Guernsey - £20 End of the First World War 100th Year Anniversary 1918-2018

Bailiwick of Guernsey

This is a Commemorative note released on 08/11/2018, commemorating 100 Years of the End of the First World War 1918 - 2018.

The first world war started on 28/07/1914, 31 days following the assassination of the crown prince of Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (b 18/12/1863) and his wife Sophie (b 01/03/1868) in Sarajevo by Gavrillo Princip during their official visit on 28/06/1914. War was declared against the Kingdom of Serbia (1882-1918) by the Austrian-Hungary empire after it received assurance from Germany's support. The war then went on for 4 years, 3 months and 2 weeks and ended at 11.00 am on 11/11/1918.

The design of this note is basically the same as those previously issued since 1996 but with additional text/features added to the design. Below are some of these features;

1) Commemorative text: The Great War 1914-1918; 100 Years Commemoration;
2) A police panic whistle with string is added to the design just under the commemorative text;
3) The security hologram has been replaced by an image of a silver poppy;
4) Leaf wreath surrounding the gold seal of Guernsey has been replaced by at least 29 poppies;
5) Special prefix TG/W (The Great War);
6) The signature title has been reverted back to States Treasurer. Previously it was Chief Accountant; 
7) On the reverse, the flowers on the lower left hand corner have been replaced by two large poppies;
8) The words, "St. Sampson's Church" is printed in black/dark brown instead of red. 

The note is signed by Bethan Haines, who has been signing on Guernsey banknotes since 2009. A total of 500,000 pieces printed for this special commemorative. This note posted here comes from the first bundle.

Watermark: Queen Elizabeth The Second
Imprinter: De La Rue

Twenty Pounds

Dated 2018

Reverse

Malaya/Malaysia (since 1963)

60th Anniversary of the Signing of the Federation of Malaya Independence Agreement
This is the 60 Ringgit 3-in-1 uncut sheet commemorative Hybrid note that was released on the 25.01.2018, celebrating the 60th Year of the Signing of the Federation of Malaya Independence Agreement 1957-2017. Only 6,000 sheets issued at an issue price of 500 Ringgit. This sheet is issued in a blue box and it also comes with an information card both in Bahasa and English. This set was sold out via a balloting system.

This uncut sheet was harder to get than the RM600 world largest note.

The independence agreement, dated 05.08.1957, was signed by the Malay Council of Rulers from the nine States, namely Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu together with the representative of Queen Elizabeth ll, Sir Donald MacGillivray, who was then the High Commissioner of the Federation of Malaya. The agreement was signed at the British Commissioner's residence in Kuala Lumpur, which then led to the independence of the Federation of Malaya on 31.08.1957.

This note is printed on Durasafe Hybrid materials, a composite of paper and polymer substrate.

The designs
Observe
14-pointed federal star(i) (featured on the royal headgear), the royal throne surrounded by a victory wheat wreath, portraits of 15 Yang di-Pertuan Agong positioned in a horse shoe shape, who have reigned since independence (1957) till the present day, starting from top L to R - Abdul Rahman(ii) of Negeri Sembilan (1957-1960), Hisamuddin(ii) of Selangor (1960), Putra of Perlis (1960-1965), Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengganu (1965-1970), Abdul Halim(iii) of Kedah (1970-1975), Yahya Petra(ii) of Kelantan (1975-1979), Ahmad Shah of Pahang (1979-1984), Iskandar of Johor (1984-1989), Azlan Shah of Perak (1989-1994), Ja'afar of Negri Sembilan (1994-1999), Salahuddin(ii) of Selangor (1999-2001), Sirajuddin of Perlis (2001-2006), Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu (2006-2011), Abdul Halim(iii) of Kedah (2011-2016) and Muhammad V of Kelantan (since 2016). The term for the rotating Agong is fixed for 5 years. The note is also printed with the year dates of 1957-2017.

(i) 11-pointed federal star between 1957-1984; (ii) died in office; (iii) the one and only Sultan who had served two terms (5th & 14th Agong); Note: It's too long to have all the Sultan's full names listed here. I believe only four Sultans are still alive today from the above listing.

Sixty Ringgit

Dated 2017

Portraits of the all nine Rulers (Sultans/Raja) signing the Federation of Malaya Independence Agreement, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the First Prime Minister of Malaya declaring independence, the National Palace, Perdana Putra (Federal Government office), the Parliament building (August House) and the Palace of Justice which represent the four pillars of the nation: the institution of the Monarchy, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary respectively.

