Malaysia Commemorative Coins 2020 : APEC 2020

Bank Negara Malaysia issued commemorative coins in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Meetings 2020 in Malaysia (APEC 2020).

The commemorative coins were launched in conjunction with the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on 20 November 2020.

Coin Design

A first for Malaysian coin issuances, the coins are minted with two contrasting surface techniques using advanced laser technology and digital frosting to create the effect of a rainbow.

Obverse

The centre of the coin features an artistic representation of 21 human figures which symbolise the collaboration of 21 APEC economies in sustaining the growth and development of the region. The words “ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION 2020” are inscribed on the upper circumference of the coin with APEC 2020’s theme “OPTIMISING HUMAN POTENTIAL TOWARDS A FUTURE OF SHARED PROSPERITY” depicted on the lower circumference of the coin.

Reverse
The decorative floral element of songket motif (bunga pecah lapan) in the background depicts Malaysia’s rich culture. The face value of the coin is displayed at the centre of the coin, while the official logo of APEC 2020 is displayed on the lower part of the coin.

The commemorative coins have the following specifications:

Coloured Silver Commemorative Coin (proof)

This coin is made of fine silver with 99.9 purity and weighs 31.1 grams. It has a face value of RM10 and will be sold at RM253 a piece. The mintage quantity is 1,000 pieces.

Nordic Gold Brilliant Uncirculated (B.U) Commemorative Coin

This coin in matte finish is made mainly out of copper, and weighs 8.5 grams. It has a face value of RM1 and will be sold at RM13.20 a piece. The mintage quantity is 15,000 pieces.

UK General Service Medal 1918

The General Service Medal (1918 GSM) was instituted to recognise service in minor Army and Royal Air Force operations. Local forces, including police, qualified for many of the clasps, as could units of the Indian Army prior to 1947. 

The GSM was equivalent to the 1915 Naval General Service Medal.  Both these medals were replaced by the General Service Medal in 1962.

 

Description

The 1918 GSM is a circular silver medal, 36 mm in diameter, with following design:

The obverse shows the crowned effigy of the reigning monarch with an appropriate inscription.

The reverse bears the standing winged figure of Victory in a Corinthian helmet and carrying a trident, bestowing a wreath on the emblems of the Army (the sword) and the RAF (the wings). It was designed by E Carter Preston. 

The 32 mm wide ribbon has three equal stripes of purple, dark green and purple. 

The service number, rank, name and regiment or corps of the recipient are impressed on the rim of the medal in small block capitals. 

A bronze oak leaf emblem is worn on the ribbon of the medal to signify a mention in dispatches or King's/Queen’s Commendation for a campaign for which the GSM was awarded.

 

 

Clasps

A total of eighteen clasps were awarded, the medal never being awarded without a clasp. The clasps consist of silver bars bearing the name of the relevant campaign or theatre of operations. They were attached to the medal's suspension bar. 

Clasps and the award criteria for operations in Malaya and Borneo :

 

Malaya

For service in Malaya and Singapore against communist guerrilla forces.

The qualifying dates for service were between 16 June 1948 and 31 July 1960. For the Colony of Singapore, the date period was between 16 June 1948 to 31 January 1959.

Recipients who served after 31 August 1957, the day Malaya became an independent member of the Commonwealth, were subsequently awarded and given permission to accept the Malaysian Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal from 2007 and wear them from 2011.

 

Brunei

For a minimum 1 days' service in at least one of the operational areas located in the State of Brunei, North Borneo or Sarawak between 8 and 23 December 1962.

Malaysia Commemorative Coins 2020 : Putrajaya 25th Anniversary

 

Coloured Silver Commemorative Coin (proof)
This coin is made of fine silver with 99.9 purity and weighs 31.1 grams. It has a face value of RM10 and will be sold at RM253 a piece. The mintage quantity is 1,000 pieces.

Nordic Gold Brilliant Uncirculated (B.U) Commemorative Coin
This coin is made up of copper and several other metals. It has a matte finishing and weighs 8.5 grams. The coin has a face value of RM1 and will be sold at RM13.20 a piece. The mintage quantity is 15,000 pieces.

Coin design

The design of the coins features iconic Putrajaya landmarks. A number of unique techniques have also been incorporated in the design of the coins, including use of a “floating effect”, application of various frosting methods and latent imaging.

