VIETNAM

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a country in South East Asia. Its capital city is Hanoi. In 1887, Vietnam was integrated into French Indochina. In 1941, during World War II , the Japanese occupied Indochina and in that year a communist / nationalist movement called the Viet Minh under the leadership of the revolutionary Ho Chi Minh sought to expel both the French and the Japanese from Vietnam. In 1945, the Viet Minh occupied Hanoi which forced the French to send troops to Vietnam. there followed a guerilla war that lasted from 1946 - 1954. 1954 saw the dissolution of French Indochina and Vietnam split into two states - North Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh and South Vietnam under Emperor Bao Dai. In the south the Communist Vietcong started a campaign against the Daim regime. In 1963, after Buddhist discontent with the regime, Bo Dai was assassinated and there followed a succession of military governments that didn't last long. eventually General Thieu, through fraudulent means took control of the government. in 1956, The USA sent troops in to help the south combat the Vietcong. The USSR, China and North Vietnam supported the Vietcong . In 1973, the USA, were defeated and withdrew all troops, the North invaded the south and in 1976 merged to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Monetary Unit;

1 dong = 100 Xu = 100 Su to 1975
1 new dong = 100 old dong

The notes above are the 10000 dong note from 2003 issue on polymer with Ho Chi Minh on the front and oil platforms on the back. the next on is the 1000 dong note from 1988 with Ho chi Minh again and on the reverse is an elephant logging.

This next note is the 500 dong note. i have it listed as from 1972, however i cant find a reference to it anywhere and as it's in unc condition it has the feel of being more modern that that. but it does have a stunning picture of a tiger on the reverse.

This is the 5 Dong note from 1955 with a bird on the front and a farmer in a paddy field on the reverse.

VENEZUELA

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a country in South America with a capital of Caracas . Venezuela was first colonised by Spain in 1522 after fierce fighting with the indigenous peoples. Independence was declared in both 1811 and 1813 but both times the movements were crushed but in 1821 full independence was achieved under the command of Simon Bolivar under the name of Gran Colombia up until 1830 when a bloody rebellion gained independence as Venezuela. The colours of the Venezuelan flag are yellow, blue and red - yellow for the wealth of the land, blue for the wealth of the sea and red for the blood shed in gaining independence.  1998 saw a new Bolivarian revolution sweep Hugo Chavez to the presidency. he died in 2013.

Monetary units;

1 Bolivar = 100 Centimos 1879 - onward

The first of the notes above is the 10000 Bolivares note from 2004 with Antonio Sucre on the front and  the supreme court building on the back.. This note was a present from some american friends who were in Cuba at the same time as me in 2006, for Fidel Castro's 80 th birthday.

the second note above is a 100 Bolivares note from 1992 with a dashing Simon Bolivar on the front and the capitol building on the reverse.

This note is the 1 Bolivar note from the 1989 issue with a bust of Simon Bolivar on the front and the coat of arms on the reverse.

There are plans to introduce a regional currency for members of ALBA, to replace the US dollar as the currency of commerce. up until now it has been a "Virtual Currency" . there are plans for it to become a hard currency in the future. the currency is called the Sucre.

VANUATU

The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific ocean. It's capital city is Port Vila. The Indigenous peoples of the island were originally Melanesian. in 1774, Captain cook named the islands New Hebrides, by which the islands were known until independence in 1980.

Monitary units:

100 Vatu = 100 francs

The note above is the 200 Vatu note from the 1995 issue with a Melanesian chief holding a spear on the front and a statue of a family on the reverse.

LAST OF THE U's

Only one missing from the U's:

Upper Senegal and Niger - This had one issue under French administration in 1917

UZBEKISTAN

The Republic of Uzbekistan, formerly known as the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, part of the USSR. The capital city is Tashkent. in the 19th century the Russian empire expanded into central asia and included Uzbekistan in its conquest. Initially there was some resistance to the Bolshevik revolution but in 1924 the Uzbek SSR was set up. In 1991 Uzbekistan declared independence after the fall of the USSR.

