GKS $1000 or a picture of it with his signature and seal .................anyone in possession of such a note or comments?

Singapore Orchid Series Currency Notes ~ Lim Kim San ~

2011-07-10T06:26:00.000+08:00

The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore and subsequently as Monetary Authority of Singapore has issued four series of currency notes for general circulation since 1967.
The currency notes of all the four series, known as the "Orchid", "Bird", "Ship" and "Portrait" series are legal tender.

The "Orchid" series has nine denominations; $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 and $10,000.The dominant feature is a spray of orchid in the centre of the front of each note but missing is the name of the type of Orchid.Could this mistake of missing name be a 'Boo Boo' made by the then BCCS? (see an earlier blog story of the $25 "Orchid")

This series has varieties of signatures and seals of the then Minister for Finance and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore but not all nine denominations were issued with their signatures and seals.

The 'first' of the "Orchid" series has only six denominations and were issued with Mr Lim Kim San's signature on 12 June 1967.

The $1.00 denomination:

Name of Orchid: Vanda Janet Kaneali
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd

Reverse of note

Notice any thing peculiar about the picture on the reverse of the note?

The whole scene is missing of people, vehicles and street lamps! Another Boo Boo?

The $5.00 denomination:

Name of Orchid: Vanda T.M.A.

Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd

Reverse of note

Oh, why must the BCCS committee choose this controversal orchid to grace the $5.00 note............beats me!!

Apparently, the parent orchid has its fair share of controversy, involving allegations of mixed-up seedpods, confused parentage and faulty registration(refer http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchidtalk/cattleyas-vandas-dendrobiums-bloom/17157-vanda-tan-chay-yan-v-dearei-x-v-josephine-van-brero-2.html). Maybe that's the reason for not printing the name of the orchid on the banknote. Boo Boo again?

The print of this note is slightly shifted towards the bottom margin of the note.

The $10.00 denomination:

Name of Orchid: Dendrobium Marjorie Ho "Tony Pek"
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Co Ltd

Reverse of note

Currently the island of Singapore is about this shape, almost totally different from the days of 1967.

The $50.00 denomination:

Name of Orchid: Vanda Rothscildiana "Teo Choo Hong"
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Co Ltd

Reverse of note

The $100.00 deniminaion:

Name of Orchid: Cattleya

Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd

Singapore Bird Series ~ $50 & $100

2011-06-04T13:28:00.001+08:00

Issued on 6th August 1976, this series has nine denominations as in the first except that the $20note(see earlier blog) was introduced to replace the $25 note of the 'Orchid' series.

Predominant Colour: Blue

Size: 157mmx 75mm

Qty Printed: 148 million pieces

Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Co Ltd

Issued on 1st February 1977.

Predominant Colour: Blue

                                                             Size: 165mm x 78mm
                                                             Qty Printed: 22.7 million pieces
                                                             Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd

The dominant feature is a bird on the left hand side of the front of each note. Birds are noted for their strength, adaptability and independence whch characterize the young Republic of Singapore with the potential to soar to greater heights in its progress.

On the front of the note is the Singapore Coat of Arms, lion's head watermark and the signature and seal of the then Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Currency Singapore, Mr Hon Sui Sen. Incidently, the bird series do not have signature varities like it's precedessor the 'Orchid'.

An error note acquired decades back..................................................Can you spot the error?

Another error note with reverse wet ink overprint of the skyline and $50 numeral.

The obverse view of the wet ink error note.

The following notes are replacement notes:

Note the different prefixes; Z/1 & Z/2, highly sought after as a set with identical serial numbers.....do you have any matching numbers? Contact me if you have.

Regretfully, my one and only legal tender $100 piece, but with unique "triplet" serial number.

Singapore $20 Bird Series Concept to Actual

2011-05-15T05:39:00.001+08:00

These two letters first appeared in the local newspaper, The Straits Times, around about mid December 1973 and it would take another 6 years before the actual note was issued into circulation.

10 December 1973

18 December 1973

About 6 years later.........................

extracted from The Straits Times dated 4 August 1979

extracted from Singapore MoneyBook

The first series with a minor error.......slight over inking of the serial numbers "65" (enlarge to appreciate)

Singapore $1 ~ Another Thomas De La Rue Mistake ?

2011-04-09T05:38:00.000+08:00

First, I must say a BIG THANK YOU for your patience and concerns that I have not written a blog for more than a month..........well you asked for it..............a pretty lengthy one though!

