...Argentina - 2000 Pesos ND2023-2024 Commemorative Note

Republica Argentina

(Argentina Republic)

Banco Central de la Republica Argentina

(Central Bank of the Argentina Republic)

Currency - Peso (ARS)

 

Below are the three commemorative notes of 2000 pesos released in 2023 and 2024. These notes were issued to celebrate the country's development of Science and Medicine. All notes are undated but were introduced on 22.05.2023 (Series A) and 08.11.2023 (Series E) and in 2024 (P suffix). Whilst the theme for these two notes are the same, the designs are not quite identical.

Below are the most noticeable differences between the first two notes, and based on the Series E note, the following features/securities are added/altered to the design :-

Front

1) The denomination value of 2000 is printed on the top left corner;

2) The windowed security thread is added;

3) The denomination value of 2000 in vertical is added between the windowed security thread and the portrait of Dr. Ramon Carrillo;

4) To the far top right corner, the value of 2000 is added to the green shield.

5) The initials of RC and CG are added to the watermarks

 

Back

1) The two signatures have shifted from the bottom right to the top right

2) Part of the Instituto Dr. Carlos Malbran building is printed in red, instead of dark grey.

Two Thousand Pesos

Signatures

President H.C. Deputies - Cecilia Moreau

President B.C.R.A. - Miguel Angel Pesce

Watermarks - Dr. Ramon Carrillo and Dr. Cecilia Grierson

Imprinter - S.E. Casa de Moneda, Buenos Aires

Dimensions - 156.5mm x 66mm 

 

Front - Dr. Ramon Carrillo (b.1906-1956) was Argentina's first Secretary of Public Health from 1949 to 1954. He was a neurosurgeon, neurologist, physician and public health advocate

 

Dr. Cecilia Grierson (b.1859-1934) was the first woman to become a physician in Argentina in 1890. She was active in public health issues and gynecology and was involved in women rights.

Back - Instituto Dr. Carlos Malbran, mainly dealing in medical investigative specialties.  

Two Thousand Pesos

Signatures

President H.C. Deputies - Cecilia Moreau

President B.C.R.A. - Miguel Angel Pesce

Watermarks - Dr. Ramon Carrillo and Dr. Cecilia Grierson and electrotype RC, CG

Dimensions - 156mm x 65.5mm

Front - Dr. Ramon Carrillo was born into an Afro-Argentine family, in the city of Santiago del Estero in the northern part of Argentina. He was Argentina's first health Minister and was forced into exile in Brazil following a coup d'etat in 1955. He died on 20.12.1956 at the very young age of 50.

Dr. Cecilia Grierson's ancestry is Scottish. Her paternal grandfather was among the Scottish colonists who first arrived in Argentina in 1825. During her lifetime and as a woman, she faced many challenges and oppositions when it came to enrollment into medical school. Because of discrimination, women were not allowed to study medicine in four major universities in the country. In order for her to get into medical school, she had to provide written justifications for the motivation in pursuing her dream. She graduated in 1889 and became the first woman in Argentina to earn a Medical degree. On 22.11.2016, Google celebrated her 157th birthday with a Google Doodle.

Back - Instituto Dr. Carlos Malbran or Malbran Institute, mainly dealing in medical investigative specialties, and is located in Barracas, a district in the capital city of Buenos Aires. Nobel Prize laureates Cesar Milstein and Bernardo Houssay once worked in this institution.

 

 

Two Thousand Pesos

Signatures

President H.C. Deputies - Martin Menem (since 2023)

President B.C.R.A. - Santiago Bausili (since 2023)

Watermarks - Dr. Ramon Carrillo and Dr. Cecilia Grierson and electrotype RC, CG

Dimensions - 155.5mm x 65.5mm

Front - Dr. Ramon Carrillo (b.1906-1956)

Dr. Cecilia Grierson (b.1859-1934).

 

Back - Instituto Dr. Carlos Malbran or Malbran Institute.

