319.OF BLINK, RADAR NUMBERS AND RAYMOND WEIL…

Nothing much has been written worthy of mention on currency and notes lately. Come to think of it, I don’t recalled writing anything on watches or clocks as well for quite a while. What more a book review.

This book ‘BLINK’ was a present received some time back but never managed to haul myself to complete reading until recently. For those who are looking for some material to loosen up the mind, this book suits you.

What I want to jot down is not the book review rather a preowned piece of RM100 Malaysian currency note tucked in between the pages of the book. I must have placed it there some time back during those initial glances at the book contents.

Turned out this currency note carries a radar number with a ZA series. Placing interesting currency notes in books surfaced from ATM, from a bank counter or a shopping change is supposed to be temporary but most of the time the transit period seemed permanent.

I remember clearly about this RM100 note bearing number ZA 1495941. 

The note was handed to Muzill to make a payment over a counter when he realized that it carries a radar number. Returning the note with a smile, he casually mentioned that I might want to keep the note and requested me to have a second glance.

Indeed it might not be an UNC, still it has a special value…and by the time I took another note, he has already settled the bill. 

I just returned the smile…

Oh yes, what has the book and the radar note got to do with the Raymond Weil? Well, I was wearing this watch when the radar number was rediscovered recently in the BLINK. This RW is a special gift from my better half many years ago and I’ll always treasure this priceless timepiece…

265. HAPPY FEDERAL TERRITORY’S DAY

The Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya is celebrating the Federal Territory's day today. The 1^st of February of every year since 1974 was earmarked as the Federal Territory's day ever since an area covering 244 sq. km of Kuala Lumpur City was carved out of the state of Selangor to form the first parcel of the three regions of Federal Territories on that date.

Kuala Lumpur, a mining town founded in 1890 was conferred the city status in 1972 before it became a Federal territory. Bank Negara Malaysia issued a commemorative coin to commemorate the event.

Subsequently, to celebrate the occasion of 100 years of Kuala Lumpur establishment, another commemorative coin was released by Bank Negara Malaysia in 1990.

Labuan Island was later approved by the Sabah state government to become the second region of the Federal Territory in 1984.

Putrajaya, the new Malaysian administrative capital, named after the first Malaysian premier, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra was officially added as the third and final region of the Federal Territory in 2001 during the premiership of Tun Dr Mahathir, the architect of Putrajaya and the great visionary Malaysian leader.

To all the Federal Territories folks, have a nice day and thank you for keeping your beautiful environment clean, fresh and green.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS COINS OF 1845

The first set of coins issued in 1847 and dated 1845 as currency for the Straits Settlement states of Singapore, Malacca, Penang Island, Province Wellesley and Labuan are the copper coins with denominations of ¼ cent, ½ cent and one cent.

The ¼ cent coin measures 18mm in diameter, weighs 2.33 grams with a William Wyon depiction of Queen Victoria on the obverse. The reverse depicts the  myrtle wreath  with  the wording  'EAST INDIA COMPANY' hovering the top,  the figure '¼ cent' inscription inside and the date 1845 lingering at the base centre of the coin just below the wreath. A total of 34,327,247 pieces were minted then.

The ½ coin with a diameter of 22.5 mm weighing 4.66 grams carries similar details and setting as the quarter cent coin was minted in a smaller quantity of 18,737,498 pieces.

A total of 18,525,893 of the 1 cent coin with a diameter of 29.0 mm weighing 9.33 grams each were minted for circulation.

These coins were issued by the East India Company and still easily available at reasonable prices from currency dealers.

As a matter of interest, in 1845 too, Ferdinand Adolph Lange, financed by a state loan, established the first Glasshutte watch making factory, setting the famous history of the illustrious German brand of fine, luxurious and grand time pieces in the world of watches.

 

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YEAR 1888

The last posting I did was on a limited edition timepiece released by CERTINA 1888.  CERTINA was founded by brothers, Adolf and Alfred Kurth in Grenchen, Switzerland in 1888 making movement and supplies for watch making industry.

A few years later, the company developed into a timepiece manufacturer under the brand name of GRANA, subsequently change to CERTINA.

The year 1888 sound intriguing to tickle my curiosity to find more about the year. Indeed, some fascinating events did take place during that year to change the face of the world. Append below a summary of those events for easy reference:

1.0     George Eastman, 34 years old of New York, USA introduced the first simple, inexpensive camera, the KODAK. With the slogan, “You push the button, we do the rest”, Eastman took photography out of the professional studio into the hands of the masses.

