FLOODS HIT MALAYSIA CAUSE NUMISMATICS TO SLOW DOWN

Flood disaster had hit 8 states out of 13 states in Malaysia with flood water reached the roof tops, those states affected are - Kelantan, Trengganu, Perlis, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Johor and Pahang the worst disaster in 30 years. Hundreds of thousand of people had been evacuated and unfortunately some lives were lost.

The local numismatics economy had slow down for at least in the immediate to medium term. People needs time and resources (money) to get back into their normal lives again.

In dire times food stuffs are more important than numismatics and it matter no more if you have a piece of RM1 "CR" Ali Abul Hassan graded as PMG 67EPQ and you won't be able to trade for food stuffs worth RM8000. 

Next year 2015 will be a challenging year especially for speculators without much holding power. I believe the the modern replacement notes such as ZA, ZB, ZC, ZD for all denominations will drop in value when the bubble burst. If the price of crude oil could crash from USD110 to USD60 (at time of writing) the same fate could be apply for numismatics as well, since our economy and numismatics are tied together. 

Why the modern replacement notes are the ones that affected the most ? Because you can't find any young "collectors" that are genuine collectors in Malaysia because and they are mere speculators ! When they buy from you today and they intend to sell tomorrow to make quick bucks.

Modern replacement notes are like "warrants" in the stock exchange, you can only speculate in them during bullish times and you wouldn't want to buy them during challenging times because the price will fall very close to their face value respectively.

INFLOWS OF THE SMART MONEY

There are abound of opportunity where you can find good items emerge during times of crisis. I will put my money into rare Straits Settlements and Malaya banknotes but that does not necessary mean they are cheap but availability to purchase.

I will also buy those modern replacement banknotes when they are close to their face value. I just need to wait for the bubble to burst and i ain't in a hurry to buy and time is on my side. I want to see who can wait longer - the dealer or the buyer ? "Patience is a virtue"

Happy hunting !
Andrew

MALAYA BRITISH BORNEO 1961 $10 BIG "B/6" LAST PREFIX

This is the rarest buffalo note in the series - The last prefix Big "B/6".

The series of prefix Big "B" start from B/1, B/2, B3, B/4, B5 and Last prefix B/6, there are only six serial numbers in total thus make it scarce. 

This piece of note is in original VF condition - no wash, no hole and no tear. Among the buffalo banknote series the prefix Big B/6 command the highest premium because of its rarity. You hardly seen them in auction perhaps once in the blue moon. High grade or UNC condition are extremely hard to find and if you do it will probably cost you a bomb. 

Base on PMG population report, there are a total of 52pcs (as at time of writing) graded for Large Serial Number "B" or Big B (Pick 9c) it comprises B/1, B/2, B/3, B/4, B/5 and B/6. The highest graded in the whole "B" series are - 1piece (66EPQ) and follow by 3pieces (64) and 5pieces (58EPQ) and etc.

If you're searching for a piece of Big B for your collection then you will know how hard to find one and i want to wish you happy hunting that is the thrill and fun of collecting banknotes.

I want to wish all of my collector friends - Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year 2015 !

Warmest Regards,

Andrew

MALAYA 1942 KGVI AND MALAYSIA 2001 RM5 ZETI "ZA" REPLACEMENT NOTE

Buying opportunity arises during the recent stock exchange crash due to the international oil price plunge to USD58 per barrel (as at time of writing). Numismatics are tied to the share market and once the share market crashed everyone lose confident on the economy and are scared to spend money coupled with some losses in the stock market.

Speculators are selling to make ends meet so the same goes to some weak collectors are disposing and there is where good items comes out. Then the "smart money" emerge to grab them.

I managed to purchase some good items recently.

Malaya 1942 $50 KGVI in original VF condition, unwash, unpress and uncrop.

This piece of banknote Malaya 1942 $50 KGVI in its original condition was a good find. There are plenty of "washed and pressed" of these notes in the market where i often came across. And i rejected them because once washed the blue color ink were smeared on the side of the note and make the note look bluish instead of the original beige color.