 

...Samoa - 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Commemorative Limited Editions

Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa

(Independent State of Samoa)

Central Bank of Samoa (est.1984)

Currency - Tala (WST)

Signatures

Minister of Finance - Lautimui Afoa Uelese Va'ai (since 01.10.2023)

Governor - Maiava Atalina Emma Ainuu-Enari (since 11.08.2011)

Date - CHOGM 2024

Quantity - 2000* sets (* reportedly)

Dimensions - mm x mm

 

On 22.10.2024, the Central Bank of Samoa released four commemorative banknotes celebrating the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). This meeting was held from 21.10.2024 to 26.10.2024. This is the 27th meeting and was held in the capital city of Apia in Samoa. CHOGM was first started in 1971, and was held in Singapore. CHOGM is a bi-annually meeting event and has been held in all five continents, with the United Kingdom holding the most in such meetings. In all, they have hosted CHOGM five times - 1977, 1986, 1997, 2018 and 2023* (*special sessions).

 

Fifty-six commonwealth nations attended the 2024 CHOGM, with the majority of which were represented by the country's Head of State or Prime Minister. However, the leaders of India, South Africa and Canada, namely Narendra Modi, Cyril Ramaphosa and Justin Trudeau respectively did not attend this meeting as both Narendra Modi, Cyril Ramaphosa were in Kazan Russian for the BRICS summit held on 22-24.10.2024, and as for Justin Trudeau, he was worried about his employment at home and had decided not to attend just in case he got a tap on his shoulder by someone from this own party. As head of the Commonwealth, King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla both attended this meeting in Apia and both arrived on 22.10.2024, after a 5 days stopover in Australia (Sydney and Canberra) for a short state visit.

 

To celebrate this special event, the Central Bank of Samoa issued four commemorative notes of 5, 10, 20 and 60 tala. The designs for these notes are the same as those recently issued series but with an added commemorative logo of CHOGM on the front of each note.

 

In terms of commemorating the CHOGM events since 1971, this is the fifth time that banknotes have been issued to celebrate this special event and is also the only time that more than one note has been released. Below are banknotes released since 1997 to celebrate the CHOGM events : -

1997 - Scotland, Clydesdale Bank plc - £20;

2007 - Uganda - 10,000 shillings;

2009 - Trinidad and Tobago - $100;

2013 - Sri Lanka - 500 rupees; and

2024 - Samoa - 5, 10, 20 and 60 tala.

Whilst all previous CHOGM commemorative notes were released as face value, the Samoa CHOGM sets are not as they are all sold at a premium.

 

Given that these notes were recently released in the country for general circulation, and according to the central bank, these commemorative notes were issued in limited edition. However, I do not have the details as to how many sets were issued. According to a dealer's site, it was claimed that only 2,000 sets were issued for the three polymer notes of 5, 10 and 20 tala and for the 60 tala, it was reported but not confirmed that only 1000 sets were made available. Also according to the bank's website, these commemorative notes were sold in albums and folders. It should also be noted that the 60 tala note is a double commemorative series as the same notes were issued at two separate occasions to celebrate different historical events, albeit one with CHOGM logo overprint on it.

 

217.5mm x 136mm

All notes are printed with a CHOGM 2024 hologram logo on the front of each note. The logo is surrounded by microtext that lists the names of all 56 Commonwealth countries, and trust me, it's extremely hard to read them. I suppose this is why they called it microtext. All the commemorative notes begin with the serial number 060xxxx, and this is chosen because of Samoa's recent 60th anniversary of independence, which was celebrated in 2023 with the issuance of the 60 tala banknote. The original release for the 60 tala 2023 commemorative note was one million pieces. 

 

The next CHOGM will be held in 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda in the capital city of St. John's. Now, that would be a very nice few days of sun and sea holidays! The question I have here is that will there be any banknotes planned for this event? Antigua and Barbuda will be celebrating their 45th year of independence from the British in 2026 (November 1st) and if this 28th CHOGM is held around that time, it would be a double celebration for this tiny nation. No date has been set for this meeting yet. 

 

Here, I have posted a full set with matching serial numbers printed with the serial numbers of 0600246.

Five Tala (Polymer)

 

Dimensions - 140.5mm x 73mm

Front - Tourism team. A beautiful pristine view of a sandy beach in Samoa. Tourism is one of the main economic drivers of Samoa.

Back - Robert Louis Stevenson's former residence in Samoa. He is known as Tusitala (Teller of Tales) to the locals in Samoa. Robert Louis Stevenson (b.1850-1894) was a Scottish novelist and a travel writer. He settled in Samoa in 1890 and died of a stroke in 1894 at the age of 44 years old. He died in a village called Vailima (Villa Vailima) which is about four miles south of Apia, the capital of Samoa. His former residence is now a museum.

