...Bhutan - Series 2015 of 5 And 100 Ngultrum

འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་ཁབ

Kingdom of Bhutan

 

Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, Est.1982

Currency - Ngultrum (BTN)

 

Here are the two notes of 5 and 100 ngultrum, both printed as Series 2015. These are the only two notes issued for the 2015 series. The designs on these notes are the same with the exception of the year date.

Five Ngultrum

 

Governor - Dasho Daw Tenzin (tenure 2010-2015)

Date - Series 2015 

Dimensions - 126.5mm x 60mm

 

Front - Image of Dharmachakra surrounded by two mythical birds (Druk Bja Tshering). The Druk Bja Tshering is referred to as Bhutan Birds of Longevity). A Dharmachakra is a circular symbol used mainly in the Dharmic religions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The Dharmachakra resembles a ship's helm wheel.

 

Unlike the 100 ngultrum note below, this note does not have the dedicated watermark area printed. 

Prior to 2010, all banknotes issued by the central bank bear the signature of a Chairman. Since then, the title for the Chairman has changed to Governor.

 

Back - Paro Taktsang, a monastery situated in the western part of Bhutan. This monastery was built in 1692 on a cliffside of the upper Paro valley and is about 3000 meters above the Paro valley. This is a sacred site and is one of the 13 Tiger's Nest caves of historical Tibet. This monastery is used by many different groups mainly for meditation only. 

 

One Hundred Ngultrum

 

Governor - Dasho Daw Tenzin (tenure 2010-2015)

Watermark - King Jigme Singye Wangchuk 

Date - Series 2015

Dimensions - 147.5mm x 71mm

 

Front - Portrait of King Jigme Singye Wangchuk (b.1955-). Jigme Singye Wangchuk was the King of Bhutan from 1972 to 2006 when he abdicated in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Jigme Singye Wangchuk is married with four wives. His second and third wives are sisters. In Bhutan, the law allows for both polyandry and polygamy.

Back - Image of Tashichho Dzong. Tashichho Dzong is a Buddhist monastery. The word Dzong means Fortress of the glorious religion and has been occupied by Bhutan's government since 1968. The building also houses the throne room and the offices of the King of Bhutan. The Tashichho Dzong has been situated in the northern part of Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan since 1955.

...Lebanon - Full Set Six Notes Dated 2016 - 2022

 الجمهورية اللبنانية

(Republic of Lebanon)

 

مصرف لبنان

(Banque du Liban / Bank of Lebanon) 

Currency - Livres/Pound (LBP)

 

Here is a full set of 6 notes issued with various year dates printed on the notes. As these are not released or printed in the same year, the signatures on the notes are not all the same. 

Due to the current economic situation in Lebanon, this full set is very affordable to collect. Here, the total face value is 186,000 livres and it's only worth just over US$2. Of course, I have paid more to get these 6 notes. Given the current position of the Livre, the last print for the 1000 livres was dated 2016.

One Thousand Livres 

 

Front - Cedar tree, value in Arabic of 1000

 

Signatures (L-R)

First Vice Governor - Raed H Charafeddine

Governor - Riad Toufic Salameh

Date - 2016

Watermarks - Cedar tree & electrotype 1000 in Arabic

Sizes - 115mm x 60.5mm 

 

Back - French text, cedar tree, alphabet in the background.

 

Five Thousand Livres 

Front - Cedar tree, Arabic denomination of 5000

 

First Vice Governor - Wassim Mansoori

Governor - Riad Toufic Salameh

Date - 2021

Watermarks - Cedar tree & electrotype 5000 in Arabic

Sizes - 120mm x 70mm

 

Back - French text, cedar tree, geometric design 

 

Ten Thousand Livres 

Front - Cedar tree, Arabic value of 10,000

 

First Vice Governor - Wassim Mansoori

Governor - Riad Toufic Salameh

Date - 2021

Watermarks - Cedar tree & electrotype 10,000 in Arabic

Sizes - 127.5mm x 66mm

 

Back - French text, cedar tree, sculpture of Lebanese in Martyrs Square in Beirut. Large cedar tree in the background.

