Currency Today : Venezuela 08b

The 1,000 Bolváres fuertes note has at least 2 different signatures and dates.

There are only few differences between the two notes :

Type 1 (serial B)

-: serial B8

1: date of issue : August 18, 2016
2: signature F

Type 2 (serial P)

-: serial P8

1: date of issue : March 23, 2017
2: signature G

left (B8) dat of issue August 18, 2016 - right (P8) date if issue March 23, 2017

As far as I could find, there's not version with a colour shifting denomination.
Probably, at the time of issue, the 500 Boliváres and 1000 Boliváres notes, did not represent a value that could justify a banknote with a a more expensive print technique.

For the 10,000 Bolváres fuertes notes, there are again 2 types:

Type 1 (here replacement note with serial Z)

1: year of issue 2016
2: colour of 10,000 shifts when tilt
3: signature F
4: security tread is wide

Type 2 (serial C)

1: year of issue 2017
2: colour of 10,000 is unicolour blue
3: signature H

4: security tread is small

to be continued ...

Mexico 1868 Hidalgo : 03c 12 cents

In my last part on the varieties of the dotted Hidalgo 12 Cent (1868),
I present you variations 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Variety 12 VII

In the 7th variation, there are again 2 things to look at:

12 cent - variations 7

The second stroke of the M in Mexico is broken.

variation 7a

Secondly, the bottom line has been redrawn in the left corner.
Both lines are neat and perfectly parallel.

variation 7b

The top part of the 2 touches the stroke downwards.
I only found it on this stamp, so I can't tell for sure if it is a third characteristic for this subtype or not.

Variety 12 VIII

Next variation (8) shows a thicker left side of the X in Mexico.

variation 8

thicker X in Mexico

Unlike other variations in this type, here, the X is mainly thickened on the left hand side.
It's not one stroke, but the entire left side.

Variety 12 IX

The second last subtype of the 12 Cent Hidalgo has again 2 characteristics.
One is on the left part of the inner circle, the other in the line under the 2 of 12.

Hidalgo 12 cent - variation IX

variation IX a

The inner circle is left ticker then normal. This is best to be compared with other 'regular' stamps.
A second characteristic is under the 2 of the 12. Here we see the line under the value, is broken.
It seems like the line is missing under the 2.

variation IXb

Variety 12 X

Finally variation X (ten) also with two characteristic items :

Hidalgo 12 cent - variations 10

Both specific marks are at the left bottom corner of the stamp.
Firstly, the frame of the rosetta is broken on the right side.

variation 10 a and 10 b

The frame around the rosetta is incomplete (1).

Secondly, the 1 of 12 is smaller then the 2.
To see this clearly, you have to compare it with a regular or similar stamp in this set.

comparing 2 "12 's" one regular (left) one smaller (right)

The frame in grey is rectangular, so the top and bottom line are parallel.
Left, the 1 touches the frame I drew, right, the 1 is clearly smaller then it should be

Overview variations VII to X

Variations VII (grey green) - variation VIII (purple) - variations IX (red) and variations X (grey)

This is the second stamp in the (dotted) Hidalgo stamp.
Next time, I will go deeper into the 25 Cent...

to be continued...

Mexico 1868 Hidalgo : 03b 12 cents

More variations on the 12 cent Hidalgo in this post.

Variety 12 IV

12 CENT variation IV

The fourth variation of this type has 2 remarkable items, both to be found near the 12.

First mark is the dot under the C of CENT.

drop hanging on the line under C of CENT

A second mark, can be found between 12 and CENT.  Here there is a second (smaller) dot.

two dots after the 12

Variety 12 V

The 'oddity' is to be found in the right top corner, in the decoration under the rosetta.
It's not easy to find a good example of this fifth type. In most cases, the district number is near this spot. Especially with a two digit district number, it becomce difficult. On top of that, often a regular cancel hides the variation too.

