...Myanmar - 500 and 1000 Kyats ND2020 Commemorative

ပြည်ထောင်စု သမ္မတ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်‌

(Republic of the Union of Myanmar)

Central Bank of Myanmar est.1948
Currency : Kyat (MMK)

Here are the two notes both issued in 2020. The 1000 kyats note was issued on 04.01.2020 to coincide with the 72nd Year of Independence anniversary (04.01.1948) from the British. The 500 kyats note was released on 19.07.2020, which is also celebrated as Martyr's Day in Myanmar. This is the day in 1947 when several leaders of Myanmar's (Burma) independence movement were gunned down including their leader Aung San. For this purpose, I have also posted these two notes on my Commemorative site as commemorative issues as well.

Like many of Burma/Myanmar previous issues, this note also features the nation's independent hero, Major General Aung San (1915-1947). Aung San was first a communist, then a revolutionary and then a nationalist. He is considered a national hero for gaining independence of Burma from the British. However, he didn't live to see his achievement as he was assassinated allegedly by Galon U Saw (b.1990-1948) on 19.07.1947. U Saw was the Prime Minister of British Burma from 1940 to 1942. 

Five Hundred Kyats

Major General Aung San (1915-1947)

 

Front - Major General Aung San (1915-1947). His birth name was Htein Lin and was born in Natmauk in central British Burma. He was assassinated in 1947 when he was 32 years old during a cabinet meeting held in Yangon (Rangoon). The assassination was blamed on Galon U Saw who was once the Prime Minister of British Burma from 1940 to 1942. U Saw was then hanged in 1948. However, there were few conspiracy theories regarding Aung San's murder and rumour has it that British officers were involved in the murder. Unfortunately, until now no one knows who ordered the killing. Your guess is as good as mine.

 

Watermark - portrait facing left and electrotype value in Burmese

Dimensions - 152mm x 71mm

 

Back - Central Bank of Myanmar building. The bank was established in 1948 and was previously known as Union Bank of Burma. Its headquarter is based in Nay Pyi Taw (Naypyidaw) and has branches in two other major cities - Yangon and Mandalay

Central Bank of Myanmar building

One Thousand Kyats

Major General Aung San (1915-1947)

 

Front - Major General Aung San (1915-1947).

 

Watermark - portrait facing right and electrotype value in Burmese

Dimensions - 151.5mm x 71.5mm

 

Back - Pyithu Hluttaw building (Parliament) in Naypyitaw (capital city of Myanmar since 2006). The parliament is made up of two houses - House of Nationalities (224 members - Upper House) and House of People's Representatives (440 members - Lower House).

Pyithu Hluttaw complex in Naypyidaw

...Laos - ND1974 Full Set Issues

 ພຣະຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ

(The Kingdom of Laos)

ທະນາຄານແຫ່ງຊາດລາວ

(Banque Nationale Du Laos)

Currency - Kip (LAK)

This is the last series reportedly released in 1974 before the Communist Pathet Lao captured the country on 02.012.1975, thus ending the civil war which started in 1959. The fall of the Kingdom of Laos, also forced the abdication of King Savang Vatthana. 

Whilst five notes are posted here, two of the notes, 10 and 1000 kip, were not officially issued for circulation. If you had bought these two notes back in the 1980s or 1990s, you would have paid a very high price for these notes. Today, you can get them at a very affordable price.

 

Ten Kip (unissued)

King Savang Vatthana (b.1907-1978)

Man riding on an ox cart

 

 One Hundred Kip

 King Savang Vatthana (b.1907-1978), Ho Phra Keo temple

Man riding on an ox cart, river scene, electricity towers

Five Hundred Kip

King Savang Vatthana (b.1907-1978)

Nam-Ngum hydroelectric dam

 

One Thousand Kip (unissued)

King Savang Vatthana (b.1907-1978)

Elephane roaming in the jungle

 

Five Thousand Kip

King Savang Vatthana (b.1907-1978)

Seven men performing with musical instruments

...Brunei - 2013 Three-In-One Uncut Sheets Of 1 And 10 Ringgit Dated 2013 Polymer

Negara Brunei Darussalam

(Brunei)

 

Bank Pusat Brunei Darussalam

(Brunei Darussalam Central Bank)

Currency - Ringgit (BND)

 

Posted below are two Three-In-One cut sheets of 1 and 10 ringgit. Both notes are issued in a folder separately and both notes are dated 2013. Apart from the 1 and 10 ringgit, the denominations of 100 and 500 ringgit were also issued in 2013, however, I have no information if any uncut sheets were also issued for these two high denominations. 