The Straits Times 10 January 1987

One of the first issued notes...........regretfully rather soiled.

Extracted from the Singapore MoneyBook published by MoneyWorld Asia Pte Ltd

Quiz: Can you spot the MISTAKE on the banknote?

Have a closer look......................

A series of unique serial numbers

Still cannot spot the mistake??

The Straits Times 11 February 1987

Going and getting BLUE?????

Well, here is the MISTAKE................................................................................................

This letter was published in the Straits Times of 11 February 1987

The first BOO BOO from the printers, Thomas De La Rue????????????

(refer to my earlier blog on the Singapore $2 banknote for the second BOO BOO)

Sure makes banknote study a delightful hobby ;-)

This series of Singapore banknote is also unique, there being two different signatories and designations printed using the same prefix: D/14.

Is there anyone having the same serial number but with different signatory and designation?

Alas, all good things have to come to an end.....................................

This is my 'last' piece..... anyone got the actual 'Last' piece? Do offer me as I am willing to buy!

The Straits Times 16 January 1990

Now my collection of Uncirculated $1, Z series replacement banknotes and I have lots circulated ones for sale, email me if you are interested.

The common Z/1 variety signed by Dr Goh Keng Swee

The Scarce Z/2 variety signed by Dr Goh Keng Swee

The rare variety Z/2 signed by Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau

Pandemonium Singapore Bird Series Banknotes..................

2011-02-12T17:21:00.006+08:00

The Straits Times dated 5th August 1976

This specimen piece of the $10 bird series is part of an album of bird series specimen notes bought at a local auction a few years after it was officially released to the general public during the Singapore International Coin Convention of 1989 (refer blog article of 25th July 2010).

I was fortunate enough to purchase the complete album at a price which was way below the issue price of $1100 at a local auction in the early 1990's

The Straits Times dated 7th Dec 1976

A major point to ponder with regards to this next Straits Times article dated 9th August 1976.....

Does this point of law still stands in today's day and age? Would any of our learned friends care to comment?

The notes were issued with two different types of security thread, these with the first few single digit prefixes are of the straight security thread ones....................

offset serial number error

lower digit "5" with bold ink print error

state crest wet ink transfer error

left side of note printed slightly off centre

The errors seen are not standard issues, these happen to be that I collect $10 solid security thread bird series errors ;-)

.................................The later series of broken and jagged security threads was issued some time in October 1976 and it caused a major stir & panic among the illiterate population (why is it that it always starts first with the stupid illiterate ones and that it will come out from the market place? You will see what I mean, from the following newspaper articles.....)

The Straits Times dated 30th Nov 1976

The following articles were from The Straits Times dated 1st Dec 1976....................

From the Editorial Section of The Straits Times dated 1st Dec 1976,,,,,,,,

Thus ends the saga of the pandemonium of modern Singapore currency? nooooo.................. this is not the end or final, as there are more of these to come..............stay connected!

Following are Replacement Notes of the $10 Bird Series collected over the years......

A Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year Greetings....

2011-02-03T06:20:00.000+08:00

To all my fellow Chinese collectors and friends.................

The Straits Dollar Coins...................

2011-01-29T06:00:00.001+08:00

In the early 1900s Silver was the commodity much sought after, thus........................

The Straits Times 10 July 1903

The Singapore Free Press & Mercantile Advisor dated 19 July 1903

The Straits Times dated 24 July 1903

The Straits Times dated 19 August 1903

The Straits Times dated 26 Sept 1903

The Straits Times dated 3 Oct 1903

Finally after a few months of newspaper publications, on 2 Oct 1903 new Straits Dollar coin was declared legal tender and subsequently issued but the coin was not popular with the local population especially the shopkeepers and illiterate market aunties.

Mexican and other dollars were collected and melted down to obtain the necessary silver bullion. Recoinage was done by the mint in Bombay, and was completed by November 1904.

By this time the Straits Settlement Colony had received some 35,000,000 of the new dollar coins.

These coins were equal in weight and fineness to the existing British Dollar (416 grains troy, 900 millesimal fineness), but with a smaller diameter across the flan. The dies were engraved at the Royal Mint, from designs prepared by G.W. De Saulles.

(info from Pridmore: Coins and Coinage)

1903B

The Straits Times dated 3 Oct 1904

1904

The Straits Times dated 27 Mar 1907

The Straits Times dated 14 May 1907

By September 1906, the Straits Government was once again confronted with the problem of raising exchange rate, ratio to gold, etc.

