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

Malaysia Commemorative Coins 2019 : Installation of Agong XVI

Bank Negara Malaysia is issuing commemorative coins in conjunction with the installation of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda XVI Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah as the sixteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 30 July 2019.

1. Obverse

The portrait of Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI, His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah, is featured at the centre of the coin. The words "AL-SULTAN ABDULLAH RI’AYATUDDIN AL-MUSTAFA BILLAH SHAH IBNI ALMARHUM SULTAN HAJI AHMAD SHAH AL-MUSTA’IN BILLAH" are inscribed along the circumference of the coin with the date of the installation depicted at the bottom of the portrait of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI. The decorative element of the 14-cornered umbrella pattern symbolises His Majesty as offering an "umbrella of protection" to 14 states in Malaysia and this is shown around the portrait of Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

2. Reverse

The centre of the coin depicts the image of the official royal insignia of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong.  The words “PERTABALAN SERI PADUKA BAGINDA YANG DI-PERTUAN AGONG XVI” are inscribed at the upper circumference of the coin, while the name “BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA” as the issuing authority of the commemorative coins is featured on the lower circumference of the coin together with the respective face value of the coin. The face value of the coin is displayed under the official royal insignia, which is '100 RINGGIT' for gold (proof), '10 RINGGIT' for silver (proof) and ‘1 RINGGIT' for Nordic gold. The decorative element of the 14-cornered umbrella pattern is displayed around the coin.

1. Gold Commemorative Coin (proof)

This proof coin is made of gold with 999.9 purity and weighs 7.96 grams with a face value of RM100 and will be sold at RM1,800 a piece. The mintage quantity is 300 pieces.

2. Silver Commemorative Coin (proof)

This proof 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 RM200 a piece. The mintage quantity is 1,500 pieces.

3. Nordic Gold Brilliant Uncirculated (B.U) Commemorative Coin

The Nordic Gold (B.U.) coin has a face value of RM1 and will be sold at RM12 a piece. The mintage quantity is 20,000 pieces.

Malaysia 2019 Medallion Avenger Endgame

 

Euro Coins : Vatican ( Commemoratives Issues )

€2 commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the eurozone since 2004 as legal tender in all eurozone member states. Only the national obverse sides of the coins differ; the common reverse sides do not. The coins typically commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance.

2004       75^th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Vatican City

2005       20^th World Youth Day

2006       500^th Anniversary of the Swiss Guard

2007       80^th Birthday of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

2008       The Year of S. Paul – The 2000^th Anniversary of his Birth

2009       International Year of Astronomy

2010       Year for Priests

2011       26th World Youth Day

2012       7^th World Meeting of Families in Milan

2013       28^th World Youth Day

2013       Sede Vacante

2014       25^th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

2015       8^th World Meeting of Families

2016       Bicentenary of the Vatican Gendarmerie

2016       Jubilee of Mercy

2017       Centenary of the Fatima apparitions

2017       1950^th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Saint Paul & Saint Peter

2018       European Year of Cultural Heritage