 

The designs for these two notes are the same as the initial 2011 series, but for this series, it has the tiny year date of 2013 printed on the back of the note.

 

Like all banknotes issued in Brunei, the signature on the note belongs to the Sultan of Brunei. 

One Ringgit Three-In-One Uncut

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (b.1946-)

 

Front - Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (b.1946-). He has been the Sultan of Brunei since 05.10.1967, when he succeeded his late father, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien (b.1914-1986). Apart from being the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah also holds the positions of Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In the center is the flower called Dillenia Suffruticosa (Simpur Rancah) or simply known as Bunga (flower) Simpur. The simpur is a large shrub which can grow up to 10 meters in height. This species is commonly found in secondary sub-tropical South Asia, Australasia and the Indian Ocean islands.

 

Signature - Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah

Watermarks - Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

Dimensions - 142mm x 208mm

Back - The aerial view of the capital city of Bandar Sri Begawan, including the national mosque Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and surrounding building. This mosque is a landmark in the capital city and was built and completed in 1958.  

Aerial view of Bandar Sri Begawan (Sri Begawan Town/City)

211.5mm x 300mm

Ten Ringgit Three-In-One Uncut Sheet

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (b.1946-)

 

Front - Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (b.1946-). He has been the Sultan of Brunei since 05.10.1967, when he succeeded his late father, Sultan Omar Al0i Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien (b.1914-1986). Apart from being the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah also holds the positions of Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In the center is the Cosmos Caudatus (Rancah-Rancah) flower. This species plant is a native to Latin America and the West Indies but can also be found throughout the rest of SouthEast Asia. It can grow up to 1.7 meters tall with few branches. Flowers when matured in a purplish-yellow in colour

 

Signature - Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah

Watermarks - Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Omar Jame's Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

Dimensions - 142mm x 208mm

 

Back - The aerial view of the Omar Jame's Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque located in Bandar Sri Begawan. This is one of the two state mosques in the country. The other one is the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. Both are located in the capital city of Bandar Sri Beganwan and the distance between these two mosques are about 2 kilometers apart.

Omar Jame's Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

211.5mm x 300mm

...Indonesia - 2022 New Issues Premium Folder Set With Matching Numbers AAA 000464

Republik Indonesia

(Republic of Indonesia)

 

Bank Indonesia

Currency - Rupiah (IDR) 

 

A full set of seven notes from the face values of 1,000 to 100,000 rupiah all issued in 2022. This is a modified issue from the 2016 Series. The themes for this series are national heroes on the front and various popular places and native dances on the back. The designs on the front and back are all the same as previous 2016 issues but with updated portraits on the front and colour changes on the back.

To celebrate this 2022 Series, the central bank also released them in a hard cover folder with all notes printed with the first prefix of AAA and all with matching serial numbers too. Here, I have posted the matching set with the serial numbers of AAA 000464.

I have no further information as to how many of these premium sets have been issued nor do I know the issue price per set either. It is always nice to get them in such a manner rather than just those normal issues.

The signatures printed on these notes are; -

 

Gubernur, Bank Indonesia - Perry Warjiyo (tenure since 24.05.2018)

Menteri Keuangan, Republik Indonesia - Puan Sri Mulyani Indrawati (since 2016)

 

One Thousand Rupiah

Cut Nyak Meutia aka Tjut Meutia (b.1870-1910)

 

Front: Cut Nyak Meutia aka Tjut Meutia (b.1870-1910). A native of Aced, northern part of Sumatra. She was born in a small town of Perlak. During her life, she together with her second and later her third husbands conducted guerrilla warfare against the Dutch occupier in Indonesia. Her luck ran out, and in September 1910, she was discovered by the Dutch in her hideout in Paya Cicem (Northeast Aced). She was killed while resisting capture by the Dutch. She was 40 years old. Needless to say, she is considered a national heroine in Indonesia.

 

Watermark - Cut Nyak Meutia aka Tjut Meutia and the value 1

Dimensions - 122mm x 65mm

Back: The theme for the back is Banda Neira or Banda island, which is a very small island located in the middle of Indonesia. On the left it featured Fort Belgica which is located in Banda Neira. The Fort was built in 1611 by the Dutch and is a tourist attraction in Indonesia. To the right is a Tari Tifa dance, a native dancer from the Maluku Islands.