Thus after some discussion with the local Chinese Advisory Board and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a decision was made for a second issue of Dollar coins with a reduction in weight, size but no reduction in fineness.

Subsequently, Dollar coins minted from 1907 to 1909 were smaller and lighter than the 1903 and 1904 dates.

1907H

After the accession of George V and coupled with the First World War, Silver was in great demand and the prices rose rapidly.

Thus it became more profitable for the local population to melt the Dollar coins to obtain the Silver sell it than to use as a currency medium.

Another series of the Dollar coins with even smaller in size, lighter in weight and least of the Silver fineness as compared to the other two predecessor was minted and issued.

The reverse designs remained unchanged, but the obverse now showed the effigy of George V, wearing the Imperial Crown and the Robe of State, with the collar of the Garter and the Badge of the Bath.

(info from Pridmore: Coins and Coinage)

1919

1919 Restrike Proof

British Trade Dollars

2011-01-18T05:51:00.000+08:00

This newspaper article announces the proposed minting of the British Trade Dollars.

The Straits Times dated 17 March 1894

The Straits Times dated 10 Jan 1895

The Straits Time 1 July 1895

1895B

An odd enquiry to The Straits Times and published on 16 Oct 1901.

Never did found the published reply...............any advice from fellow collectors?

The rest of my personal collections of BTDs:

1904

1913

1929B

1930

My only East Malaysian (Sarawak & Borneo) Banknotes...................... :-(

2011-01-08T22:43:00.005+08:00

Sadly, these three pieces are my only remaining collections of the early East Malaysian currency, I remembered I had also a BNBC twenty five & fifty cents banknotes, but probably misplaced somewhere.

These three pieces are almost practically uncirculated acquired thru' a foreign dealer and an auction house .

Ex-Spinks 22nd June 1996

The top piece has a richer hue than the bottom piece although they are consecutive pieces.

This other piece is from The British North Borneo Company dated 1st January 1936,engraved and printed by Blades,East & Blades Ltd. London

The colour RED is still very vibrant considering the note is more than 72 years old.

Happy Belated New Year!!

2011-01-03T21:21:00.000+08:00

To all my friends and fellow collectors...............A Happy Belated & Prosperous 2011 to you and your family. May your wishes and dreams of havng that elusive banknote come true!

I was away on holiday with my family and hence the lack of articles for the blog..........well here goes..................

A bit out of context....or country, got this foreign note with palindromic numerals (radar numbers to some collectors) from a supermarket cashier.

A beautiful South Korean banknote with unique numerals, make me an offer if you want to buy this note...........there is a slight small edge fold on the lower right hand corner otherwise crisp very good EF grade.

My other palindromic Singapore banknotes:

Malaysia RM1 6th Series ~ Semi-Solid Numbers

2010-12-12T20:54:00.000+08:00

This is my other unique modern Malaysian banknote with the first prefix FD and semi-solid serial numbers.

Malaysia 1st Series RM1 Colour Error?

2010-11-28T21:03:00.001+08:00

This 1st series Malaysian Banknote was engraved and printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd.

The note measures 121mm x 64mm and bears the portrait of Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman, first King of Malaysia. This note has straight thread security line which is of the first variety type.

What makes this piece interesting is that the blue is of a different shade from the rest, whereas the multi-coloured central ornamental pieces retains it's original colours, could this be a colour error or the handiwork of someone?

Any of my Malaysian fellow collectors care to comment?

"FILTHY MONEY" ~~~ Straits Settlements Paper Banknote Series?

2010-11-20T06:16:00.002+08:00

In a recent auction, this repaired centre hole VF piece was sold for US$266.91including the buyer's premium of 16.05%.

(Expensive Filthy Money )

ex-Mavin Auction 25 dated 13 November 2010

These two Straits One Dollar notes dated 20 June 1921 and 5 September 1924 was bought in the 80's and each cost a mere fraction(< US$50.00).

(Cheap Filthy Money)

Why FILTHY ?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the following articles were from the newspaper of that era:

This could be the reason why polymer notes are being issued after almost a hundred years later.

Straits Settlements Emergency 10cents Banknotes

2010-11-06T20:20:00.001+08:00

On the 5th October 1917, the Straits Government issued an official Government Gazatte notice no:1313 announcing the intention of issuing the 10 cents banknote to counter the shortage of coins in the Straits Settlements.