2.0    John Dunlop, a Scottish veterinarian living in Belfast developed the first pneumatic or inflammable rubber tyre for his son’s bicycle. Ridiculed as ‘pudding tyre’, the inflated wheels soon replaced hard rubber tyres in cycle shops all over Europe.

3.0    The first beauty contest, The Concours de Beaute, was held in Spa, Belgium. Winner walked away with first prize money of 5,000 Francs.

4.0    Henry Nicholas Ridley arrived in Singapore to take up the post of Director, Singapore Botanical Garden. He was credited to popularise rubber as an industry in Malaya, although Sir Hugh Low, The British Resident in Perak then, had introduced the plant in Kuala Kangsar 11 years earlier.

5.0    To register the significant year, I thought it might be appropriate to showcase some of the coins of Straits Settlements 1888.

 

RM5 UNCUT NOTES

BANK NEGARA GOVERNOR- TAN SRI AHMAD BIN MOHD DON

Ahmad bin Mohd Don was the fifth Governor of Bank Negara, Malaysia. He succeeded Tan Sri Jaffar Hussein on May 1, 1994. Like his predecessor, Ahmad was also a chartered accountant by profession.

During his tenure he initiated the formulation of the central bank mission, aspiration and shared values. The outcome of all these efforts has now been incorporated in a document known as Strategic Plan 1995-2000

It was during his tenure that Asia was severely hit by rogue currencies speculators. Although the IMF prescribed the tightening interest rates as the remedy, Tun Mahathir chose to impose monetary controls including pegging the Ringgit to USD and slash lending rates.

In apparent disagreement with the move Ahmad Mohd Don and his deputy, Fong Weng Phak left the Bank in August 1998 after a service of 4 years and 3 months.

 

BANK NEGARA GOVERNOR-TAN SRI ALI ABUL HASSAN

Tan Sri Abul Hassan, a renowned economist, succeeded Tan Sri Ahmad as the sixth Bank Negara Governor at the height of the Asian financial turmoil. He adopted the proactive and business friendly policy to revive the economy.

His main focus was to improve Malaysia’s economy with specific initiatives to resuscitate and stimulate domestic and foreign investments.

He successfully steered Bank Negara to greater height and help to restore the business confidence and propelled Malaysian economy on a stronger platform.

As recognition to his achievements, upon his retirement in May 2000, Tan Sri Ali was appointed by Tun Mahathir, the then Prime Minister as the Malaysian government's Economic Adviser.

HADIAH ISTIMEWA DARIPADA TOK WAN

Sudah 25 tahun dia menyimpan syiling ini. Tak pernah dia sebut dan tak pernah dia beritahu kisah syiling ni. Tak pernah pulak dia cerita tentang syiling-syiling lama dan khazanah lama yang dia simpan.

Tahun ni Tok Wan tak berapa sihat. Penyakit kencing manis yang di hidapinya kadang-kadang menyerang tak kira waktu. Apatah lagi Wan memang kuat pantang. Dek terlalu pantang terkadang kadar gulanya menurun hingga ke paras 2.5 sahaja. Ini yang menjadi masaalah. Bila kadar gula terlalu rendah Wan boleh tetiba rebah seperti yang terjadi beberapa kali sudah.

Tetapi Wan tetap Wan. Walau pun sudah menjangkau 80 tahun dia tetap berselera nak terus ke bendang setiap hari. Rutinnya yang sudah bertapak sejak zaman kanak-kanak 70 tahun lalu.

Tahun ni sudah beberap kali Wan ditimpa musibah. Ayah selalu nasihatkan Wan. Kata ayah kepada Wan “ Duduk saja dirumah, tak payah ke bendang lagi. Banyak benda boleh buat lagi. Nak tanam pokok, keliling rumah pun banyak boleh tanam” Tapi Wan tetap Wan. Senyum sengeh Wan dengar leteran ayah.

Bulan Jun lalu Wan mengalami accident semasa menonggang motosikal nak ke bendang. Berlanggar dengan motosikal Pak Bakar, rakannya, di selekoh batas ban bendang. Dua-dua cedera ringan dan Wan dimasukkan ke Hospital Alor Setar untuk pemerhatian kerana Wan hilang ingatan sementara, mungkin kerana gegaran di kepala. Motosikal Wan lingkup.

Saya dan ayah bergegas pulang, cemas bila dapat berita.

Alhamdulillah, Wan cepat pulih dan dibawa ke Kulim dan Ipoh untuk berehat panjang. Tapi Wan tetap Wan. Tak tahan lama duduk diam di Kulim mau pun di Ipoh. 

