Odd stamps : 06 e Stamps on cotton / silk

Thailand, once more.
I can't get enough of the beauty of Thai stamps.
This time, a special edition in the series of 'stamps on cotton'.
Altough, this is not really a stamp made out of, or printed on cotton.
It's thai silk!

The stamp came in a set of 4 and a sheetlet with one of the 4 stamps (25 baht) on.

Full sheetlet with one 25 baht stamp - sold for 60 baht

detail - silk oval with peacock in goldprint

In order to add more value to the stamp collection, postage stamp sheets have been made into two types. The first type features a peacock embroidered with brown silk thread on the golden silk material; the second type presents a peacock embossed on golden foil, on a white silk material. This is the first time that this innovation has been used in an issue of postage stamps. This stampset's issue date: 04.Aug.2010.

About 20,000 stamps had been produced, consuming nearly 5,500 meters of silk!

4 stamps thai silk, classic thai silk and royal thai silk

Odd Banknotes - 03 Philippines

In 2000, the Central bank of the Philippines printed a new set of 'millennium' notes.
These (unissued) notes are more commonly known at the BSP as "Erap" notes because the front features the inauguration of President Joseph "Erap" Estrada at Barasoain Church in Bulacan on 10 June 1998; and the scroll of the 1898 Malolos Constitution.
Printed in 2000, the notes were to circulate in 2001, but President Estrada was ousted from office that year.

As a result of that event, the planned notes were never brought into circulation.
A report from the BSP’s Banknotes and Securities Printing Department (BSPD) said that they have 770 boxes of 1000-piso, 8,312 boxes of 500-piso, 1,233 boxes of 200-piso and 2,957 boxes of 100-piso unissued banknotes.
Even more frightning is that there are also five million pieces of 2,000-piso “Erap” banknotes with a face value of P10 billion !
One option was to issue the 2,000-piso as legal tender circulation notes, the other option was to shred all 99 boxes containing 4.95 million pieces, but retain one box with 50,000 which would be demonetize for “historical, educational, numismatic and other purposes.


The BSP currently sells a larger version of this denomination as a centennial commemorative note (P189).

This note was issued only 300,000 times, together with a special collectors box and a certificate.
And of course, I had to get this note.
Thanks to my wonderful friend Alex in the Philippines, who managed to get one note for me, I can share it now to the world (well at least to those who follow my blog).

Maraming salamat, po, kaibigan Alex!

Certificate of the authenticy of the banknote

300,000 copies of a 216 x 133 mm ( = 287.28 cm²) note

Front of the centennial note : president Joseph Estrada with Filippino flag

centennial logo

Back of the centennial note

Design of the inauguration of J. Estrada

Real inauguration on June 10, 1998

Pres. J. Estrada, 13th president of the Philippines

Odd Banknotes - 02 Thailand

Thailand is a lovely country.
Not only for visiting and the delicious food, the amazing temples or the friendly population,
no, also for collecting it's one of my favourite countries.

Another, very odd banknote was issued on November 28, 2007
This note is, as my first article on 'odd notes' actually a 'double odd banknote', mabye even a 'triple odd bankote'...

First of all the size of the note is huge ! 229 mm x 147 mm (= 336.63 cm²)
Secondly, on the front of the note, 3 notes are printed, a 1 baht, a 5 baht and a 10 baht note.
So we get an uncut version of 3 banknotes on one page.
But finally, the back side of the 'note' is not the back side of the individual notes.
No, it's a new image, depicting the live of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, (Rama IX).

Front side of the 'triple' banknote - note in plastic cover

Front side of the note :

1-Baht banknote depicts the portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the reigning monarch (Rama IX), the portrait of Their Majesties the King and the Queen granting an audience to various groups of people who paid tribute to His Majesty on the occasion of his coronation in 1950 at the Sutthaisawan Prasat Hall.

5-Baht banknote depicts the portrait of His Majesty in a royal procession by land, marking his 3rd Cycle Birthday Anniversary in 1963.

10-Baht banknote depicts the portrait of His Majesty granting an audience to various groups of people who paid tribute to His Majesty on the Auspicious Occasion of the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne in 2006 at the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall.


Back side of the note :

full back side of the commemorative note

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

scenes from the King's life

This banknotes was issued in a special leaflet and issued on 15,000,000 copies.

Odd Banknotes - 01 Thailand

After some post on 'odd stamps' I realised that I also have 'odd banknotes'...
Of course there won't be banknotes on cloth, wood, or in 3D ... but still.
In the next posts on 'odd banknotes' I'll show you some of the oddest items in my collection.

How can a banknote be 'odd'.
There 's a chance the material isn't that common.
Normally paper is used, and some countries have polymere banknotes.
The first polymere banknote was 'odd' for sure, but nowadays, it has become rather 'normal'.

So another way to express oddness is in the size, the value, ...

I start with a 'double odd' note :

First of all this banknote is not rectangular but square.
It's a 159 x 159 mm note.  (= 252.81 cm²)
Secondly the banknote has an unusual face value of 60 baht.

