Singapore $1 ~ Another Thomas De La Rue Mistake ?

 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..................

  

                                                  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....

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

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

  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