Ten Tala (Polymer)

 

Dimensions - 140mm x 73mm

Front - Sport theme. It features Samoa's rugby sevens team triumphant victory, crowned champions at the International Rugby Board (IRB) Hong Kong Sevens in 2007. This tournament was founded in 1976 and is a 3 days event held annually in Hong Kong. Since then, Samoa have won three times, in 1993, 2007 and 2010.

 

Back - Happy Samoan children on their way to school.

 

Twenty Tala (Polymer)

 

Dimensions - 140.5mm x 73mm

 

Front - Image of Sopoaga falls in Samoa. This waterfall is situated on the island of Upolu and is the largest waterfall in Samoa. entrance to this falls cost 10 tala per person.

Back - Featuring the national bird of Samoa, the Manumea, and Samoa's national flower, the Teuila.

Back - Featuring the national bird of Samoa, the Manumea, and Samoa's national flower, the Teuila.

 

Sixty Tala (Paper)

Governor - Maiava Atalina Emma Ainuu-Enari (since 2011)

Minister of Finance - Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molioo (since 2021)

Date - CHOGM 2024

Watermark - Teuila flower (purple alpine), acronym CBS

Quantity - 1000* sets (* unconfirmed)

Dimensions - 141mm x 73.5mm  

 

Front - This note is issued in a tri-fold folder. The portrait of Fiame Naomi Mataafa, the Prime Minister of Samoa. Prior to becoming the Prime Minister, she was the Deputy Prime Minister from 2016 to 2020 representing the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). In 2021, she joined the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (or FAST - Samoa United in Faith party) and was elected as their leader in March 2021. The FAST party was founded on 30.07.2020. She is the seventh Prime Minister of Samoa. In the center is the 60 SAMOA independence commemorative logo, and to the right is the billowing Samoa flag in blue and red colours and the Southern Cross constellation in white.

 

Back - The reverse side of the banknote depicts Samoa first Prime Minister of Samoa, the Honourable Fiame Matāa’fa Faumuina Mulinuu II (b.1921-1975), as he lowered the New Zealand flag on its first Independence in 1962, together with the 26th Prime Minister of New Zealand Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake (b.1904-1983) lowering the Samoan flag. The Western Samoan flag was then raised by joint heads of state Malietoa Tanumafili ll and Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole. Fiame Matāa’fa Faumuina Mulinuu II was also a Samoan paramount chief. To the right is the billowing flag of Samoa, and the commemorative logo is repeated on the bottom right side of the note. 

 

This is a tri-fold folder that comes with the 60 tala note. Inside the folder it has printed with information regarding the issuance of this commemorative note. It appears that these folders were presented as gifts to those who attended this meeting. I wonder if Narendra Modi, Cyril Ramaphosa and Justin Trudeau all got one too?

First Fold - As a remembrance of your participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 and your visit to our beautiful islands, we present you with a special commemorative banknote created specially for this year's CHOGM held in Apia, Samoa.

A unique CHOGM 2024 hologram has been applied to the 60-tala commemorative banknote to create a special, commemorative banknote souvenir, especially prepared for this year's CHOGM in Samoa.

May you cherish this keepsake that marks a significant milestone not only in the history of Samoa but also in the history of the Commonwealth.

 

Center fold - On May 31, 2023, the Central Bank of Samoa issued a commemorative banknote celebrating Samoa's 60th anniversary of independence. The obverse of the banknote portrays Samoa's current and first female Prime Minister, the Honorable Fiame Naomi Mataa'fa. The reverse of the banknote depicts her father, the first Prime Minister of Samoa, the Honorable Fiame Mataa'fa Faumuina Mulinuu II, as he lowered the New Zealand flag on the country's first day of independence in 1962. This commemorative banknote honors and recognizes Samoa's core strength as its foundation in God with the words: "Folau ma le Faatuatua" (Sail with Faith) and "Faavae i le Atua Samoa" (Based on the God of Samoa).  

This commemorative banknote proudly won the title of "Best Commemorative Banknote of the Year"at the High Security Printing Asia event held in December 2023 in Sri Lanka.

 

 

Stamps:

To the left is a set of four Singaporean stamps issued in 1971 to celebrate the first CHOGM held in Singapore. If you look and count the number of flags printed on the stamps, there were only 32 countries attending this inauguration meeting back then. I have had this set of stamps in my collection since 1971, and unfortunately, as I have had them for so many years, you can see the aging effect on them.