60 baht - front side

On the front : The portait of King Rama IX in the uniform of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, wearing a ceremonial robe, the Pudtan Kanchanasinghas Ceremonial Thone.

detail of the front side of the banknote

60 baht is a rather unusual face value on a note

Back side of the note : Their Majesties the King and Queen, H.R.H Crown Princess Maha Vajiralongkorn, H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and H.R.H. Princess Chulabhorn surround by their subjects.

Back side of the 60 baht note.

This banknote was issued on December 8, 1987, at the occasion of the 60th birthday of the King.

I could not find out how many notes were issued.
The catalogue doesn't mention any amount and also that thai national bank doesn't say how many copies were printed.

In addition to the 60 baht face value, a 40 baht surcharge was charged for social works.
The note however is still sold in Thailand, but for a higher price then 100 baht.

Odd stamps : 06 d Stamps on cotton / silk

I knew about the following stamp already, but as usual the hardest thing about it, is to find it.
Especially since it's a 'stamp' from Micronesia.
That's a state not next to my door, and I guess to no ones door at all.

Micronesia is a relatively new country when it comes to stamps.
And they are doing anything to get into the attention of the collectors.

As for my theme collection on 'odd stamps' this big stamp (51 by 68 mm) is the highlight of this month for sure.

Micronesia : Year of the Dragon

The stamp is completely made out of embroidery and is 2 mm thick.
I doubt if this 'stamp' will ever appear on a letter, view the high face value of $ 8.
When you peel off the paper foil at the back, you'll notice that the stamp is auto adhesive

side view of the 'stamp' 2 mm thick

If this is not one of the weirdest stamps in my collection, for sure it's the softest stamp I have.

More to follow

Currency Today : Euro Common Design 01 d

The last set of TOR - coins only have few interesting marks, or even none at all.

Portugal and Spain

TOR Portugal 2007

Both countries have the logo of their national mint mark on the coin.
For Portugal it's :  INCM  "Imprensa Nacional – Casa de Moeda" (National Currency – Mint House) abbrev.

For Spain it's : "Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (National Factory of Currency and Stamps)" logo
 

TOR Spain 2007

The last 3 coins don't have any mint mark at all


Austria, Ireland and Slovenia

TOR Austria 2007

TOR Ireland 2007

TOR Slovenia 2007

Currency Today : Euro Common Design 01 c

Let me continue with the TOR coins.

13 countries participated in the first common design.
All together emitting 17 coins, as Germany has 5 different coins.

The countries are :
Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg, Germany (5) : see previous post

and Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

Finland (Suomi)

Finlands coins are more rare then most other coins in this set. As Finland has no countries next to them that are using Euro coins as well, the finnish coins don't get spread that easily.

TOR Finland 2007

1. the finnish mint mark can be found in the outer circle of the coin.
  is the mint mark of the finnish mint


France

Together with german coins, french coins get spread widly all over Europe.
The french coin has two mint marks too?

TOR France 2007

1.  The cornucopia can also be seen on some coins of Luxemburg, but it's a french mint mark.

2. The hunting horn and waves is the master mint mark of H. Larivière.



Greece

Not all greek coins are made in Greece.
Some of them are minted in Spain, Finland or France.
In that case they bare the letter E (Spain), S(uomi - Finland) or F (France) in one of the stars.

TOR Greece 2007

1. the accantus leaf is the symbol of the Athens Mint

Italy

The last coin for now is the italian TOR coin.
Italy doesn't put 'treaty' of Rome, but 'treaties' of Rome, as there was more then one agreement that was signed on this event on March 25, 1957.

TOR Italy 2007

1. treaties of Rome
2. "R" mint mark of Rome

Currency Today : Euro Common Design 01 b

After a long introduction, finally the TOR-coins.
TOR stands for Treaty of Rome and eurocollectors often refer to TOR-emmision to indicate this special issue of the 2 euro coins in 2007.

Each participating country can issue one commemorative 2 euro coin per year.
Until now all coins have a mutual design for the value.
The 2 euro on the european map is uniform for all countries.
The front side is different for all countries.
One special issue is allowed per year.
But next to that special issue, there is the possibility to have one common issue for all countries.

In 2007 the first 'common design' was issued.
This in remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in 1957.


The design shows an open book, (with the treaty), the text "Treaty of Rome" in all individual languages, the year 2007 and the name of the issuing country.

TOR Belgium

The first coin is the most interesting one : Belgium


1. Because of all national languages in Belgium, Europe is "EuropA" in Dutch and German and "EuropE" in French. To avoid language problems, EUROP A/E is on the belgian coins.

2. As it was impossible to print 'treaty of Rome' in the 3 national languages, an original solution was found... "Pactrum Romananum Qvuinquagenarium" (the latin translation) can be found on the coin.

