Currency Today : Sweden 3

On this third post on the current Swedish banknotes, I am presenting the second highest denomination, the 500 crowns note (€ 50)

This set is dedicated to Swedish artist. On this 500 crowns note, we find Birgit Nilsson (1918-2005).

Birgit Nilsson (M.i.&a.) was a Swedish opera singer, who was born and died on the southern province of Skåne Iän, as depicted on the map on the reverse side of the note.

500 Swedish crowns (€ 50)

Skåne Iän

The M.i.&a. behind her name stands for the Medal 'ingenio et arti' (medal of science and art).In 1973, she was honoured by the Danish Queen Margrethe II - as a 'Thank you for the music'.

Medal "Ingenio et arti"

Since 2009, an opera award baring her name, is given to artists with meritorious achievements in the opera scene.

500 Swedish crowns - reverse

On the reverse side, we see a famous brigde, the Øresundsbroen (DK), Öresundsbron (SE) - or the Oresundbrigde (EN). This bridge connects the Swedish city of Malmö with the Danish city of Copenhagen. The bridge was built between 1995 and 1999.

If you ever visit Sweden or Denmark, this remarkable landmark, is a must to cross between the two countries, and 'mamma mia', what a view.

Oresund Bridge beween Sweden and Denmark

Currently I don't have the 1000 Swedish crowns - note in my collection, but if anyone would ask me who's willing to accept one, 'I do, I do, I do'.

Currency Today : Sweden 2

In this second part on Sweden's banknotes, I will present you the 100 and 200 crowns.

On the 100 crowns' note, a mysterious, dreamy face appears. "Angel Eyes" maybe?
We recognise Greta Garbo (1905-1990). Garbo was born in Stockholm and was known as a movie star in the 20's and 30's of the 20th century. Among her roles was that of "dancing Queen" Mata Hari, and the also mysterious Queen Christina (of Sweden).
After the second World War, she lived a more hidden life, as she appeared to be unsociable and/ or shy. She refused a marriage with the famous actor Nils Asther, and there were rumours about her sexuality.
Although she appeared in over 30 movies, she stayed almost 50 years out of the spotlights, until she died in New York in 1990.

100 Swedish crowns - Greta Garbo

back side 100 Swedish crowns

The reverse side of the banknote, gives us a view on Stockholm and indicated is the city hall.

Stockholm

city hall of Stockholm

The 200 Swedish crowns (about € 20), depicts the filmmaker Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007).
Berman directed about 40 movies, dealing mainly with the heavyness of life, regligion, and other existential questions. 'When all is said and done, ..."
He considered film making as the 7th art, away from pleasure for pleasure alone, films were supposed to deal with the meaning of life, and people finally facing their 'Waterloo'.

200 Swedish crowns (€ 20)

On the reverse side, we don't see Bergman's birthplace Uppsala, but the island where he died in 2007.  Fårö is the smaller island located on the north east of the island Gotland. Bergmans called the island his 'home' - not too difficult if you know the place has only about 600 people.

reverse side 200 Swedis crowns - Fårö

Gotland with Fårö in the north

Fårö (Gotland - Sweden)

More to follow

Currency Today : Sweden 1

For the next set of banknotes, we go up north, to Sweden.

We know Sweden has a long tradition of great performers and great designers - as you all think of Hugo Hasslo and Anders Beckman...  or was it ABBA and Ikea®?
OK, i promise not to mention ABBA nor Ikea® in this article.

So let's go to the Money, Money, Money.

When it comes to banknotes, both skills are integrated.
Swedish banknotes are portraiting Sweden's finest artists and performers, and have a very pleasant design.

There are currently 6 bankotes in circulation in Sweden : 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Kronor (crowns).

A closer look :

20 Swedish crowns (€ 2)

On the front side, we see the warm and gentle face of Astrid Lindgren (1907 - 2002).

Lindgren was born in Smaland (not the childrens' corner in that furniture shop! in the province of Götaland (indicated in purple on the reverse side of the note). And although she created many characters in her books, one in particular became world famous : Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshate Mackrelmint Ephraim's Daughter Longstocking (or Pippi Longstocking as we say).

In the detail we see Pippi and and extract from the book's text. Underneath we find microtext behind the 3 crowns : 'sveriges bank' / 'bank of Sweden'.
On the back side of the note, a map of Sweden and a nature scene of Götaland.

reverse side of 20 Swedish crowns

For the 50 crowns note, Evert A. Taube (1890-1976) is depicted. Taube was a Swedish singer-songwriter. The banknotes is a 'thank you for the music' for sure.

