Odd denomination Hong Kong Dollar

Its been a long time since i write something but i guess i should now,well you must be reading this then

Recently the Standard Chartered Bank of Hing Kong decided to issue this odd denomination of 150 dollars to celebrate their 150th anniversary in Hong Kong which would definitely make its way into the list if wierd denominations of currencies in the world as its the first bill to have this denomination.
Fot thise who dont know where Hong Kong is,well its the little tiny island right off China,well then lets know more about this note.Standard Chartered bank has has printed 1 million of the 150-Hong-Kong-dollar notes, worth $19.35 each,that price stated is the face value.The price the banknis selling them for is much higher since theyre first in the world,150th anniversary and few other factors i guess,so theyre selling it for HKD280.A markup which is not too high and 1 million of these notes have been printed for sale.

The bank has invited people to apply for the new notes from Wednesday, offering them as collectors items with prices of 280 Hong Kong dollars each and up. Some notes bearing what are considered lucky serial numbers, such as 888888, are to be auctioned in October with a minimum bid of 3,000 Hong Kong dollars per note.

Money from the sale of the notes is to go to local charities in what Standard Chartered has described as a "creative tribute" to the people of Hong Kong. Standard Chartered began operations in Hong Kong in 1859, six years after it was founded, and is the oldest of the three note-issuing banks in the city. The other two are HSBC Holdings Plc and the Bank of China Ltd.

New south Korean banknote

South Korea plans to released a new 50,000 Won note in May or June 2009. Worth only about US$35, this note, however, is 5 times more than current highest denomination, the 10,000 Won note featuring King Sejong.Chochungdo, a painting genre initiated by Shin Saimdang, depicting plants and insects

She is the first woman to appear on a South Korean banknote, the 50,000 won note to be issued in 2009. Critics, however, have criticised her selection as reinforcing sexist stereotypes about women's roles.The note features Shin Saim-dang (1504-1551), painter, author, and mother of the great philosopher Yul-gok, also known as Yi I (1536-1584).

Chochungdo, a painting genre initiated by Shin Saimdang, depicting plants and insects

Sin Saimdang (1504-1551) was a Korean artist and calligraphist, and the mother of the Confucian scholar Yulgok. She is often held up as a model of Confucian ideals. Her respectful nickname was Eojin Eomeoni (어진 어머니; "Wise Mother"). With her help, Yulgok became a respectable scholar.

The sizes of the Korean bank notes have recently been changed. The higher the denomination, the bigger the size. The new 50,000 Won will be 6mm bigger than the 10,000 Won note.

Prostitutes on Euro banknotes

Position of Ukraine

I recently heard about certain Euro banknotes being altered while searching for some information about Euro banknotes and yes the title says it all. Apparentlypeople has begun to notice some Euro banknotes containing the image of a women presumably prostitutes. The first thing that came into my mind was, well this must be some guy playing some prank for his own amusement, however as I dug deeper, I found out that these were fake notes with a message directed to women. Now you must be asking, why were these women of the night placed on one of the strongest currency of the world and now you will know why.

( A major problem in Ukraine)

Apparently these notes were altered as a part of a sex trade campaign to discourage women from the Ukraine, once part of the Soviet Union. The images, which are otherwise almost indistinguishable from the genuine notes, have been produced as part of a campaign to prevent women from the former Soviet state from seeking to work illegally in the EU. These banknotes show under-dressed women obviously prostitutes leaning against the grand examples of European architecture that have been printed on the currency's bills since its launch in 2002.(What a way to respect national monuments in Europe!!).

There is a message at the left side of the note in Russian warning about the real price of seeking black market employment abroad are printed across the top of the “fake” notes. However let us wonder for a while how this tactic could actually work in preventing women from joining the sex trade as these notes look more like a brochure for tourists informing them that Ukraine has prostitutes for them to hire and might even cause an influx of tourists looking for pleasure and women with no money are attracted to join the sex trade.

