NUMISMATICS ECONOMY IN MALAYSIA

By now everyone should know the economy situation in Malaysia are not good as there are several factors that are hurting our economy. Malaysia were hit hard on its currency MYR against the USD with today exchange rates touching 3.88 against the USD (as time of writing 06/08/15) couple with the fall of oil price (Brent crude) to USD49.50 per barrel from USD115.00 last year and this has hurt our economy greatly as we are an oil producing country. Our stock exchange are also in the doldrums caused by the above mentioned factors and resulted to losses to the retailers. Malaysians also need to live with higher cost of living with the recent implemented of the GST (Goods Sales Tax).

All these factors has contributed to lesser "disposable income" and this has affected the numismatics industries. Collectors have stopped buying and there are more sellers than buyers now and this has caused the prices to come down.

The only good things where i can think of are the good (high quality) and rare stuffs (banknotes/coins) have come out for sale to the market and nobody are fighting with you over it. And the realized prices can be surprisingly low.

I will share with you here what my recent acquisition are.

I only pay "peanuts" price for this 2 pieces of 1953 $1 QE II consecutive numbers of 66EPQ.

Another piece of "gem" i have found is the 1939 Thailand $1 Bath 66EPQ. And the price i have paid are just "peanuts" comparing last year 2014 crazy prices.

Always remember to buy when no one buys and sell when everyone are buying. Rule of thumb #1 "buy-low-sell-high" strategy. This strategy also goes to "collectors" as well, of course besides the dealers too.

Happy hunting !

Andrew

MONETARIUM SINGAPORE AUCTION #15 ON 26TH MARCH 2015

Here are some of the highlights from the recent Monetarium Singapore Auction on 26th March 2015 with realized prices. Presently collectors are having more interests in Malaya and Straits Settlements banknotes and prices are steadily rising.

Exchange rate : 2.69 from RM to SGD

Buyer's Premium : 15% live bid and 18% internet bid

SGD12,000 + 15%. 

Extremely rare piece of banknote especially without the chop. 

The first notes consigned by the Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya were for the value of $1, $5 and $10 and dated 1st January 1940. Of these issues, a large quantity of $1 notes (1940 Green colour) and $5 notes (1940 blue colour) was despatched to Malaya before the Japanese invation on 8th December 1941 but were all seized by the Germans. 

When British forces reoccupied Singapore in Septemeber 1945, they found all the abandoned notes of this series (1940 series) except for a bundle of one thousand of the notes captured in Penang, in the vaults of the Japanese sub-treasury. Nevertheless, all stocks were destroyed in 1946, as it was feared that the notes seized by the Germans might be handed over to their Japanese allies, ready to be passed into circulation when the notes became current. There is no evidence of these notes ever reaching Malaya. During the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese government issued the famous banana notes to replace the Malayan dollar as legal tender.

British forces landed at Penang and Singapore on 3rd Septemeber 1945 and gradually reoccupied the whole of Malaya. It was decided that no value should be accorded to the Japanese banana money.

However the $10 1940 (purple colour) was uncompromised and eventually went into circulation after the war and remained legal tender until it was phased out by the new currency - 1941 $10 KGVI red colour. This banknote was in circulation for only a year.

SGD2600 + 15%.

Nice S/N Q/29 000888

SGD1400 + 15%

SGD5000 + 15%. 3pcs consecutives

SGD2400 + 15%.

VF condition with pin holes

SGD650 + 15%

SGD3000 + 15%.

Prefix A1

SGD2200 + 15%.

SGD2400 + 15%.

1916 KING EDWARDS VII scarce in high grade.

SGD2400 + 15%

1921 KING EDWARDS VII scarce in high grade.

Happy Reading,

Andrew

MAVIN SINGAPORE AUCTION # 39 ON 25TH MARCH 2015 REALIZED PRICES

Here are some of the highlights from Mavin auction with recently concluded realized prices.

From my perspective Malaya and Straits Settlements banknotes are back in demand again with high realized prices. Finally collectors are focusing back on "history" and "heritage" where the rich values of these banknotes lies, that is the most important fundamentals of collecting numismatics - "VALUES".

Whereas for modern Malaysia banknotes i regarded them as "beauty contest" whoever could achieve highest grade.

EXCHANGE RATES : 2.690 from RM to SGD

BUYER PREMIUM : 18% for live bid and 20% for internet bid

SGD1500 + 18% BP. VF Condition.

SGD15,000 + 18% BP

SGD2600 + 18% BP. VF Condition

SGD560 + 18%. 1st prefix A/1

SGD3000 + 18% BP

SGD3200 + 18% BP

SGD850 + 18% BP. VF Condition

SGD3800 + 18% BP. VF Condition

SGD5800 + 18% BP. "Small A SN" (common Prefix)

SGD5200 + 18% BP.

SGD2100 + 18% BP. VF Condition with graffiti on the back.

SGD1900 + 18% BP. EF Condition

SGD400 + 18% BP. VF Condition

SGD900 + 18% BP. VF Condition 3pcs consecutive nos

SGD5000 + 18% BP

SGD1400 + 18% BP. 1934 KGV $10 VF Condition

SGD3000 + 18% BP. 1935 KGV $10 VF-aEF Condition

King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth banknotes bounce back to life since their peak on 2007/2008.

Happy Reading

Andrew