2001 RM5 Zeti Aziz "ZA" replacement papermoney banknotes

I bought a stack of 100pcs run of 2001 RM5 Zeti Aziz 11th series "ZA" replacement notes. The reason i bought this stack as it was the last RM5 papermoney before it was replaced by RM5 polymer notes.  This series "ZA" is very hot item and you couldn't buy in stack during the peak.

I also found and bought half a stack 50pcs run of Malaysia 1981 RM1 Aziz Taha "Blindman" 5th series of "BA" replacement notes. This series are very popular among the collectors. I apologize i have forgotten to snap some pictures before i've sent all of them to PMG for grading as i was overwhelm by excitement.

Happy reading.

Andrew

MALACCA ANTIQUE SHOP ROBBED OF BANKNOTES

Article from Metro newspaper 17/12/14

Malaysian banknotes must be sizzling hot ! An antique shop in Heritage Bazaar Malacca was robbed of banknotes and incur losses of RM10,000.

You can read the whole article by clicking on the picture for enlargement.


Happy reading.
Andrew

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS AND MALAYA BRITISH BORNEO BANKNOTES

These are my recent acquisition of Straits Settlements banknotes for my collection.

These are very scarce banknotes from the era of King Edward VII (from 1901 to 1924).

1961 Prefix Big "B" 

The 1961 Malaya British Borneo with the Prefix Big "B" are extremely scarce and it has three prefixes in the series and they are prefix Small "A" (from A/1-A/80), Big "A" (from A/81-A/99) and Big "B" (from B/1-B/6) thus the prefix Big "B" are the least and very much sought after by collectors and the price for this note command a very high premium over the other two prefixes.

This piece of banknote carry the only chinese Finance Minister signature of Tun Tan Siew Sin of Malaya before it was succeeded by Ismail Ali in 1967 under the formation of Malaysia.

Happy Reading.

Andrew

CHINESE BANKNOTES

I have not blogged for about 11days as i have gone for my well deserved vacation to unwind. Before i gone for my vacation i have received a lot from PMG and this time it was the china banknotes.

I was extremely delighted to have achieved such high grades for my chinese banknotes. I will share with you some of the examples received.

1999 50Yuan 50th anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China 3pcs consecutive numbers.

There are only 45pieces graded as 68EPQ as at time of writing.

I have never received such high grade 68EPQ for my Malaysian banknotes. The 1999 50Yuan was the first commemorative banknotes issued by China.

1960 5Yuan banknotes meant for circulation

It is astonishing to achieve such high grade 67EPQ for 1960 circulation notes. These notes are one year older comparing with our own 1961 Malaya British Borneo $10 "Buffalo" and does not cost as much as the buffalo notes. How nice if these two pieces are buffalo notes instead. Yes i must be dreaming !

My favorite banknotes the 2000 100Y polymer dragon notes. This is the second commemorative banknotes from China.

1980 50Yuan & 100Yuan does not have any security thread comparing to 1990 issues with better security features and florescence water marks.

The 1980 circulating issues command higher price than the 1990 issues.

Well these are only some of the examples received from PMG and there are many more that i could not show all to you as time does not permit and too much hassle to scan every notes.

Happy reading.

Andrew

1925 $50 KING GEORGE V PMG 25NET, 1901 $5 KING EDWARD VII, 1935 $10 KING GEORGE V UNC

I have newly acquired three notes for this week and they have cost me a fortune !

They are :-

1925 $50 King George PMG 25NET

I have blogged about this magnificent piece of banknote on my previous post. You can read the previous article here ( 1925 $50 KGV ).

1901 $5 KING EDWARD VII

The first two $5 issues during the reign of Queen Victoria from 1898 to 1900 were of the same design as the other denominations throughout the series. The design of this issue from 1901 to 1924 during the reign of King Edward VII or Edwardian era are smaller in size. The reduction was implemented to better distinguish between this denomination and the $10.

Perhaps the most noticeable difference is the placement of the phase "Currency Commissioners". On the 1898 to 1900 (Queen Victoria) $5 notes, this phase is centered and the signatures are to its right, as it is the same on all the other denominations throughout the series. 

However for all subsequent King Edward VII & King George V the $5 notes, these words  "Currency Commissioners" are positioned on the right above the serial numbers and the signatures are on the center of the notes.

