BURMA UNDER JAPANESE OCCUPATION

The Japanese Occupation of Burma, during World War II, lasted from 1942-1945. It ended when anti-fascist nationalist army, under the command of  Aung San, rose up and expelled the japanese forces from Burma. It was then, that independence talks begun with the Burmese and Britain which led to full independence in 1948.

the notes above are ; the 100 rupee note from 1944, the 10 rupee note from 1942/44 and the 1 rupee note from 1942. None of the notes have a date on them. both the 100 and 1 rupee notes have their numbers in the western style however the 10 rupee note has both western numerals and the roman numeral for 10 - X. All have a two lettered serial number.

see more notes from Burma / Myanmar here

TAIWANESE BANKNOTE WITH SUN YAT-SEN

Here is a 100 Yuan note from Taiwan (Republic of China) That was picked up by my friend Gillian on a brief stopover on her way to Australia. It has Dr Sun Yat Sen co-founder of the Kuomintang. on the reverse , I think, is the Sun Yat Sen memorial hall in Guangzhou.

More Taiwanese banknotes here .

QR CODES STAMPED ON MONEY TO CIRCUMVENT CHINA'S GREAT FIREWALL

When shopping for groceries in a supermarket in Wuhan the other day, Mrs. Wu received for her change four one yuan notes, each with symbols on them that she had never seen before. 

Underneath a black and white square of pixellated dots—which had evidently been stamped onto the note—were the words: “Scan and download software to break the Internet firewall.”

Wu took the bank notes to the Wuhan Evening News, and the story then went national. Even the Communist Party’s mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, reposted the article on its website. 

In comments responding to the news articles, and in remarks made on Sina Weibo, a popular microblogging platform in China, users wrote about how they had themselves encountered notes with the symbols, called QR codes, on them. 

The Codes

QR codes can be scanned, like a barcode scanner in a supermarket, by mobile devices. They then automatically take the user to a website. In this case, it goes to a Google short link that redirects to an Amazon cloud link, where a software file may be downloaded.

QR codes are not unusual, nor are efforts to circumvent the Internet blockade, but Chinese Internet users were fascinated by the way the matter was appearing in media across China: it was an admission that there is an Internet firewall in China and that there are established ways to get around it. 

Most curious of all, perhaps, was the identity of the individuals who likely stamped the QR codes onto the money. Though there is no way of definitively proving who is responsible in this case, putting messages on money is a tactic long used by practitioners of Falun Gong, a traditional spiritual practice that has been persecuted in mainland China since 1999. 

Meeting a Need

Anyone, in fact, can download the QR codes from the website dongtaiwang.com, which belongs to Dynamic Internet Technology, a company that produces the Freegate circumvention software.

Typically, a website that hosted anti-censorship software would itself be censored. But Bill Xia, the president of Dynamic Internet Technology, said in a telephone interview that there are ways to disguise the URL at the time that its scanned, so that users can still access a page from which they can download the software to their smartphones. If the Chinese authorities wanted to block these links, they would probably have to cut off access to Amazon Web Services, where the files are stored. Blocking Amazon in China could have serious business ramifications.

He said that it only works on Android and PC operating systems at this stage. 

“We found this usage of the QR codes interesting,” Xia said. “We did get input from China, user feedback that we should provide QR codes so they can distribute them in China,” he said. “It’s interesting to see that it’s actually happening and see the news get publicized.”

The reports in China did not indicate that practitioners of Falun Gong may have been behind the effort to stamp the notes. The report identified the code as an “advertisement,” and warned readers “never to try scan it.” 

But netizens seemed unswayed. Many left their sentiments in the comments sections of popular websites. “I often see Falun Dafa words [printed on money],” said netizen yubos1. Another remarked: “Whoever has seen one yuan bills with words stamped on it will understand what the code is about.”

Another user, woaixuneng520, wrote: “I tried to scan it. Oh my! I can finally watch YouTube.”

Some were disappointed with the blurry photographs that the newspapers published of the bank notes with the codes on them. “Can’t the reporter take a clearer picture? I scanned my screen for so long,” one user said.

“It’s so useful,” wrote Qingwenwoding. “Only when you break through the firewall can you see China clearly.”  

Those Who Stamp

Soon after the persecution of Falun Gong started in 1999, practitioners of the discipline began using a variety of nonviolent ways to inform the Chinese people about it. The regime has attempted to shut down independent information about both the practice and the persecution, while also spreading anti-Falun Gong propaganda to justify their actions. The use of QR codes on banknotes—or posted onto telephone poles on the street—is the latest development in this strategy. 