 

Banda Neira, Fort Belgica, Tari Tari dancer

Two Thousand Rupiah

Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin (b.1894-1941)

Front: Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin (1894-1941) was born in modern day Jakarta. He was a politician during his lifetime who was trying to get autonomy from the Dutch occupier. He died in January 1941 from a heart attack, five days after he was arrested by the Secret Service for supplying information to Japan before the invasion. He was 46 years old.

Watermark - Mohammad Hoesni Thamrinand value 2

Dimensions - 127mm x 65.5mm

.
Back: Ngaral Sianok in a canyon located in Western Sumatra. Tari Piring or Piring dance is a traditional Minangkabau plate dance originated from Western Sumatra in Indonesia and this dance is also performed in the neighbouring country Malaysia too.

 

Ngaral Sianok in Western Sumatra. Tari Piring or Piring dance from Western Sumatra

Five Thousand Rupiah

Dr KH Idaham Chalid (b.1921-2010)

Front: Dr KH Idaham Chalid (b.1921-2010). During his lifetime, he was a politician and also a Cabinet Minister. From 1956 to 1959, he was the Deputy Prime Minister and from 1971 to 1977 he was the Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament. In 2011, he was named a National Hero of Indonesia.

Watermark - Dr KH Idaham Chalid and value 5

Dimensions - 132mm x 65mm

 

Back: Image of Gunung Brom in the background. Gunung Brom is an active volcano and is located in East Java. It is 2,329 meters tall, and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in East Java. This active volcano has erupted a few times since 2004, and the last time was in 2015. A woman performing the Tari Gambyong. The Tari Gambyong or Gambyong dance is a traditional Javanese dance originating from Surakarta in Central Java

 

Gunung Brom in East Java. Tari Gambyong or Gambyong dance

Then Thousand Rupiah

Frans Kaisepo (b.1921-1979)

Front: Frans Kaisepo (b.1921-1979) was a Papuan politician and was the fourth Governor of West Papuan. He served in this position from 1964 to 1973.

Watermark - Frans Kaisepo and value 10

Dimensions - 138mm x 65mm

 

Back: Taman Nasional Waketobi or the Wakatobi National Park is a marine park located in Southern Sulawesi. This is one of the top 10 diving sites in Indonesia and home to many coral reefs and marine species too. Woman performing the Tari Pakarena dance. The Tari Pakarena is a traditional court dance of the Makassar region of South Sulawesi in Indonesia.

 

Taman Nasional Waketobi or the Wakatobi National Park. Woman performing the Tari Pakarena dance.

Twenty Thousand Rupiah

Sam Ratulangi (Dr. Gerungan Saul Samuel Jozias Ratulangi or Ratu Langie b.1890-1949)

Front: Sam Ratulangi (Dr. Gerungan Saul Samuel Jozias Ratulangi or Ratu Langie b.1890-1949). He was a Minahasan teacher, journalist, politician and was also the first Governor of Sulawesi.

Watermark - Sam Ratulangi and value 20

Dimensions - 143mm x 65mm

 

Back: Derawan or Derawan Islands are located in the province of East Kalimantan in Indonesia. It consists of 13 islands. It is well known for it's beautiful white sand beaches and clear blue water. A woman performing the Tari Gong or Gong dance is a native dance from Kalimantan.

 

A woman performing the Tari Gong or Gong dance

 

Fifty Thousand Rupiah

K Djuanda Kartawidjaja (b.1911-1963)

Front: K Djuanda Kartawidjaja (b.1911-1963), a Sundanese, was Indonesia's 11th Prime Minister from 1957 to 1959. He died at the age of 52 following a heart attack.

 

Watermark - K Djuanda Kartawidjaja and value 50

Dimensions - 148mm x 65mm

 

Back: On the back is the Taman Nasional Komoda or Komodo National Park located on the island of Komodo. This island is famous for the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard species on earth. A woman performing the Tari Legong or Legong dance. The Legong dance is a traditional dance in Bali.

Komodo National Park. A woman performing the Legong dance.

 

One Hundred Thousand Rupiah

Soekarno (b.1901-1970) L; and Mohammad Hatta (b.1902-1980) R.