50 Swedish crown (€ 5)

On the reverse side of the note, we see Göteborg indicated. Taube's birthplace.

reverse side 50 Swedish crowns

As it is close to the sea, we see a boat on the front side, and a pictogram of a boat on the back side.

security mark 50 crowns

Higher denominations, will follow in my next article.

Odd stamps : 03g 3D stamps (moving)

The Star Wars Saga is like a never ending story.
So far 8 episodes have been made so far (2018).

The story starts with episode 3... It was released in May 1977 already.
A time where space exploration was still more or less 'science fiction'. In the late 70's there was still hope, so 'a new hope' was warmly welcomed.
In May 1980, the empire strikes back, with a second movie, part 4 in the saga.
3 years later, again in May, the Jedi returns with episode 5.
Then the fans have to wait till ... May 1999 when a prequel (episode 1) comes to the theaters.

This 'first' episode was not a phantom menace to all movies that were made in 1999. With over one billion USD in revenue, it whipped out all other movies that year.
In 2002 (guess what ... in May) the clones attacked us again with a fifth movie. This movie was the second of the prequel series.
In ... May 2005, the prequel was completed with a 6th (of sith) revenge.

In 2015, the forces awakened again, and a third trilogy started, this time ... in December.
This movie had over 2 billion USD in revenues!
Two years later,George Lucas found a last Jedi to make the 2nd movie of the sequel-trilogy.
The movie came out in December as well...
Now it's waiting till (December) 2019 (?) for the ninth movie, to complete the trilogy-trilogy.

Many postal services took their part in the huge commercial succes of George Lucas' movies.
For this blog, I limit myself to 'odd' stamps on this topic.

Spain 3D sheet - Star Wars

Spain issued a 3D sheet, with 6 'stamps' depicting characters from the movie,
but only one out of the six stamps is actuallly a stamp.

Dart Vader on a 3D stamp Spain

The other 5 look similar but have no country name, nore a value.
The labels depict : A storm trooper - Chewbacca - R2-D2 - Yoda and C-3PO

 

It's not the best issue Spain made so far, and it's not a superb 3D-sheet either, but I guess it's a must have for all die hard fans ... but that's another movie.

Odd stamps : 03f 3D stamps (moving)

At the occasion of the 2010 Fifa World cup, the republic of Slovakia issued a sheet with two identical lenticular stamps.
On the stamp, a football (soccer) player is kicking a ball toward the goal on the opposite site of the field.
In the last 'image' the ball is out of sight, but the player cheers, as if he scored.

Slovakia - Lenticular stamp 2010

 The 2010 World Cup was held in South Africa.
Slovakia survived two rounds, but got kicked out before reaching the quarter finals, by the Netherlands. The Netherlands became second in the end.

Slovakia 3D - 2010

Slovakia 3D - 2010

On the back side of the sheet, all 32 participating countries are mentionned, each in it's own group.

For the record .... Spain won the world cup in 2010 -  Germany became third.

Odd stamps : 10 c Stamps on/in wood or cork

It has been a while, but this is my second post on wooden stamps. (third one on wood/cork)
So far they are still rare.
Switzerland issued a stamp on wood in 2014. It's an auto-adhesive stamp, protected by a peel-off foil.

5 swiss francs - 2014 - wooden stamp

The stamp is half a milimeter thick, what allows it still to be placed on a letter for acutal use.
Unfortunately few will have been put in circulation,
The issued stamp of 5 Swiss francs, is 5 times more expensive that the stamps for regular letters.
Probably it can be found as CTO.
Catalogue Michel rates it equal for mint or postally used.

More to come :-)

Theme : 1st issues : 08b Colombia (Dept. Bolivar)

Between 1863 and 1904, the 9 states and the 3 territories have issued their own stamps. From 1904 on, all stamps are issued under 'Colombia'.

State of Bolívar - Colombia

For the state Bolívar (North Colombia), Michel mentions 73 issues.
Here the first issue of 1863 is truely a very special issue.

Colombia - state Bolívar 1863

The green version is nr. 1 - nr 2 is a 10 cents red and nr 3 is a 1 peso red.
When we have a closer look underneath the coat of arms, we see 6 stars. This indicates the cheapest (?) version of the stamp. The same stamp with 5 stars only, quadruples the catalogue value!

6 stars under the CoA - Michel 1 I

The stamp of 10 cents, measures 6 x 8 mm only and exist even cut into 2 on letters (used as 5 cents).
This makes this stamp... the smallest stamp in the world (known 2017).