Obverse

The text “SAMBUTAN JUBLI PERAK PUTRAJAYA” decorates the upper circumference of the coin. The centre of the coin features Perdana Putra – the Prime Minister’s Office – the central landmark of Malaysia’s administrative capital, with Jambatan Seri Wawasan and Mercu Tanda Putrajaya appearing in the background. The years 1995 and 2020 are inscribed as an interchangeable latent image (when tilted) at the bottom of the coin, marking the years of Putrajaya’s establishment and silver jubilee.

Reverse

The text “BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA" as the issuer of the coin is featured at the upper circumference of the coin. The official logo for the silver jubilee celebration is prominently positioned over a background reminiscent of Dataran Putra, another important Putrajaya landmark. Application of different frosting techniques have been used to ensure that the background is subtle and provides a contrasting effect to emphasise the coloured logo. The face value of the coin is inscribed at the lower circumference of the coin.

Malaysia Commemorative Coins 2020 : UKM 50th Anniversary

 

Coloured Silver Commemorative Coin (proof)
This coin is made of fine silver with 99.9 purity and weighs 31.1 grams. It has a face value of RM10 and will be sold at RM253 a piece. The mintage quantity is 1,000 pieces.

Nordic Gold Commemorative Coin (proof)
This coin in proof finish is made from copper and several other metals, and weighs 8.5 grams. It has a face value of RM1 and will be sold at RM60.50 a piece. The mintage quantity is 1,000 pieces.

Nordic Gold Brilliant Uncirculated (B.U) Commemorative Coin
This coin in matte finish is made mainly out of copper, and weighs 8.5 grams. It has a face value of RM1 and will be sold at RM13.20 a piece. Total mintage quantity is 25,000 pieces. Of this, 10,000 pieces will be produced in exclusive packaging for UKM to sell to its students and alumni.

Obverse

The golden jubilee celebration’s text “SAMBUTAN JUBLI EMAS” decorates the upper circumference of the coin. The centre of the coin features the Dewan Canselor Tun Abdul Razak (DECTAR), a prominent UKM landmark which marks the start (registration) and conclusion (convocation) of a student’s journey in UKM. The landmark is flanked by symmetrical geometric designs forming the exterior of DECTAR to symbolise UKM’s significant achievements in its 50-year history. UKM’s mission in promoting the national language as the language of knowledge is translated into the songket design motifs of the national flower, the Bunga Raya, as the background for the university’s name in Malay and Jawi script. UKM’s year of establishment and the year of golden jubilee (1970-2020) is inscribed as an interchangeable latent image (when tilted) at the bottom of the coin.

Reverse

The text “BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA" as the issuer of the coin is featured at the upper circumference of the coin. The golden jubilee celebration’s official logo is prominently positioned on top of the globe to signify UKM’s remarkable journey and accomplishments, being ranked among the world’s top universities. The face value of the coin is inscribed at the lower circumference of the coin.

Roman Gold Coin 107AD "Divus Augustus"

Year minted : 107 AD

Minted by : Emperor Trajan ( born 53 AD, reign 98 AD – 117 AD )

Observe :
portrait of Emperor Augustus, with the word ‘DIVUS AUGUSTUS’

Reverse :
‘MP. CAES TRAJAN VGGEP. CACPP. REST’

BACKGROUND

The coin featuring Augusts’ image is only one of two coins minted by Emperor Trajan in AD 107 as part of a series of coins that honored emperors before him.  This coin dedicated to Augustus refers to him as “Divus Augustus” or August the Divine who reigned during the life of Christ (27 BC to AD 14).  

Emperor Augustus : Founder of the Roman Empire

Augustus was the founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor, ruling from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.

Together with Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus, he formed the Second Triumvirate to defeat the assassins of Caesar.

Following their victory, they divided the Roman Republic among themselves and ruled as military dictators, before their individual ambitions tore the alliance apart.

Lepidus was driven into exile and stripped of his position, and Antony committed suicide following his defeat at the Battle of Actium by Octavian in 31 BC.

In response, Augustus placed governmental power with the Roman Senate and other legislative institutions, to establish constitutional framework called the Principate - the first phase of the Roman Empire - while secretly remaining in overall control as a military dictator.

The reign of Augustus initiated an era of relative peace known as the Pax Romana, or, The Roman Peace and he enlarged the empire too.

Augustus died at the age of 75, officially of natural causes, although there were rumours his wife Livia poisoned him.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hiker-finds-2000-year-old-gold-coin-in-northern-israel/?fbclid=IwAR2WxTCY9owLM626nLeaGmnB5wt4oWmaGS4A7QJ2TSCh3HtzfdSseFDOjtE