3. However the country's name again is in French, Dutch and German again

4. Scale : mint master mark of Romain Coenen (from 2008 on all belgian coins)

5. Head of Archangel St Michael, patron saint of Brussels

Another unique coin is the coin from Luxemburg

Luxemburg has a law that says that the head of state (i.e. Grand Duke Henri of Luxemburg) should always be present on the coins. This is a problem with a 'common design' for all european countries. But the luxemburgians (or Lëtzebuergians) found an elegant solution to that problem.

A small circle was added with the Grand Duke's face.

1. The Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg appears on the coins facing to the left. He was not featured on the Luxembourgish franc as he only became Grand Duke in 2000 following the abdication of his father, Jean. Jean's portrait on the francs showed him facing to the right and it is common in a number of countries for successive monarchs to alternate the direction they faced on coins. Other euro coins issued by member states which are monarchies show their monarchs facing to the left, in common with the effigy on their legacy currencies.

2. Lëtzebuerg is the name of Luxemburg in the national language.

3.    the cornucopia, a French mintmark, since all luxemburgian coins of 2007 and 2008 were minted in France

4. Also a mint master mark : hunting horn with waves : from the french mint master : H. Larivière




Third coin : the Netherlands

Few special marks on the Dutch coin

1. Sailboat, master mint mark of Maarten Brouwer.
Since 2003 on the dutch coins

2.  Mercury's wand : mint mark of the royal dutch mint


last coin for this post .... are 5 coins : Germany

Next to the year 2007 : 5 different letters can be found on german coins :
They refer to the state and city they are minted. In fact we're talking about 5 different coins.

A: Berlin
D: Munich
F: Stuttgart
G: Karlsruhe
J: Hamburg


to be continued...

Currency Today : Euro Common Design 01 a

There are thousands of blogs already dealing with the topic of Euro coins.

So why this on my blog as well ?
Well in order to make a difference, let's try a different approach ...

1957 was the year that the movie "12 angry men" was issued.
12 angry men, tells the story of a jury made up of 12 men as they deliberate the guilt or acquittal of a defendant on the basis of reasonable doubt. In the United States (both then and now), the verdict in most criminal trials by jury must be unanimous one way or the other.

In the beginning of the movie, 11 member of the jury plead 'guilty' and only one is convinced of the innocence of the suspected murder. As discussions go on, one by one reviews their opion and by the end of the movie, 11 out of the 12 are in favour of voting 'non-guilty' and only one is convinced the accused should be found guilty.
Finally the accused is found not guilty by all of the jury members, and this thanks to the effort of one in particular who can convince everyone else...

Screenshot : 12 Angry Men - 1957

Maybe the link with the 12 angry men is a bit fetched, still I see some point of comparison

Isn't 12 also the number of participating states of the European Union?
Not that the European Union is guilty to anything, but didn't it take a lot of discussions, in confined places? With few member states taking the initiatives... in order to get everyone so far to give up some personal objections in favour of a greater ideal?

On March 25, 1957, some 'angry' men from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Wester Germany, Luxemburg and Italy, gathered in Rome.
In 1951, the same 6 countries already agreed on a european cooperation for Coal and Steel. This second set of Treaties made the base for all european cooperation in the future.

Signing the Treaty of Rome - Rome 1957

The 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome was celebrated on 25 March 2007. The Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community and notably paved the way for the introduction of the euro in 1999 and euro banknotes and coins in 2002. The euro-area Member States had decided to issue a common commemorative 2-euro circulation coin on this occasion. It has been agreed that the design presented on the national face should be the same in all countries. The European Mints have organised a competition to select the most attractive design. 

A jury (once more) composed of Ms Berès, representing the European Parliament, Mr Junker as President of the Eurogroup, and Commissioner Almunia, selected on 5 May 2006, the design of this commemorative coin which was issued in 2007. The winning design shows the Treaty signed by the six founding countries on a background evocating the paving (designed by Michelangelo) of the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome, where the Treaty was signed on 25 March 1957.

The translation of the word 'Europe' appears above the book. The translation of the words 'Treaty of Rome 50 years' is inscribed above the design. The year 2007 and the national name of the issuing country are inscribed under the design. The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring. 

2 euro common design 2007

13 countries have issued this TOR-coin (Treaty of Rome) - Germany issued 5 different letters on the coins : A - D - F - G and J  (so 17 different coins in total).


more about the coins in my next post ...

Theme : Tintin (Kuifje) 07b (duo stamps)

Tintin is a success story, postal services do know that too.
The duo-stamps that were issued by the official postal services sell good.

As I told you before, the duo-stamps are in fact 5 stamps + labels that are sold for the price of 10 stamps.
The labels are very nice and "gefundenes Fressen" for theme collectors; but a bit of a rip off, as you aren't buying stamps actually.

But for the purpose of this blog of course... I bought the duo-stamps so that I can inform you all on my topic of Tintin-related stamps.

 I guess you all won't mind.

5 duo stamps : Tintin in danger

back side of the set

to be continued...