Note : there are three commissioners signatures on the notes during both reign (QV and KEVII).

1935 $10 King George V pristine UNC condition

This piece is really a gem in pristine UNC condition without any stains like it was just came out from the printer - Bradbury Wilkinson UK.

However the 1932 issues are the rarest for all denominations, especially the $5 dollars. The 1935 is the most common of the years, though the $5 dollars & $10 dollars issues are tough to find in uncirculated condition. The other years are quite scarce in high grades.

Happy reading !

Andrew

CHINA 2000 MILLENNIUM DRAGON 100YUAN POLYMER NOTE

I can't help but to blog on this note again because of its beauty.....

Commemorating both the Year of the Dragon and the new millennium, the 100 Yuan from the year 2000 (Pick 902) is the first polymer note issued by the People's Republic of China.

The front of this beautiful note pictures a gigantic dragon and fireball at the center. This dragon is the third dragon of the nine dragon screen found in Beihai Park, Beijing. The building on the back is of the China Centenary Alter in Beijing along with two flying Apsaras from the frescoes of the Dunhuang caves. It has very pleasing and complementary colors throughout.

This note continues to be a favorite among collectors internationally, remaining very popular ever since it was released. This dual commemorative is truly a gem.

The People’s Bank of China issued their first, and so far only, polymer note on the 28th of November, 2000. It was printed in China at the Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (BPMC). Two companies worked together on the security features and the Guardian® polymer substrate – Reserve Bank of Australia and UCB S.A. of Belgium.

The security features include: a clear window featuring a Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven, a shadow above the window reading “2000”, an Optically Variable Device (OVD) featuring a lantern with Chinese characters that represent the new millennium at the upper-right, micro-printing of “100” and “RMB” in separate alternating lines across the top of the back of the note along either side of the China Centenary Alter in Beijing. The serial number ink is two colors black and green, and the denomination on the front goes from red to green. The last security feature on this note is the UV ink that is only seen on the dragon and fireball on the front. When under UV light the dragon shines a bright yellow.

"Commemorative" 100 Yuan Dragon Note as an uncut pair

There are three different varieties of this note. The first is the issued note which BPMC printed approximately 9.1 million with prefix J; this note was also issued in a folder. The dragon note was also sold in uncut pairs, which has also been very popular to collect. There are replacements known for this note, which is easily identified by it’s I serial number prefix. All together in total there are about 10 million notes printed for this magnificent commemorative note.

Happy Collecting.

Andrew

MALAYA BRITISH ADMINISTRATION $10 1941 KING GEORGE VI 10 PIECES CONSECUTIVE GEM UNC

Once again I'm very fortunate to be able to feature this 10 pieces consecutive numbers of Malaya banknotes from the reign of King George VI 1939 - 1946 $10 in gem uncirculated condition with striking embossment on the texture of the notes. The pristine condition make it seem like it just came out from the printer Waterlow & Sons Ltd. UK. From my perspective point of view these 10 pieces of notes will easily obtain grade PMG 66epq to 67epq.

The colours of the 1940 $10 were changed in 1941 from purple (1940) to orange. The prefixes start from "A" to "J" with no "I". The orange notes start at A/83. However the purple notes (1940) preceed this from A/1 to A/82.

It is extremely hard to find even for a single piece in gem unc condition without foxing nor stains nonetheless in 10 pieces consecutive akin to striking a lottery.

Value ? MYR13,000 for PMG 66epq last transaction and estimated value for 67epq to be around MYR16,000 to MYR17,000.00.

Base on PMG population report there is one and only single piece of 1941 $10 KGVI achieved "STAR" designation from PMG with the grade 35EPQ * (Star) thus far and there are none other banknotes from Malaysia, Malaya nor Straits Settlements able to obtain Star (*) designation as at time of writing.

These notes belong to Mr.Xavier Tan from Singapore and i would like to thank him for his kindness to share with us one of his superb collection and wish him the best of luck for sending his notes to PMG for grading as this article been written.

H/18 042131 - H/18 042140

Beautiful embossment

Happy Reading !

Andrew