 

Front: The portraits of Soekarno (b.1901-1970) and his First Vice President Mohammad Hatta (b.1902-1980). Soekarno was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967 when he was overthrown by Soeharto (b.1921-2008). He was then placed under house arrest until his death at the age of 69. Mohammad Hatta was the First Vice President from 1945 to 1956. Prior to that, he was the 3rd prime Minister of Indonesia from 1948 to 1949, and the Prime Minister of the United States of Indonesia from 1949 to 1950.

 

Watermark - Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta and value 100

Dimensions - 153mm x 65mm

 

Back: Raja Ampat or Four Kings Islands is located off the north-west tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea. It is famous for its beaches and coral reefs rich with marine life. A woman performing the Tari Topeng Betawi or Betawi Mask dance. This is a theatrical form of dance and drama of Betawi people in the capital city of Jakarta in Indonesia.

 

Raja Ampat or Four Kings Islands. A woman performing the Tari Topeng Betawi or Betawi Mask dance.

Hard Folder Cover Front

 

Translations:-

United in Sovereign Rupiah in the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia
Design of Rupiah Banknotes for the 2022 Issue Year

...Laos - 2020 Prints Full Set

ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ

(Lao People's Democratic Republic)

 

ທະນາຄານ ແຫ່ງ ສ. ປ. ປ. ລາວ

(Bank of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

Currency - Kip (LAK)

 

Here is a full set of banknotes all printed with the year date of 2020. There are five notes to this series with the 100,000 as the highest denomination.

 

The designs on the front for this series all feature the late Kaysone Phomvihane (b.1920-1992). He was the leader of the Communist Lao People's Revolutionary Party from 1955 until his death in 1992. His birth name was Nguyen Cai Song, and he was born in Savannakhet, a town situated in the southern part of Laos not far from the Thai border. His father was Vietnamese and his mother was from Laos. During his lifetime, he was the Prime Minister of Laos from 1975 to 1991, and then President from 1991 until his death in 1992. In the center is the Pha That Luang temple, which was built in the 3rd century and is considered as the most important national monument in the country. The temple is located in the center of the capital, Vientiane. The national Coat of Arms is printed to the left-side of the notes.

 

Like all previous notes issued since the current government took over the country, there are no signatures printed on the notes. Laos is one of the eleven countries that still do not have any signature issued for all their current banknotes.

Five Thousand Kip

Kaysone Phomvihane (b.1920-1992)

 

Watermark - Pha That Luang temple

Dimensions - 153mm x 68mm

 

Back - Image of a cement factory located in the town of Vang Vieng, about 72 kilometers north of Vientiane, the national's capital.

Cement factory in Vang Vieng

 

Ten Thousand Kip

Kaysone Phomvihane (b.1920-1992)

 

Watermark - Kaysone Phomvihane and value 10000

Dimensions - 154mm x 73mm

 

Back - Lao-Nippon bridge over the Mekong river. This bridge is located in the town of Pakse in the southeast of Laos. The bridge was funded by the Japanese and was completed in 2000.

Lao-Nippon bridge

 

Twenty Thousand Kip

Kaysone Phomvihane (b.1920-1992)

 

Watermark - Kaysone Phomvihane and value 20000

Dimensions -157mm x 73mm

 

Back - Theun Hinboun Hydroelectric plant. This is the first privately funded power plant in the country, and started operation in 2012. The plant is located about 200 kilometers east of Vientiane on the Nam Theun river.

Theun Hinboun Hydroelectric plant

 

Fifty Thousand Kip

Kaysone Phomvihane (b.1920-1992)

 

Watermark - Kaysone Phomvihane and value 50000

Dimensions -160mm x 73mm

 

Back - Presidential palace. This is the official residence of the President of Laos, and is located on the banks of the Mekong river in Vientiane. The construction for the palace was first started in 1973, but only completed in 1986 due to political change and takeover by the current government in 1975.

Presidential palace

 

One Hundred Kip

Kaysone Phomvihane (b.1920-1992)

 

Watermark - Kaysone Phomvihane and value 100000

Dimensions -163mm x 72mm

 

Back  - The town of Vieng Xai, which is the birthplace of the Democratic Peoples' Republic revolution. Vieng Xai is located in the province of Hua Phan northeast of Laos and is about 55 kilometers from the Laos/Vietnam border. The biggest attraction of the town is the caves. During the second Indochina War, the Pathet Lao sheltered in these caves from the Royal Lao government's bombardments.

The town of Vieng Xai in Hua Phan province