Pulang ke Alor Setar, Wan cepat-cepat ambil tindakan baiki motosikal dan mula bergerak intai-intai kisah bendang.

Tapi peliknya, Wan juga mula bertindak uruskan banyak perkara dan cerita lain. 

Semasa pulang menziarahi Wan lewat Julai, Wan beritahu ayah dan saya, Wan nak uruskan beberapa harta sementara ingatan masih ada.

Katanya, simpanan ASB sudah ditukar nama, akaun bank dimudah cara. Cuma yang tinggal beberapa pusaka lama untuk anak dan cucu.

Saya sebagai cucu sulung dengar saja Wan sambung cerita. Tok yang kebetulan berada sama, mula pasang telinga.

Kata Wan, dulu semasa berkunjung ke Kuantan pada lewat 1984 melawat ibu yang baru melahirkan Angah, Wan ada bertukar mahar untuk mendapatkan sekeping syiling dengan seseorang. Lantas dia keluarkan sekeping syiling tembaga dan menyerahkan kepada saya.

Tertera kalimat Yassin dan Zulfakar disebelah muka dengan gambar satu lembaga seksi macam Tarzan botak memegang tombak di muka yang lain. Kata Wan, itu syiling Yassin dan minta saya simpan dengan baik sebagai hadiah darinya.

Tak pulak dia beritau untuk apa dan saya pun lupa tanya signifikan syiling yang kali pertama saya lihat. Cuma pesannya tak boleh dijual atau diurusniaga. Ayah juga turut tercengang.

Kini syiling misteri milik saya. Akan saya simpan sebagai amanah dan hadiah istimewa dari Wan yang amat saya sayangi.

Doa saya agar Wan dan Tok sentiasa sihat sejahtera.

Catatan: Muzill.mansor

DI PENGHUJUNG RAMADHAN - 00000123 ATAU 00000321

Ramadhan hanya berbaki empat lima hari saja lagi. Entah ke temu entah ke tidak di tahun hadapan...

Hitung-hitunglah sama ada Ramadhan kali ini dimanfaat secara lebih baik...

atau tergelincir ke tahap yang lebih rendah.

Semoga kita sama-sama beroleh kejayaan pada Ramadhan kali ini dengan ruang peningkatan masih terbuka luas pada hari-hari akhir Ramadhan dan hari-hari dalam baki hayat yang tidak pernah kita ketahui.

A MERDEKA TREAT: A COMPLETE SET OF SOLID NUMBERS OF RMI ZETI AKHTAR

Securing a complete set of UNC One Ringgit notes with solid numbers signed by Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Ungku Aziz is not a very difficult task. There are many available sources such as Ebay, mudah.com.my, currency traders, flea markets and other reliable sources which can be counted on to procure the notes at reasonable prices.

 I normally count on a few trusted friends who are in the business to source for me the UNC notes. I was made to understand that even the ten ringgit and fifty ringgit notes of solid numbers are easily available in the market at the right prices.

The five ringgit notes though seemed to be the exception as they are considered a rarity. Oh, how I wish I could lay my hands on them.

I’m taking one set of one ringgit notes of solid numbers from our humble collections  for display here as a merdeka treat.

XC 10000000

XC 9999999

XC 8888888

NV 7777777

VB 6666666

PL 5555555

NJ 4444444

PQ 3333333

PH 2222222

VB 1111111

RM1 GANDAAN 4

Alhamdulillah hari ini masuklah hari keempat kita umat Islam berpuasa di bulan Ramadhan. 

Dipetik satu helaian satu ringgit edisi Zeti Akhtar  daripada album koleksi wang kertas untuk paparan hari ini.

Semoga amalan kita juga berlipat ganda pada Ramadhan kali ini macam angka gandaan ringgit diatas.

NUMBER ONE...

I like this number. To be number one is always the best. You know that you’re on top of the world when you get number one.

Remember when we were in school, you tend to get extra attention from teachers, parent, friends and colleagues when you get first place in class.

 I didn’t get the chance to be number one when in school but I always envied those friends who excelled and the desire to be at similar position always pushed me to work harder and smarter.

I guess in life too, that is what everyone need to strive for. Whether in studies, doing business or even pursuing one’s hobbies, we should strive to be the best, number one.

Oh yes, we need no reminder that at the end of our journey in life, we shall retire permanently to face THE REAL AND THE ONLY NUMBER ONE...

ASCENDING AND DESCENDING NUMBERS

RM50 ZETI AKHTAR...UNC

1.       LA 1234567

 2.          RJ 7654321