The image and message is quite small and would need bionic sight or a magnifying glass to see these minuscule figures for they are hardly of a size to reveal anything, let alone send a stark warning and lets think for one moment,how many of us actually look closely at our banknotesAnd one can wonder how this tactic could either persuade prostitutes to not sell their bodies for sex or maybe even excite teenage boys to start collecting them for their own nocturnal activities. Who in the world actually examines the minute details on banknotes save those obsessed with notaphilia?

Now a littlemore info regarding the banknote and the sex trade campaign The images, which are otherwise almost indistinguishable from the genuine notes, have been produced as part of a campaign to prevent women from the former Soviet state from seeking to work illegally in the EU. They show underdressed women – obviously prostitutes – leaning against the grand examples of European architecture that have been printed on the currency's bills since its launch in 2002.
(Only the 5,10 and 50 Euro notes(fake) are used to send the message)

Messages warning about the real price of seeking black market employment abroad are printed across the top of the “fake” notes. Sex trafficking is a serious problem in the Ukraine. Last year the International Organization for Migration estimated that 117,000 Ukrainians had been forced into prostitution or indentured labour abroad since 1991, more than any other Eastern European country.

Women who are trafficked abroad illegally are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, with the criminal gangs who arrange their transport often refusing to return their passports.Prostitution is widespread in the Ukraine, which is home to more than 12,000 sex workers. The rise of sex tourism, fuelled by wealthy visitors from the US and the EU, sparked demonstrations from students in the capital Kiev this summer.

"DONT SUPPORT ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES"

Biggest banknote in the world

Now here is one banknote which is much more suitable for framing up on the wall than using it for a purchase goods thanks to its staggering size and value as well as its denomination.Its even in the Guiness Book of Records.Info on the money and the event on the money.



Front-"Cry of Pugadlawin", when about 1,000 Filipino patriots led by Andres Bonifacio gathers in Pugadlawin, on august 23, 1896. They tore up their Spanish-issued residence certificates and yelled "Long live the Philippines", signalling the start of a revolt against Spain

Back-proclamation of the Philippine Declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898
Size-356mm x 216mm(8.5 by 14 inches)

The note was issued in1998 during the Centennial of Philippine Independence to mark centennial of independence from more than 300 years of Spanish colonial rule.The note is also accredited by the Guinness World Records as the world's largest legal tender note in terms of size.

Produced in Germany, the banknote has 21 security features making it very hard to counterfeit. Only 1,000 of these notes were issued. Originally offered to collectors at a pre-issue price of 180,000 Piso ($4175), its current catalog value is $3500. On release, this collector's item was sold at P180,000.
The profits were used to fund events for the June 12 1998 centennial celebration Today, it is worth many times more.

Andres Bonifacio y de Castro(Nov 30,1863-May 10,1897) ), son of Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro, was a Filipino revolutionary leader and one of the main rebel leaders of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century.

He is regarded as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution" and one of the most influential national heroes of his country.A freemason Bonifacio was the founder of the Katipunan organization which aimed to start an independence movement against Spain.In the end,He was summarily tried then executed promptly at a mountain in Maragondon, Cavite for treason by rival Emilio Aguinaldo

A little about the Republic of The Philippines

Capital-ManilaPopulation-90.5million(2008 estimate)12th

Religion-Predominantly Christian,Islam and others
National anthem-Lupang Hinirang(Chosen Land)
Motto-Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa
(For God, For People, For Nature and For Country)

The name Philippines and its Spanish counterpart, Filipinas, are derived from the name of Phillip 2, the King of Spain in the late 16th century.Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos used the name Las Islas Filipinas in honor of the then-Crown Prince during his expedition to the Philippines.First colonized by the Spanish,then the Americans followed by the Japanese in WW2 and then the Americans again.Philippines was granted independence in 4 July 1946 by USA(The same date as the American Independence)

"The one who uses the note will have a hard time finding a wallet huge enough to put it in and the one who receives the note will have a hard time finding enough change to be returned to the customer"

The Swiss Dinar

Perhaps when you hear the words Swiss dinars,you would wonder and say the Swiss currency is Francs not dinars.But it does not refer to money used in Switzerland but it is a term to describe Iraqi currency printed in Switzerland using Swiss plates before the Gulf War of 1990 with the US.After the war the UN imposed economic sanctions and importing the Swiss printed banknotes became prohibited and the Central Bank of Iraq began printing the new Iraqi dinar locally and in China.