Monetary Units:

1 Tenga = 20 kopek
5 Tengov = 1 Ruble
1 sum = 100 kopeks 1991
1 sum = 1000 sum coupon 1994
1 sum = 100 tiyin

The 2 notes above are both 3 sum notes. the top one is from 1994 and has the coat of arms on the front and the Cashma Ayub Mausoleum in Bukhara on the reverse. the bottom note is from 1992 and has the arms on the front and a mosque on the reverse.

This note is the 1000 sum note from 2001. it has the coat of arms on the front and the museum of Amir Temur in Tashkent on the reverse.

USA ( UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and one federal district (Washington D.C.), the federal district being the capital city. 48 of the states lie in the main body of the country with Alaska, to the west of Canada , and Hawaii in the pacific ocean. The indigenous peoples of America, now referred to as "Native Americans", were thought to have descended from peoples from Asia who came to the area around 10,000 BCE. European settlers came after Colombus in 1492. independence was achieved in 1776, when 13 British colonies declared independence and constituted themselves as The United States of America. The United States annexed the Republic of Texas in 1845 and the secession of California and the south west after the Mexican-american  war of 1848. In 1860, 7 pro slavery states left to constitute the Confederate states of America. Another 4 states joined the confederates when the American civil war started in 1861. At the start of World War I, The USA was neutral until joining the Allies in 1917. Again in WWII, USA started neutral and joined the allies after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. After WWII, Russia and The USA led two world organisations, NATO and the Warsaw Pact,  in the Cold War.

Monetary Unit:

1 Dollar = 100 Cents

The 3 notes above are ; the 10 Dollar note from the 1990 series with Alexander Hamilton, 1st US secretary of the treasury. the reverse has the Treasury Building. The 1988, 5 Dollar note, with Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the USA on the front and the Lincoln memorial on the reverse.
The 1 Dollar note from 2003 has George Washington, 1st president of the USA, on the front and has the Great Seal on the reverse.

This fragile note above is from 1863 and is a 50 cent note issued by the Confederate States of America. It is uni face and has a side view of President Jefferson Davis on the front , the back of course, is blank.

URUGUAY

The Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America with a capital city of Montevideo. Early colonisation of the area, inhabited by the Charrua people, started in the early 1500's with both Spain and Portugal fighting for control of the area that is now Uruguay and Argentina. In 1811, there was a successful revolution against the Spanish colonialists. This revolution freed most of Argentina and Uruguay but war between the two delayed Uruguay's independence until 1828. The early 20th century saw conflict between the conservative Blancos and the liberal Colorados and in 1973 a military coup d'etat brought the country under military rule until 1984, when national elections were held.

Monetary Units:
1 Peso = 100 centesimos (1860 - 1975)
1 Nuevo Peso = 1000 old peso (1976 - 1993)
1 Peso Uruguayo = 1000 Nuevo Peso (1993- onward)

 The wonderful note above is the 1998 issue of the 5 Peso Uruguayo note Featuring Joaquin Torres Garcia, a Uruguayan artist, on the front and one of his paintings , pintura constructiva (1943) on the reverse.

UKRAINE

Ukraine, formerly the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic of the USSR, is a country in eastern Europe. its Capital city is Kiev. during World War I, Ukrainians fought on both sides - the central powers and the triple entente. It was one of the founding republics of the USSR and for the first few years achieved great improvements in workers rights, education, Housing and Women's rights, up until Joseph Stalin came  to power, and the 1930's saw a reverse in the standards of Ukrainian people. 1986 saw the world's worst nuclear disaster in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Ukraine declared independence in 1991 and in 2004 there was the peaceful " orange revolution" which sent Viktor Yushchenko into power.

Monetary units:
1 karvovanets = 1 russian ruble (1991 - 1996)
1 Hryvnia = 100,000 karbovantsiv (1996 - onward)

the set of notes above are the 1991 control coupon issue which was used along side the Russian Ruble. each is a different colour but has Lybid, sister of the founding brothers of Kiev on the front and the cathedral of St.Sofia in Kiev on the reverse (see below)

UGANDA

The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in east central Africa. Its capital city is Kampala. In 1888 the British put Uganda under the control of the British East Africa Company, In 1962, Uganda gained its independence but retained their commonwealth membership. In 1967 it was declared as a republic with Milton Obote as the President. four years later Idi Amin  seized power with a military coup d'etat and promply expelled all asians from the country as well as carrying out mass executions of ugandans. He was deposed in 1979, reinstating Obote., who himself was deposed in 1985 and in 1986 the present day president Yoweri Museveni to power.