12 Cent - variety 5

Under the rosetta is a decoration in the shape of the tip of a fountain pen, seen from the side.
Left of it, towards the central picture of the stamp, is a second line, parallel to the decoration,
and left of that, is a frame line of the complete ornament.
These 3 lines are supposed to be parallel to each ohter, in this type however, it's not.

detail 12 Cent - Variety 5

closer detail of the 12 Cent - Variation 5

This second pic shows it clearer. The middle stroke of those 3, seems connected to the left one at the bottom. Through the most right stroke, an additional curve appears.
It looks like the middle stroke is not a line, but a stylish "q"

Variety 12 VI

The sixth variation can be recognised by looking to the X in Mexico and the bottom stroke of the 1 in 12 is lifted up.

variation VI - two characteristics

The stroke going from left above, to right under is thicker than the other stroke.

detail variation VI - 12 Cent

The second characteristic, is the horizontal line under the 1 of 12.
It is pointing upwards in stead of being a flat line.

uplifted 'serif' at the bottom of the 1 in 12

Overview variations IV to VI

VI (orange) - V - (light blue) and VI (light green)

to be continued...

Mexico 1868 Hidalgo : 03a 12 cents

The second stamp in the (dotted) Hidalgo stamp of 1868, is the 12 cent.

12 CENT Hidalgo 1868 - basic

It' s worth having a closer look at this stamp too, as there are several variations that are easy to find.

Variety 12 I

The first variation can be recognised by the lines on top of the M of Mexico.

Hidalgo 12 Cent 1868 - variation I

Detail of variation I - 12 Cent Hidalgo 1868

The double line on top of the word MEXICO is incomplete. The part above the M is partly missing.

Variety 12 II

A second variation shows a broken/bended line left below, the 12 of the value.

Hidalgo 12 Cent 1868 - variation II

Detail of variation II - 12 Cent Hidalgo 1868

The botom line is broken, and seen from left, it looks as if the 'bridge is open'.

Variety 12 III

The third variation, has 3 characteristic items. Handy, when the stamp is badly cancelled, single variations are often hidden.

Two variations can be found on top of the stamp. The M and the C of Mexico have variations.

Hidalgo 12 Cent 1868 - variation III a

The right stroke of the M in Mexico is incomplete/open.
The top curve of the C in Mexico ends in a drop, where it normally should end in a diagonal line.

Hidalgo 12 Cent 1868 - variation III b

Also at the bottom of the stamp, there is an error.
The stamps in this set are 'dotted', this means, threre's a dot behind the value.

Hidalgo 12 Cent 1868 - variation III c

In this 3rd variation, the dot behind the 12 is splitted. ( ) in stead of ().

Overview variation I to III

Variation I (purple), II (yellow) and III (pink).
More variations on this stamp, in my next post(s)...

Chinese Food Coupons : National Food Ration Coupons 1 a

National Food Ration Coupons are coupons that circulated throughout the country and therefore could be exchanged in all parts of China.
They are among the oldest coupons and were used for the first time in 1955.

Coupons having the above header, are National Food Ration coupons.
They have 2 similar inscriptions as another type of coupons, that I will show in a later post.

Coupons of this type could circulate throughout the country for purchasing food in all parts of China.

1965 National coupons

1966 National coupons

There were numerous numbers of coupons issued, and each type has several pieces in a set.
As mentionned in previous posts, the highest and lowest value of each set are often the most rare and expensive ones. All coupons in between, are relatively cheap.

The coupons in my collection are - so far :
1965 : 半  市斤  : Bàn shi jin : half a shi jin : 250g rice/grains
1965 : 壹  市斤  : Yi shi jin : one shi jin : 500g rice/grains

1966 : 半  市斤  : Bàn shi jin : half a shi jin : 250g rice/grains

1966 : 叁  市斤  : San shi jin : 3 shi jin : 1,5 kg rice/grains

1966 : 伍 市斤 : Wu shi jin : 5 shi jin : 2,5 kg rice/grains

Anyone with some basic knowledge on chinese numbers will say that 3 (san) is written as : 三,and not as 叁.
That's correct, but when it comes to comptability, banknotes, or other kinds of financial dealings, a whole other set of characters is used.
This is to prevent fraude : imagine an transaction for 30 Yuan, written the 'simple' way :

三十 (30),  but by adding 3 strokes it becomes : 五千 (5000).

The 1966 set consists of 4 values (half, one, three and five JIN) but there are 7 notes issued.
The 3 Jin has been issued on paper with 2 different watermarks, the 5 Jin has been issued on 3 different watermarks.

5 (shi)JIN - watermark stars

The note in the picture has stars as watermark (see purple indications).
This type of coupon also exists with 1982 as date.