After the Gulf War Iraq was divided into two parts,the north ruled by Saddam and the south governed by local Kurds.Saddam needed money to finance spending and he created it with his face on it and ordered the printing of the new notes.In May 1993 the Central Bank of Iraq announced that the old 25 dinar notes should be exchanged with the new Saddam dinar in three weeks time.

During the next few years, so many Saddam dinars were printed in southern Iraq that they became virtually worthless. The face value of cash in circulation rose from 22 billion dinars in 1991 to 584 billion in four years, and inflation averaged about 250 percent a year over that period.The Swiss dinar was in fixed supply while tha Saddam dinar was printed at an increasing rate so the Swiss dinar became more valuable By spring 2003, it took 300 Saddam dinars to buy one Swiss dinar.By spring 2003, it took 300 Saddam dinars to buy one Swiss dinar.
In fall 2002, as it became more and more likely that the United States would invade, the Swiss dinar became more and more valuable.

There was a belief that the Swiss dinar would be honoured by future governments(US). The Kurdish regional government was right. On July 7, 2003, the American occupation administrator, L. Paul Bremer III, announced the creation of a new Iraqi dinar that would be exchanged for the two existing currencies at a rate that implied that one Swiss dinar would be worth 150 Saddam dinars.The exchange rate during US occupation is this for the new banknotes
1 Saddam dinar=1 new Iraq dinar
1 Swiss dinar=150 new iraq dinar

Imagine keeping the old Malaysian Ringgit and finding out that it is worth more than the new Ringgit.

Here are the Swiss dinars
The difference between this notes and the Saddam dinar is it has a watermark,feeling of raised figures and words and quality

(1979-1986)

Malaya and British Borneo Dollar

Although Malaya had achieved independence in 31st August 1957,this 1953 series banknotes with the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II continued to circulate until 1967 although independence have been achived and Malaysia has been formed in 1963.

Issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency,Malaya and British Borneo this new currency was named the Malayan and British Borneo dollar.These banknotes replaced the Sarawak Dollar,Malayan Dollar and British North Borneo Dollar.

There were several printers of these notes, the 1$,5$ and 10$ was printed by Waterlow and Sons Limited.The 50$ and 100$ was printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and Co Ltd while the 1000$ and 10,000$ was printed by Thomas De La Rue.All notes have the date 21-3-1953 and has the signature of W.C Taylor,the chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Currency.Emblems of the states are located at the back of all notes.

All these notes worth a lot of money today and has a high demand in the market because of its rarity especially the higher denominations.The 10,000 Dollar note was one of the highest valued notes in the world at that time.

1 Dollar (12,1cm x 6.3cm)

5 Dollars (12.5cm x 7.2cm)

10 Dollars (13.4cm x 8cm)

50 Dollars (16.7cm x 9.5cm)

100 Dollars (16.6cm x 9.5cm)

1000 Dollars (20.4cm x 13.2cm)

10,000 Dollars (20.4cm x 13.2cm)

Laotian 1000 kip banknote

Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon LaoLao People's Democratic Republic

Laos officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in southeast Asia, bordered by Burma (Myanmar) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Laos traces its history to the Kingdom of Lan Xang or Land of a Million Elephants, which existed from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century

Recently Laos released a new 1000 Kip note on October 31, 2008. The note is similar to previous issues but with a modified design and dated 2008.The previous issue is above.