The 10-cent note, locally designed and printed at the Government Printing Office, was a poor production, A thick open texture paper was employed which quickly absorbed moisture and dirt. It maybe unsuitable for the many and varied transactions of the population, nevertheless it had a large issue owning to the shortage of coins.

Extracted from Coins and Coinages by F.Pridmore.

Hence, this publication from the Straits Times dated 15th Oct 1917.

This series has many issue dates and was either signed by H. Marriott, the Acting Treasurer or A.M. Pountney, the Treasurer. The first issue date was 1/10/1917 and last was 10/6/1920.

It is a tremendous challenge to have a complete series, something like 31 dates.

The first date of issue, 1.10.17, signed by the Acting Treasurer H. Marriott, and the only issue with the No. notation

Another date of issue, 1.1.18, signed by the Acting Treasurer H. Marriott, but with slight inking error of the serial number.

This variety carries the Tresurer A.M. Pountney signature with a date of 8.8.1919

Another A.M Pountney signature dated 25.2.1920

Do drop me a note if you have got the complete series. Happy Collecting!

King George V 1931 ~ 1935 series Banknotes

2010-10-31T04:56:00.001+08:00

The Straits Times 12 Mar 1932

The First Series 1.1.1931 with Treasurer Louis Shelley signature.

The Fifth Series 1.1.1935 with Treasurer Rex Curral signature.

The Straits Times 4 August 1932

The First Series 1.1.1931 with Treasurer Louis Shelley signature.

The Fourth Series 1.1.1933 with Treasurer Rex Curral signature.

The Fifth Series 1.1.1935 with Treasurer Rex Curral signature.

The Straits Times 17 June 1933

The Fifth Series 1.1.1935 with Treasurer Rex Curral signature.

Odd For Thought:

These new series was designed to beat the rampant counterfeiters of the early 1900s.

This article from The Straits Times dated 8 Aug 1933 mentioned also about seeking advice on how to remove the "Specimen" wording that was stamped onto the new $5 note and that they can fill the perforated holes, how naive can people get? If only they knew how expensive and rare specimen notes are!

Back to the original story of counterfeiting, apparently the new series did not even bat an eyelid for the forgers...............

The Straits Times 6 Sept 1936

Articles from The Straits Times

Straits Settlements Pre-Monarchy Portrait Series 1925 to 1930

2010-10-25T06:13:00.000+08:00

The Straits Times 18 Nov 1925

ex Spinks 1994, Dr Chan CC. (possible colour error)

These notes were acquired in the 1990's and it cost me a 'bomb' those days, but compared to current its "peanuts".

In the first quarter of 1926, this article was published in the local newspaper:

The Straits Times 15 April 1926

The Straits Times 1994 cut-up

This $5 very piece is the advertisement picture template of the local newspaper showcasing the then up and coming 16th Singapore Coin Auction of 1994.

Following are the complete $1 denomination with the signature and date varieties:

The "Problematic" Malayan Banknotes of 1940 & 1941?

2010-10-17T17:52:00.000+08:00

Article from The Straits Times 24 March 1940.

It took about a year later to issue the Malayan $10 banknote and I believe that it was the plum coloured 1940 $10 Malayan banknote. I stand corrected.

Article from The Straits Times 29 March 1941.

This letter was sent to and published in The Straits Times of 29 March 1941, it is self-explanatory.

I wonder if during that time the Malayan public knew that a large consignment of the $1 & $5 Malayan banknotes dated 1st January 1940 were lost when the carrying ships "SS Automedon and SS Eumanes" were either sunk or captured by the German raiders in late 1940.

By Mid December of 1941, after the Imperial Japanese Army had captured Penang, more of the 1940 series banknotes fell into enemy hands.The following article was published in the local newspaper, still with the intention of wanting to put the 1940 series $1 & $5 banknotes into circulation.

Article from The Straits Times 23 December 1941

When British forces re-occupied Singapore in September 1945, some of the 1940 series $1 & $5 banknotes were found except for one bundle of one thousand pieces. In order to prevent these and those captured by the German raiders being passed into circulation when the notes become current, all stocks of 1940 $1 & $5 banknotes were destroyed and declared Non Legal Tender.
(Some information extracted from Paper Currency of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei - William Shaw and Mohd Kassim)

Gradually, the 1940 $10 was also taken out of circulation and a new series of Malaya banknotes dated 1st July 1941 were introduced. These were airfreighted into Singapore as mentioned below in The Straits Times dated 6 November 1948.