...Transnistria - 1 Ruble Commemorative 30th anniversary of the Pridnestrovian Ruble 1994-2024

Република Молдовеняскэ Нистрянэ

Приднестровская Молдавская Республика

(Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic)

 

Transnistrian Republican Bank (Est.1992)

Currency : Ruble

 

This is a never ending story.....

 

Here is another commemorative numismatic banknote, reportedly released on 15.08.2024, for the celebration of the territory's 30th anniversary of the Pridnestrovian Ruble currency 1994-2024. The Transnistria ruble is divided into 100 kopecks. 

 

This never ending story continues. This is the 27th* commemorative banknote issued since 1994. On average, Transnistria has issued 0.90 banknote per year since 1994 or 1.8 notes since the first commemorative note of 2009 was issued. I do not believe any other country would have matched or better this wonderful record over the past 30 years for issuing so many commemorative banknotes. The disappointing part is that out of the 27 commemorative notes issued, only one commemorative note has a new design. The rest of the 26 notes issued came from existing circulating notes with added commemorative text or logos over the watermarks area. Whilst the commemorative notes design are almost all the same, the bulk of such issues are limited edition with quantity printed from 1500 to 2500 sets (7,070 sets for the 2015; 70 Years of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (World War Two).

 

Note * - another one (28th) released after this note.

 

The official name of Transnistria currency in English is 'Pridnestrovian Ruble'. The design for this 1 ruble commemorative note is the same as the current circulating note but is printed with the commemorative logo on the watermark area on the right hand side of the note. This note was first issued in 2007 and then upgraded (reprint) in 2012.

 

Like those previous commemorative notes issued, this is a limited edition with a total of 1,500 printed and 1,490 sets sold in a simple folder at a premium. It is not sure what the bank will do with the remaining 10 individual pieces, or whether they are retained for their archives.

The Transnistria ruble was first introduced in 1994. Transnistria was formed in 1990 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Transnistria continued to use the Soviet Union rubles in 1990 as their own currency. In 1992, Russia began to introduce its own currency, and this led to Transnistria flooded with the obsolete Russian rubles, and in order to protect its own financial system, it introduced it's own ruble currency in 1994. Because Transnistria is not a recognised nation, their currency is not negotiable outside its territory. Internationally, Transnistria is recognised as part of the Republic of Moldova.

One Ruble

 

Signature - N/A

Series - 2007/2012

Watermark - Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov and electrotype ПРБ

Dimensions - 130mm x 56.5mm

 

Front - A portrait of the Russian General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov (b.1730-1800) in military uniform. General Suvorav was a Russian born military hero holding the rank of Field Marshal Generalissimo. He was born in Moscow and joined the army at the age of 17 and was promoted to the rank of colonel when he was 32 years old. By 1787, he was then promoted to the rank of General. During his lifetime, he was involved in at least 57 battles/wars with the majority of these conflicts ending in victory in his favour. He died at the age of 70 years old and was buried in the city of St Petersburg. He was the fourth Generalissimo of Russia. 

 

To the right-hand side where the watermark area is, the commemorative Bank of Pridnestrovie logo is added to the design with the following text printed in red below: 

 

30 ЛЕТ ПРИДНЕСТРОВСКОМУ РУБЛЮ

(30 Years Of The Pridnestrovian Ruble)

 

 

Back - Kitskansk Bridgehead memorial or Chiţcani monument in Chitcani. This monument was built in 1972 (opened 09.05.1972) to commemorate victory against the German invasion during the Second World War in 1944. Chitcani is situated north of Tiraspol, the capital city of Transnistria.

...Cambodia - 200000 Riel 2024 Commemorative 20th Coronation Anniversary Of King Norodom Sihamoni

ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា

(Kingdom of Cambodia)

ធនាគារជាតិនៃកម្ពុជា

(National Bank of Cambodia, Est.1954)

Currency : Riel (KHR)

 

This is a commemorative note of 200,000 riels issued on 16.10.2024 for the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Coronation of King Norodom Sihamoni. King Norodom Sihamoni was crowned on 29.10.2004 (-29.10.2024). This is the largest denomination of note issued in the Kingdom of Cambodia since 1955.