Monetary units:
1 Shiling = 100 cents

Avove is the 1998, 50 Shilingi note with the coat of arms on the front left and the parliament building on the reverse.

UAE (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)

The United Arab Emirates is an Arab country made up of 7 Sheikdoms. 6 of these joined together to form the UAE in 1971 - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, and Umm Al - Quwain . Ras al-Khaimah joined in 1972. previously they had been under the British protectorate.

Monetary units:
1 Dirham = 1000 Fils

The notes above are; the 5 dirham note from 1982 with Sharjah market on the front and on the reverse is a sea scene with a tower and a sparrow hawk on the left. The second note is the 1 Dirham note from 1973 with a camel caravan on the front and the clock tower in Sharjah on the reverse.

ANOTHER LETTER DOWN !!!

OK thats the T's over and done with , what have we missed?

Tahiti can be see here


I still have to get:

Tangier only issued 1 set of notes in 1941 also see Morocco
Texas issued from 1836-41 also see USA
Turks and Caicos Islands 1903-28 (now a British overseas territory)

TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan is a former Soviet state in Asia with its capital city as Ashgabat. In 1881, the Turkmen territory was annexed by the Russian empire. In 1924 it became the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic after fierce resistance to the Bolsheviks in the Basmachi rebellion . Turkmenistan declared independence in 1990 when Saparmurat Niyazov became president and then declared himself president for life and was described as one of the most totalitarian and repressive dictators in the world. he died in 2006 leaving his deputy prime minister to rule.

Monetary unit:

1 Manat = 500 Russian Rubles = 100 tenge  1993 - 2009
1 New Manat = 5000 old Manat

The first of the Notes above is the 2005 issue of the 50 Manat note with President Niyazov on the front and a horse on the reverse. The other note is a 1 Manat note from 1993 it has the Ylymlar Academy on the front and  the unesco site at Kunya-urgench on the reverse.

TURKEY

The Republic of Turkey is a country that strides both Europe and Asia. It's capital city is Ankara. From the early 19th century the Ottoman Empire was in decline and by the end of World War I the Ottoman empire was on the loosing side and the allies partitioned off the various parts. In 1922 , the Turkish regime had expelled all foreign troops and established modern day Turkey under the secular presidency of Mustafa Kemal - to whom they gave the title Ataturk (father of the Turks). Turkey joined NATO in 1952. Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and nine years later they recognised the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus - no other country recognises North Cyprus. In 1984 the PKK , a Kurdish separatist group started an insurgency campaign to recognise the right to be Kurdish. 

Monetary Unit:

1 Lira = 100 piastres

The first of our notes, above, are the 10 and 5 Lira notes from 1930 in the Rumi calendar or 1966 in the western calendar. Both notes have Ataturk on the front but the 10 Lira note has Maidens tower on the reverse while the 5 Lira note has the Manavgat waterfalls on it reverse.

All the notes above have their dates as 1970 (Rumi Calendar) But have slightly different dates of their actual issue. They are as follows:

100,000 Lira is from 1991 and has quite a creepy portrait of Ataturk on the front and Children presenting flowers to Ataturk on the reverse.
20,000 Lira from 1988 with Ataturk on the front and the central bank building on the reverse.
10,000 Lira from 1989 this time the reverse has the Selimiye mosque with Mimar Sinan the architect
5,000 Lira from 1990 with the Afsin-elbistan power station on the reverse.
1000 Lira from 1986 with the Istanbul coastline in the background and Fathi Sultan Mehmat on the reverse.
100 Lira from 1984 with the fort at Ankara, Mehmet Akif Ersoy with his house and a copy of his Istiklal Marsi - the Turkish National Anthem.

The 1, 5, and 10 thousand Lira notes also have dots for the visually impaired on them.

These are some of the first notes I collected. I was given around 30 of these Turkish notes, most in really bad condition along with an equal amount of Yugoslavian note too.