Food For Thought:

Extracted from The Straits Times 23 February 1953

Double Your Money??

2010-10-02T18:40:00.000+08:00

The Straits Times dated 2 March 1954

I wonder if anyone has tried to cash this type of split money, can it be done with present day note?
'Free board and lodging' will be provided................... if caught! ;-)

The Straits Times dated 10 Sept 1945

The following King George VI banknotes were acquired mainly from auctions and overseas dealers of which one was my very first piece bought on 17 June 1978 and it cost me S$4.50, how I wish that I had bought more at that time.

Set of running numbers bought 'donkey' years back from a RARE good and honest part time local dealer.

PDJ, I'm sure you know who you know are!

Could this piece be considered as Radar numbers? Nice Prefix though!

This printing of this note is off centre, thereby leaving a wider than usual margin on the left.

This note's serial numbers has been printed out of alignment, touching the King's vignette and also the lower border surrounding the BCCM name.

Ahhhhh! at last a normal standard piece :)

Money Face we've heard!,,,,,,,..but moneyQueen??

2010-09-18T21:09:00.002+08:00

This article appeared in The Straits Times dated 11th March 1952.

The Straits Times 30th Jan 1954

The Straits Times 8th April 1954

According to the Straits Times article(8 April) mentioned above, it was implied that the colour of the new $100 currency note is predominantly blue. I wonder????

I wonder then what is the predominantly colour of the $50 note?

The Straits Times 8th Dec 1954

One of my favourite sets, although the condition leaves much to be desired.

The Straits Times 23 Aug 1955

This series will be the last the British Monarchy will ever be featured in any of the Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore currency notes.

The Unique Buffalo or Duit Kerbau 1961 $10

2010-09-08T18:43:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times 22 Nov 1960

Apparently, the Commissioners decided to issue only the $10 denomination after the $1 series.

The Straits Times 27 Nov 1961

The Straits Times 28 Nov 1961

The common small 'A' prefixes

The scarce large 'A' prefix

The rare 'B' prefix

I understand that after these series were demonetised, the local population uses them to burn as monetary offerings during the Chinese Seven Month festival and funerals. Hence, their rarity and the high prices that these notes can command.

(Malaya) New $1notes - minus the Queen's head

2010-08-29T17:49:00.000+08:00

Can you imagine this was the headlines published on the front page of the local newspaper, The Straits Times , dated Tuesday May 26, 1959.

How crude!...................appropriately should have been 'minus the Queen's portrait'. Probably still suffering from the effects of the resentment of British rule and post-independence euphoria......

Happy Independence Day to my fellow Malaysian Collectors and Friends!

Although the note is dated 1st March 1959, it was released to the Malayan public only in June of the same year.This note is one of the first series printed by Waterlow & Sons.

This is the reverse side of the same note.

Termite eaten note with unique serial numbers.

My last A prefix piece of the Waterlow & Sons series.

In the same year, a similar design banknote was printed by another engraver Thomas de la Rue and subsequently issued to the Malayan public.

This pair of the later series MBB notes by Thomas de la Rue has a stuck digit error.

B prefixes of the Thomas de la Rue notes

According to a certain Malaysian publisher the prefixes of the Thomas de la Rue notes also starts with prefix A.
Can anyone confirm that this is correct?

About six months after the initial issue, The Straits Times dated December 27, 1959 published this report:

Subsequently, more forgeries were discovered and reported in the press.

The following are some of the notes:

A modern day reproduction issued by Moneyworld during one of it's exhibitions. As good as the real thing, can you spot the difference?

Two of Malaya's Fractional Banknotes

2010-08-21T16:44:00.000+08:00

These fractional banknotes were originally approved by the Board of Comissioners of Currency, printed in 1941 with further printings in 1943/44, held by the War Office and subsequently issued at the time of re-occupation.

Common Variety

Scarce Variety

They were also very unpopular with the Malayan people and prompted statement from the CCO, and a publication of this article from The Straits Times dated 3rd December 1949:

The 1 cent note was not the only unpopular one, the other low fractional was also the 10 cents note.

After reading this Straits Times article dated 10th December 1947, I wonder whether some of people still practise the water treament process? I shiver at such a thought that we as collectors sometimes smell old banknote. (Shiok lah! Wangi betul lah!)