 

 

Twenty Thousand Livres 

 

Front - Cedar tree, Arabic value of 20,000.

 

First Vice Governor - Raed H Charafeddine

Governor - Riad Toufic Salameh

Date - 2019

Watermarks - Cedar tree & electrotype 20,000 in Arabic

Sizes - 130mm x 72mm

 

Back -  French text, Cedar tree, geometric designs in circular shape.  

 

Fifty Thousand Livres 

 

Front - Cedar tree, Arabic value of 50,000, a stylised boat.

 

First Vice Governor - Raed H Charafeddine

Governor - Riad Toufic Salameh

Date - 2019

Watermarks - Cedar tree & electrotype 50,000 in Arabic

Sizes - 141mm x 77mm

 

Back - French text, cedar tree, square shape geometric design.

 

 

One Hundred Thousand Livres 

 

Front - Cedar tree, value denomination in Arabic

 

First Vice Governor - Wassim Mansoori

Governor - Riad Toufic Salameh

Date - 2022

Watermarks - Cedar tree & electrotype 100,000 in Arabic

Sizes - 147mm x 81.5mm

 

Back - French text, stylised bunch grapes, grain stalks, spindle of yarns. 

 

...Abkhazia - 50 Apsars 2025 Numismatic Products

Аҧсны Аҳәынҭқарра

(Republic of Abkhazia)

 

Аԥсны Аҳәынҭқарра Амилаҭтә Банк

(National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia, Est 1991)

Currency - Apsar (Apsara)

 

This is the fifth note issued by this disputed region of Abkhazia since 2018. The National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia has released, since 2018, the denomination of 500 apsars (2018), 25 apsars (2023), 10 and 100 apsars (both 2024), and now this 50 apsars.  

According to a report, 50,000 pieces have been issued, and like the 2024 issues, this note was also reported as an Investment Banknote. I am not sure what it meant by that, and how is this considered as an investment, apart from calling this a numismatic product. If this note is not intended for general circulation, then the quantity of 50,000 is quite a lot for a rather small population of less than 250,000 living in this disputed region, unless it is also intended to target overseas collectors. For the record, Abkhazia is still internationally recognised as part of Georgia. It declared independence on 23.07.1992, and shortly after that, war broke out in August 1992. Until today, the conflict between this region and the Georgian government is still unresolved, and the Abkhazian managed to stay independent solely due to the Russians backing.

Fifty Apsars

Front - The main feature for this design are the three Black Sea dolphins. In the central top is the map of Abkhazia, and to the left is a sea shell. To the far right is an image of a jellyfish. Like those previously issued, the usual seven-star design in a semi-circular pattern is also incorporated in the design.

Signature - Beslan Baratelia (Chairman since 2014)

Series - 2025

Quantity Issued - 50,000 pieces

Watermark - Image of a square with an anchor and seahorse on each sides

Sizes - 151.5mm x 66mm

Back -  An image of a medieval Abkhazian warship in the far left and a prow of a ship in the center. Below the prow is an image of an anchor and to the right is a pattern of a seahorse facing right. 

...Bhutan - 1 and 10 Ngultrum Series 2019 Hybrid Notes

འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་ཁབ

Kingdom of Bhutan

 

Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, Est.1982

Currency - Ngultrum (BTN)

 

Below are the two notes of 1 and 10 ngultrum both issued as part of the 2019 series. It is believed that these are the two notes released with the year date of 2019. I believe both notes are printed on hybrid materials, just like those first released in 2013 (Series 2013). Nothing has changed on the design except the year date and signature on the two notes.

 

One Ngultrum (Replacement Prefix Z)

 

Signature - Dasho Penjore (tenure 2015-)

Issue - Series 2019

Dimensions - 121mm x 60mm

 

Front - Image of Dharmachakra surrounded by two mythical dragons. A Dharmachakra is a circular symbol used mainly in the Dharmic religions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The Dharmachakra resembles a ship's helm wheel.This note that I have posted here has a Z replacement prefix.