 

The face value of this note is worth approximately US$50. According to a local report, a total of 20 million pieces have been printed. The entire print is worth about US$1.0 billion, and the authority in Cambodia has assured the public that the issuance of this high denomination of banknotes will not affect currency circulation in the Cambodian economy. It is always a concern when such a high value banknote is issued to counter shortage of money due to high inflation, just like those countries going through the experience of a high inflationary environment. I believe there is no evidence that the country is experiencing high inflation. At the moment, there are 13 denominations of banknotes plus this new 200000 riels circulating in Cambodia and they are 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 15000, 20000, 30000, 50000, 100000 and 200000 riels.

 

This new banknote adds to a series of commemorative banknotes issued by the Cambodian government to honor significant milestones in the country's history and royal family. In 2019, a 15,000 riel banknote was released to mark the 15th anniversary of King Sihamoni's coronation.

Two Hundred Thousand Riels

Governor - Chea Chanto* (tenure 1998-2023)

Cashier General - Ou Chandara

Watermark - King Norodom Sihamoni and electrotype emblem

Dimensions - 172mm x 77mm

 

Note* He has since been replaced by Dr Chea Serey (PhD, she/her, since 2023)

Front - The main features on the front are the two portraits of King Norodom Sihamoni (b.1953) and Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk (b.1936). The late King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk were married in 1955 after King Norodom Sihamoni was born. King Norodom Sihamoni had a younger brother called Norodom Narindrapong (b.1954-2003). The background of this note is decorated with traditional sculptures with the words ពីររយពាន់រៀល (Two Hundred Thousand Riel) at the bottom, with the number ២00000 (200,000) at the top'.

 

Back - The image of King Sihamoni signing an official document. To the right is the iconic Bayon Temple in Siem Reap province, featuring the Four faces of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. To the bottom left is the inscription of "Congratulations to the 20-Year Anniversary of the Coronation Day of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni (29 October 2004 - 20 October 2024)". Beneath that is the Naga (mythical snake) from Wat Phnom Bridge.

...Samoa - 60 Tala Specimen 60th Year Of Independence From New Zealand 1962-2022

Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa

Independent State of Samoa

Central Bank of Samoa, Est 1984

Currency - Tala (WST)

 

I posted the 60 tala commemorative note here on 04.07.2023. The note was issued on 31.05.2023 for the celebration of Samoa's 60th year of independence from New Zealand. To read more above my previous post, please feel free to click here.

 

Now, I have posted the specimen note for this issue. As a specimen note, this note is printed with the serial number ST 0000000 but with no printer control number on the bottom left side of the note. The word "Specimen" is printed diagonally in red in the center of the note on the front and back.

 

The note is printed with two oval shape stamps in red on the top left corner and bottom right cover on the front and on the back with the following test : -

 

Specimen

De La Rue

No Value

I cannot say that I am an expert in specimen banknotes and based on all the most recent Samoa's specimen notes released, this is slightly different from the rest. The difference here is the printer's oval shape specimen stamps. My question is, is this an official specimen issue or is there another one without the oval shape stamp? To me, this looks more like a printer's specimen and not those specimen notes intended to issue to the public for information and education purposes. This is my first specimen note that is printed this way.

Sixty Tala Specimen

 

Governor - Maiava Atalina Emma Ainuu-Enari (since 2011)

Minister of Finance - Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molioo (since 2021)

Watermark - Teuila flower (purple alpine), acronym

Quantity- Unknown

Dimensions - 141mm x 72.5mm

Front - The portrait of Fiame Naomi Mataafa, the Prime Minister of Samoa. Prior to becoming the Prime Minister, she was the Deputy Prime Minister from 2016 to 2020 representing the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). In 2021, she joined the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (or FAST - Samoa United in Faith party) and was elected as their leader in March 2021. The FAST party was founded on 30.07.2020. She is the seventh Prime Minister of Samoa. In the center is the 60 SAMOA independence commemorative logo, and to the right is the billowing Samoa flag in blue and red colours and the Southern Cross constellation in white.
 

Back - The reverse side of the banknote depicts Samoa first Prime Minister of Samoa, the Honourable Fiame Matāa’fa Faumuina Mulinuu II (b.1921-1975), as he lowered the New Zealand flag on its first Independence in 1962, together with the 26th Prime Minister of New Zealand Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake (b.1904-1983) lowering the Samoan flag. The Western Samoan flag was then raised by joint heads of state Malietoa Tanumafili ll and Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole. Fiame Matāa’fa Faumuina Mulinuu II was also a Samoan paramount chief. To the right is the billowing flag of Samoa, and the commemorative logo is repeated on the bottom right side of the note.