Reverse

Information Card - Bahasa Malaysia

Information Card - English

The nine Rulers who signed the agreement were (from L-R, top to bottom):-

*Pahang - Sultan Abu Bakar Ri'ayatuddin Al-Muazzam Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mutasim Billah Shah (1932-1974);

*Negeri Sembilan - Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad (1933-1960). 1st Agong 1957-1960;

*Selangor - Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah (1938-1942, 1945-1960). 2nd Agong 1960;

*Kedah - Sultan Sir Badlishah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah (1943-1958);

*Kelantan - Paduka Sri Sultan Sir Ibrahim IV Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV (1944-1960);

*Perlis - Tuanku Syed Harun Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail (1945-2000). 3rd Agong 1960-1965;

*Terengganu - Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin III (1945-1979). 4th Agong 1965-1970;

*Perak - Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil Karamatullah Nasiruddin Mukhataram Shah Radziallah (1948-1963);

*Johor - Sultan Sir Ibrahim Al Masyhur ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abu Bakar Al-Khalil Ibrahim Shah (1895-1959) represented by his son, Crown Prince Ismail Al Khalidi ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Ibrahim Al-Masyhur (Sultan 1959-1981).

Solomon Islands - $40 Independence Commemoartive 1978 - 2018

Solomon Islands

Theme "redirecting our journey at 40"
Independence Day 7th of July

Solomon Islands celebrated it's 40th Independence on 07.07.2018 from the British and issued a banknote of $40 to commemorate this special occasion. The British controlled Solomon Islands since June 1893. In 1976, self-government was granted and in 1978 it became a fully independent nation.

This commemorative note was launched on 05.07.2018 by the Central Bank Governor, Denton Rarawa. Apart from this commemorative note, it also issued a new $2 coloured coin to commemorate this special occasion.

This new note is designed and printed on polymer substrate material by De La Rue. It is believed that only 100,000 pieces printed with 20,000 pieces reserved for overseas collectors (one media had reported that 140,000 pieces were printed - Australia ABC news). Whilst this note is a collector's item, it is also legal tender for all payments for goods and services in the country. The coloured coins are minted by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM).

This is the second time that Solomon Islands has issued a polymer banknote. In 2001, a $2 commemorative note was issued for the Central Bank of Solomon Islands's Silver Jubilee celebration.

Unlike the current circulating series, this commemorative note has a vertical front design and a  horizontal format on the back. The main design on the front showing a man blowing a conch shell to summon people to come together for an importance event or meeting. The conch shell is/was a traditional instrument of communication in Solomon Islands. The map of Solomon Islands is also included in the design. The large number "40" is also printed on both sides of the note. The design on the back showing large national flag of Solomon Islands, two young girls on a boat, a man standing on a boat, a man diving in the coral reef; and a glowing sea turtle (Hawksbill) swimming.The note is also printed with the following texts;-

"A CALL TO THE NATION TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE AND MOVE FORWARD; and
40 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE 1978 - 2018"

All notes are printed with the prefix of SI/40 with X/1 as replacement notes. The signatures are Denton Hehenoro Rarawa (Governor) and Harry Kuma (Secretary, Ministry of Finance).

This new $40 is also sold in a folder. It was reported that only 100 folders were issued and all sold out.The folder was sold at S$75 each without the banknote.

Forty Dollars

Dated 2018

Reverse - Normal Prefix

Reverse - Replacement Prefix X/1 000080

Reverse - Replacement Prefix X/1 000123

Borrowed scan - Folder Front Cover

In addition to the above, uncut sheets of 20-in-1 and 25-in-1 were also printed and all sold out. I have a feeling that these uncut sheets were issued for special orders/requests, and perhaps all sold to collectors/dealers in Europe.
 

Footnote:-

I believe this is the 3rd note issued for the celebrating of a nation's 40th Independence with a face value of 40.

- Bangladesh 2011: 40 Taka celebrating the nation's 40th Year of Victory Anniversary against Pakistan rule, which is the same as independence from Pakistan rule;

- Djibouti 2017: 40 Francs commemorative it's independence celebration from France.

Poland - 20 Zloty 100th Year of Indepedence 1918-2018

Rzeczpospolita Polska
Republic of Poland

This new 20 Zloty commemorative note was issued on 31.08.2018, celebrating the nation's 100th Year of Independence. Whilst the face value of this note is only 20 Zloty, the official issued price was 75 Zloty with a total quantity of 50,000 issued in a simple folder/cover format.

The design of this note shows the portrait of Marshal Josef Klemens Pilsudski (1867-1935), who was the national hero for the Polish Independence campaign and the nation premiere statesmen from 1918 to until his death on 12.05.1935. The year date of 1918-2018 is printed to the left of Marshal Pilsudski. The polish word "niepodlegla" (my spelling could be wrong) means independent is also printed in red vertically on the front. The main features on the back are the Polish Legions eagle and a large Polish flag. All notes are printed with the letter prefix of RP (Rzeczpospolita Polska or The Republic of Poland).

This note is issued in a simple card folder.

Twenty Zloty

Dated 2018

Reverse

Folder Front

Folder Back

Brochure 1

Brochure 2

Brochure 3

Brochure 4