Common Variety

Common Variety but with rich inking of the central ornamental.

Common Variety but with light inking of the central ornamental.

Scarce Variety type II

Scarce Variety type III

By the way, only the Malayan low fractional banknotes 1cent, 5 cents & 10 cents are UNIFACE.
Why?

The Malaya Saga continues with Five Cents........................

2010-08-12T07:04:00.000+08:00

You sometimes hear people say " my five cents worth........." ( inflation! gone up from two cents)

Well, here are my Five cents "worth"..............

The King George VI series has 2 distinct Jawi script variation under the King's portrait vignette.

Could our Jawi learned collectors care to explain the meanings of the Jawi variations?

Type I Type II

The Type I Jawi variety:

As of date there has been no reported design varieties for Type I.

The Type II Jawi variety :

The common variety,

The rare variety,

The scarce variety.

This is a minor error note which I bought from an American dealer way back in the early 1980s.The error is in the lack of printing for the Jawi scripts and was only discovered many years later.

Close-up of the error:

(ERROR) (STANDARD)

All the notes are signed H. Weisberg - the signature of Hyman Weisberg, B.A., Financial Secretary of the Straits Settlements and Chairman of the Commissioners of currency, Malaya.

(excerpts from Coins and Coinages, F.Pridmore)

WARNING!

The following five cents notes are forgeries and I have seen some of them being passed off as the real thing and also on eBay.

As for most forgeries the printing are blurry and design patterns are not sharp.

Please examine them carefully before buying, be more careful if the seller does not allow you to remove the note from the plastic holder.

The saga of the Malaya 50cent Banknote................

2010-08-07T17:56:00.000+08:00

These notes were printed in England between 1941 and 1944, handed to the War Office to be held for readiness for issue upon re-occupation of Malaya.They were then subsequently released into circulation in September 1945.

However, the following article appeared in The Straits Times on 20 March 1949, three and half years later! Why?

Did you know that amongst all banknotes issued during the Straits Settlements and British Malaya era, the fractional King George VI series of 1st July 1941 has the most number of design varieties. To collect all varieties in UNC condition is a challenge!

The following are the 50 cents varieties:

This 50 cents note is termed as an error note because it is missing the colour purple in the large central ornamental panel.

Fractional currency ceases after this series, as they being of low value, they seldom reach the banks after issue and hence cannot be withdrawn and replaced. Moreover, the notes were very widely and heavily used and became filthy in a short time, making the mintage of coins more economical and practical.

Emergency 10-Cent Note 1940

2010-08-03T23:23:00.001+08:00

Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War there was a currency shortage created by the hoarding of silver coins because the value of silver was higher than the face value of the coins.Legislative action was taken to prohibit such practices, but although this had some slight effect, the shortage still persisted.
The Currency Commissioners then decided to print a new issue of 10-cent notes to defeat the hoarders and intending profiteers, while retaining in circulation a medium of exchange.
In view of the delay which would have ensued if the notes were produced in England, these were then printed locally at the Survey Department Office, Kuala Lumpur.An order was placed for 2,000,000 pieces on 17th July 1940.The 10-cent notes were printed and delivered to the Commissioners by 20th August 1940.The work has been executed in a remarkably short space of time through the services of some 20 European women who were engaged to examine the notes while still in sheet form, for the detection of printing errors and flaws.
(certain excerpt from Coins and Coinages, F. Pridmore)

Have you come across any errors and flaws? Share with us if you do.

The 10-cent notes were then released to the public in September.................................

not the next month, September 1940 but 5 years later, on 6th September 1945.

(extracted from The Straits Times 6th September 1945)

According to a Malaysian cataloger, the prefix letters range from A to M.

Singapore Orchid Specimen Banknotes Worthless??

2010-07-25T07:58:00.001+08:00

On 19March 1977, this article appeared in the local newspaper....

(extracts from The Straits Times)

Almost twelve years later, this brochure was handed out at the annual Singapore coin show........

thus putting a monetary value for all Singapore Specimen banknotes.

At a recent auction, the Specimen Orchid series album and the Bird series fetched more than S$2500 and S$2000 respectively.

My other modern era Specimen Notes.........

(ex-Spinks Singapore, 24th June 2000)

To add closure to this article, the thief was finally caught a few months later and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and in mitigation he said he was tempted and thought that he could use the money.

The Day That Thousands Found Their Money Worthless!