 

Back - Simtokha Dzong (castle-monastery). This monastery was built in 1628 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. This is one of its kind built in Bhutan. This Dzong is located approximately 5 kilometers south of Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

 

Ten Ngultrum 

 

Signature - Dasho Penjore (tenure 2015-)

Issue - Series 2019

Watermark - Jigme Singye Wangchuk

Dimensions - 126mm x 65mm

 

Front - Portrait of King Jigme Singye Wangchuk (b.1955-). Jigme Singye Wangchuk was the King of Bhutan from 1972 to 2006 when he abdicated in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Jigme Singye Wangchuk is married with four wives. His second and third wives are sisters. In Bhutan, the law allows for both polyandry and polygamy.

 

Back - The building of Paro Rinpung Dzong. This is a large dzong (Buddhist monastery) and was constructed in 1646. This dzong is located in the town of Paro. Paro is situated south-west of the capital Thimphu and is about 50 kilometers drive by car.

 

 

...India - 2000 Rupees Dated 2017 And With Plate Letter R, Withdrew 30.09.2023

Republic of India

(Bharat Ganarajya)

Reserve Bank of India (est.1935)

Currency - Rupee (INR)

 

As per one of my previous posts, I have now posted another two 2000 rupees banknotes both dated 2017. On 19.05.2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the withdrawal of the 2000 rupees from circulation commencing on 30.09.2023. The 2000 rupees was the highest circulation banknote issued in India and the withdrawal was mainly due to illegal activities such as money laundering etc. The 2000 rupees banknote is not commonly used for transactions in the country and it is believed that many political parties like to hoard them to fund their election campaign expenses in order to get around tough spending limits imposed by the Election Commission. It is unlikely we will get to see another 2000 rupees series in the near future unless the circumstances have changed, like high inflation or some other economic situations that they are forced to issue one, or even with higher denominations like 5000 rupees.

 

The 2000 rupees was first introduced in November 2016 following the withdrawal of the previous series of 500 and 1000 rupees due to high forgeries found circulating in the economy. RBI has only issued the 2000 rupee banknotes printed with the year dates of 2016 and 2017, and majority of these notes were issued prior in March 2017.

 

It is believed that only two varieties of the 2000 rupee banknotes were issued with the year date of 2017, just like the 2016 issues. The notes that I have posted here are one without any plate letter and one printed with plate letter R. This plate letter is printed between the prefix and serial number on the top left-hand corner on the front of the note.

 

As a collector, I am pleased to say that I have now completed my collection of all four notes of 2000 rupees issued by the bank.

 

Two Thousand Rupees 

Front - The portrait of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi or better known as Mahatma Gandhi (b.1869-1948). Gandhi was a Hindu and was born in Gujarat. In 1888, he went to London, England to read Laws. In 1891, at the age of 22, he was called to the bar and returned home to India. He started his working life as a British trained lawyer. However, he failed miserably and had to give up his practice and turned to drafting petitions for litigants for a living. In 1893, he went to work in South Africa. While in South Africa, he experienced discrimination and prejudice against him due to the colour of his skin. After 22 years working in South Africa, he returned to India in 1915, and became an anti-colonial nationalist, a political ethicist and successfully campaigned for India's independence from the British in 1947. In 1948, he was assassinated by Ramachandra Vinayak Godse (b.1910-1949) and he died at the age of 78, 168 days after India achieved independence from the British. 

Governor - Urjit Patel (tenure 2016-2018)

Watermark - Mahatma Gandhi and electrotype 2000

Dimensions -168.5mm x 66.5mm

 

Back - An image of the Mangalyaan, a Mars Orbiter Mission Space Probe. This space probe was launched on 05.11.2013, and has been orbiting Mars since 24.09.2014. The Mangalyaan is the first Asian made space probe to successfully orbiting Mars and to do so in its maiden attempt too. To the left is that famous Mahatma Gandhí's spectacle frame. 

 

Dated 2017, with plate letter R

Reverse