Certificate of authenticity - 1974

With a catalogue value of € 750, this stamp of less then 1 cm² ... is, compared to its size, more valuable than gold.

Theme : 1st issues : 08a Colombia (Dept. Bolivar)

For the next 1 issue, a short overview of the history of Central/South America between 1819 and 1863.
The country, currently known as Colombia, was Spanish posession in 1819.
Simón Bolívar, who had concurred the remaining Spanish rulers, united the republic of Venezuela and the viceroyalty Nueva Granada (part of the kingdom of Peru) with the current Colombia, Ecuador, parts of Panama. Bolívar named it República de Colombia (later named Grand-Colombia to destinguish from the current county Colombia).

Territory of Grand-Colombia (1819)

The union only lasted till 1830, and due to internal disagreements, and Ecuador and Venezuela left the group. What remained, was named New-Granada, consisting in Colombia, Panama, parts of Venezuela, Ecuador, and even Brazil, Peru and Costa Rica.

Flag of New-Granada (1819-1830)

At the end of this era, one, then two more, later 5 more, and finally one last independent state was created
This republic, New Granada, dissolved into the Confederation Granadine, in 1858.
The States were :
Panama (1855), Antioquia and Santander (1856) - Bolívar, Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca and Magdalena (1857) and Tolima (1861) - used to be in the Cundinamarca state before.

Situation in 1858

From 1863 on, we speak of the United States of Colombia (including 9 'states' and 3 territories: Caquetá Territory, San Martin Territory and Nevada and Motilones Territory.

At this point of time, the first stamps were being issued in the area....
And that will be for my next entry :-)

Odd stamps : 03e 3D stamps (moving)

Among the numerous issues on Queen Elisabeth, I have picked up a special issue featuring 3D images.
New Zealand - where QE II is still the head of State - honoured the British monarch with a solid sheet, with 3 stamps of 5 NZ$ each.
The stamps have the shape of an old style painting, and can be 'pushed out' of the sheet.
Each of the stamps has 3 different images, which can be seen alternately by flipping the stamps to the back or the front.
As it is nearly impossible to scan those images in a decent way, I took the liberty to take the images from another site : http://philatelynews.com/.

When flipped to the back, we see a photo taken in 1926, 1936 and 1947.
1926 : "Birth of a princess"
1936 : "Childhood in London"
1947 : "The royal wedding"

3D sheet NZ 2016 - flipped to the back

The normal frontal vieuw, shows pictures taken in 1949, 1963 and 1977.
1949 : "Family time with Prince Charles"
1963 : "Opening New Zealand's parliament"
1977 : "Royal visit to New Zealand"

3D sheet NZ 2016 - frontal view

Finally, flipped to the front, another 3 pictures can be seen, from 1995, 2002 and 2015.
1995 : "Royal visit to New Zealand"
2002 : "Royal visit to New Zealand"
2015 : "Attending Anzac centenary commemorations"

3D sheet NZ 2016 - flipped to the front

Not sure if many of those stamps will end on a letter or postcard from New Zealand, but for the collectors of QE II - stamps, surely a splendid addition to their collection.

Emergency Money - B 1914 - 1920 - 01 Belgium - Bruges 3

When Belgium - and Europe - was at the dawn of war in 1914, a rush on metal cash and paper money was inevitable. National institutions already knew what was going to happen, and only limited amounts of money could be redrawn from the bank.
Meanwhile a large amount of the remaining stock of banknotes, as well as the printing plates were removed from the National Bank in Brussels, first to Antwerp, and later out of the country to the Bank of London.
Some of the notes, printed in Antwerp, are quite rare - but that's another topic.

Due to this lack of papermoney, and the need to pay out millions of people in Belgium, several cities started locally to emit notes.
In my previous posts I wrote about the smaller denominations issued in Bruges, now we'll have a closer look at the 'franc values'.

Front side of 1 frank Bruges 1914

Back side of 1 frank Bruges 1914

Two 1 Frank-notes were issued in 1914. Both notes have a different 'experiation day', the day they could be exchanged for 'real' money.
On the first note it is January 15, 1915 - on the second issue, the dte is July 15, 1915.

refunable January 15, 1915

refundable July 15, 1915

Once exchanged, the notes were perforated with a starshaped perforation.

star perforation

Both 1 Frank notes were issued in the same colours. Depending on the quality, they have a catalogue value of € 15 to € 50.
Both notes were issued by the city of Bruges, and were refunable at the city as well.

More notes to follow...