2010-07-12T19:13:00.001+08:00

This article appeared in the local newspaper on the 10th October 1965, some twenty odd years after the Japanese Surrender, depicting the anxiety of the peoples' monetary issue.

(Extracts from The Straits Times)

(from my personal collection)

Between late 1944 or early 1945 the British Forces began airdropping these propaganda leaflets, using the face of the $10 banana note of the Japanese Invasion money as its design, informing the public of the abrogation of the banana money.

This piece with serial numbers is from the First Series of Banana Note issued by Yokohama Specie Bank around early 1942 .

Subsequently, around September 1942 the Second Series were issued and they do not have any serial numbers at all.

When first issued these were on par with the then $1Straits Dollar but towards the end of the war $240,000 banana money was the exchange price for $1 Straits Dollar.

Something odd happened in May 1946.......................................................................

This article was extracted from the Straits Times dated 24th May 1946.

Could anyone enlighten us why the Malayan Union were selling these worthless notes to the public again just nine months after the Japanese Surrender.

I wonder how many banana notes can be bought for $100 Malayan currency?

Do they include the serial numbered ones as well as the propaganda notes?

Well, if you had bought some and hopefully it includes the propaganda notes..............then you may be in the money, so to speak!

In an internet auction of June 2003, a similar $10 propaganda note shown above fetched a price of US$510.00 for a EF grade and at a recent auction 5pcs of the serial numbered $10 banana notes in fine to good fine grades were sold for US$100.00!

WORTHLESS????

$25 banknote.............Beautiful but Odd???

2010-07-03T01:13:00.000+08:00

Considered one of the most beautiful and odd banknote ever issued by the Board of Commissioner of Currency, Singapore on 7th August 1972.

The note was introduced to meet a need for an intermediate denomination between the $10 and $50 note. Sadly, it was to be withdrawn some years later because of its odd denomination. :(

Why odd, you may asked.....................

The first prefix number and with a slightly offset numeral.

A replacement note

The so called "Yellow Paper" Variety type.

Thick & Thin Signature Variety

.........................................probably because a certain group of people had difficulty in doing mental arithmetic when confronted with this denomination.

Do you fall under this group?

A simple test............... :p What is 25.00 minus 17.75.................

Hmmm...how many seconds or minutes did you take to get the correct answer?

During my NS days in the 70's, our salaries were paid in cash and with this denomination.......Guess what? The pay officer handed us 5pcs and said this equals to One Hundred Dollars and continued doing so, even when we told him that it was incorrect.Finally after paying off a few of us did he realised his mistake, and had to make us return the money...........

If you are that officer reading this...............have a good laugh and Thank God you could ROD as an officer!

Did you notice.............there is an absence of the name of the Orchid on the note. An article in The Straits Times dated 1st February 1973 mentioned it. After that, I think someone in BCCS woke up and Wham! all other series notes issued have their relevant bird, ship and even portrait names printed.

Certain Extracts from The Straits Times)

$25 Orchid name: Renanthopsis Aurora

Singapore 25th Anniversary $5 Major Coin Error

2010-06-26T12:31:00.000+08:00

This coin was issued by The Singapore Mint sometime in July 1990 in a plastic pouch costing S$5.60 per coin.

This particular error coin was given to me by my sister-in-law who had in fact returned it back to the bank after finding that it was not fully struck. Thankfully, she managed to retrieve it back from the bank the very next day and gave it to me.

The reverse of the coin was perfectly struck, I wonder how many of these pieces managed to get into circulation. Can this be the only Singapore error coin with the highest denominational value in private hands? Care to make an offer?

1918 TWENTY FIVE cents Coloured Varieties Banknotes

2010-06-20T07:54:00.000+08:00

There was a shortage of Silver coins during the First World War Years(1914-18) owning to the Silver becoming intrinsically worth more than their face value. People started to hoard these coins and subsequently melt them down for disposal as bullion.

As a temporary and remedial measure, an ordinance was passed on the 1st October 1917, providing for the issue of low denominational cuurency notes of 5, 10, 25 & 50 cents value.

However, a Government Gazzette of 5th October 1917 announced the intention to issue two values - 10 & 25 cents.

The 25 cents notes were then issued in January 1918 and apparently the decorative background has two different colours, Orange or Yellow. I happened to be in possession of the Yellow variety, anyone care to comment on their varieties?
(Certain extracts from Coins and Coinages, F.Pridmore)

Straits Settlements & Malaya Counterfeit Currencies

2010-06-12T17:18:00.002+08:00

A counterfeit Straits Settlements Five Cents dated 1884.

Back then, you could hire a Chinese servant for 15cents a day.

Another counterfeit Straits Settlements currency, this time a Five Dollars banknote dated 10 July 1916. Recently, a 2 Jan 1914 counterfeit Five Dollars banknote was sold for USD500.00 in a local auction.

Another counterfeit banknote of Five cents in value.In 1941, a Chinese labourer working for the Royal Engineers gets paid 45cents a day inclusive of food and lodgings.

A well circulated counterfeit 20cents coin and $1 banknotes of the 1950s era.On 19 August 1960, the local newspaper reported that the authorities seized 45855 pcs of $1 counterfeits plus an assortment of printings materials and a Multi Lith Model:1250 printing machine traceable to the NCR company. (Source: National Library, Singapore)

Straits Settlements 10cents, 14th October 1919, Third Issue

2010-06-01T20:32:00.001+08:00

A pair of Third Issue Straits Settlements 10 cents banknote dated 14th October 1919.

Notice any difference between the two notes, except for the prefix and serial numbers.

The colour of the printings.
The 1919 numerals.

According to a Malaysian reference book published in the 70s, all 10c banknotes signed by the Ag. Treasurer A.M. Pountney, are Dark Red with green pattern prints and when signed by the Treasurer A.M. Pountney, are Bright red (Pink according to F. Pridmore) with green pattern.
In this instance, even the one signed by the Treasurer is Dark Red with green pattern prints

COLOUR ERROR?

Another interesting point is the 1919 year numerals, the numeral 9 of darker series is of a different font from the lighter series.

Pretty odd, anyone care to comment?

An Improbable Banknote Error by printer Thomas De La Rue.

2010-05-28T13:06:00.000+08:00

This was The Straits Times article dated Thursday, June 25, 1992 depicting the impending sale of the book "Prudence at the Helm" containing a commemorative $2 banknote to be on sale the following Monday, June 29, 1992.

This was one of the three banknotes/books which I managed to buy on that Monday.

Can you spot the error?

The following article did not appear till 5 days later, when The Straits Times mentioned that there was an error.

As the English Language is the lingua franca of Singapore and the printer being a world class British company, such spelling error is almost improbable!

Thanks be to them, that if you had bought the book back then, the asking price in 2010 is about eight times it's original selling price and still going up!

Dr. Goh Keng Swee's Signatures

2010-05-23T20:46:00.003+08:00

This $1 Orchid series was issued on 19 Jan 1970 when Dr Goh was the Finance Minister.

This $1 Ship series was issued on the 12 Jan 1987 when Dr Goh was the Chairman of Board of Commissioners of Currency,Singapore.

Can you spot the number of distinct differences between the two signatures and the Red Seals.

Two different printers were engaged to print the banknotes, could this be the cause?

$5 Orchid Series Banknote signed by the late Dr Goh Keng Swee

2010-05-23T07:23:00.000+08:00

According to the local newspaper article printed by The Straits Times in it's 8 July 1988 publication, Quote" You are in the money" Unquote. It goes to mention that the note maybe worth between $90 to $150 and if you have bought some in 1988, you would really be in the money in 2010, as I understand some sellers are asking for above $1000.

Do you have any uncirculated pieces for sale?

By the way, The Straits Times also mentioned about the 'rarity' of errors from the Orchid series signed the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, well my previous article depicts a minor error, don't you think so?

A Pair of Dr Goh Keng Swee Orchid $1 series with Errors

2010-05-22T18:51:00.001+08:00

This pair of Orchid $1 series signed by the late Dr Goh Keng Swee has a small printing error or smudge streak on the design of the flower. Compare the usual design against the one with the error to appreciate the difference.
Anybody care to comment on how this error can happen?

Malaya and British Borneo Error Banknote

2010-05-19T23:40:00.001+08:00

A pair of uncirculated Malaya and British Borneo $1 with offset serial numbers.

King GeorgeVI 20c Variety Banknote

2010-05-09T16:31:00.002+08:00

This banknote is one of two pieces that was aquired thru' a foreign dealer in the early 80's. The variety was not discovered until a Malaysian publisher mentioned this particular variety in his 15th edition of his catalog released in May 2000.

I wonder how many of this variety exist?