Hu Ping, the chief editor of Beijing Spring, a pro-democracy magazine, said in a telephone interview: “We all know that Falun Gong has contributed a lot in developing circumvention software, which has helped break the Internet blockade. The recent reports, especially in official media, will obviously expand the profile of Falun Gong in China.”

Hu added that, given that the persecution of the practice was highly contentious even inside the Communist Party, and was one of the pet projects of the political foes of current leader Xi Jinping, the appearance of these news articles may be a kind of warning to that faction—which includes the recently troubled security czar Zhou Yongkang and former regime leader Jiang Zemin—not to attempt a political comeback.

full story here  : The Epoch Times.com

LATVIA GOES EURO

Latvia’s dual circulation period, when payments could still be made in lats but change was given in euro, came to an end yesterday. The euro is now the sole legal tender in Latvia, which, on 1 January 2014, became the 18th Member State of the European Union to join the euro area.

“The introduction of the euro in Latvia marks yet another milestone in the country’s successful integration into the European project”, said Yves Mersch, member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank. “And it highlights the continuing attractiveness of the euro and the euro area.”

“The smooth changeover results from excellent cooperation between all stakeholders involved – be they Latvian or pan-European”, he added. “But the long-lasting success of the euro in Latvia will depend on the commitment of the people.”

The introduction of euro banknotes and coins has brought to a close months of preparation for the cash changeover by the Latvian authorities. The changeover has progressed smoothly and in line with the national changeover plan devised by a commission of government experts, involving Latvijas Banka and chaired by the Latvian Ministry of Finance. Major private-sector stakeholders in the cash life cycle have played an essential part too. A public campaign providing information about euro banknotes and coins, their design and security features, key dates and other details of the changeover is under way. According to an opinion poll conducted in December 2013 by TNS, a market research group, on behalf of the ECB, 71% of Latvians said they felt prepared for the introduction of the euro.

From a logistical point of view, one of the key elements of the cash changeover plan was the distribution, starting last November, of euro banknotes and coins to banks as well as to retailers and other businesses. It ensured that euro banknotes and coins were widely available in automated teller machines and shops’ cash registers, for instance. By the end of 2013, 17.4 million euro banknotes worth €246.7 million and 125.4 million euro coins worth €36.5 million had been supplied to banks, of which 6 million banknotes and 66 million coins had been passed on to retailers and others. In December last year, banks and post offices also offered some 700,000 coin starter kits containing euro coins with a combined face value of €14.23. The kits enabled people to pay exact amounts in shops and thus reduced the amount of change needed by shopkeepers.

To cover the initial requirements – including the amounts needed for supplying euro cash to banks – and the likely demand in 2014 and beyond, Latvijas Banka has borrowed 110.30 million euro banknotes with a face value of €3.12 billion from the Eurosystem’s stocks. 400 million Latvian euro coins with a face value of €98.80 million have been produced by the State Mints of Baden-Württemberg in Germany.

Latvijas Banka will exchange lats banknotes and coins free of charge at the official conversion rate of EUR 1 = LVL 0.702804 for an indefinite period. 302 post offices in Latvia will do the same until 31 March 2014. Latvian banks will likewise offer this service, free of charge, until 30 June 2014.

Outside Latvia, the national central banks of the euro area will exchange lats banknotes for euro at the official rate until 28 February 2014, free of charge. The amount that can be exchanged is limited to €1,000 for any given party/transaction on any one day.

Original press release here 

A new €10 banknote will enter into circulation on 23 September, European Central Bank executive board member Yves Mersch announced today.

The banknote is the second banknote of the “Europa” series to be introduced, following the €5 banknote which was introduced last year. The Europa series banknotes are being introduced gradually, in ascending order, over several years to give enough time to all parties to prepare for a smooth introduction.

The Europa series banknotes bear a clear resemblance to the ones first issued in 2002, although they been given a fresh look and has several new and enhanced security features. These security features include a portrait of the Greek mythological figure Europa in the hologram and in the watermark, and an emerald number which changes colour from emerald green to deep blue when tilted.

As was the case with the original series of banknotes, the new banknotes can be easily checked manually and visually through the “feel, look and tilt” method.

The new banknotes are also more durable as they have a protective coating, which will save costs and reduce their environmental impact in the long run as they will need to be replaced less frequently.

670,000 counterfeit euro banknotes discovered in 2013

The ECB also announced that a total of 670,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation last year, with 317,000 banknotes withdrawn in the first six months of the year and 353,000 withdrawn in the following six.

The number of counterfeit banknotes identified was thus higher than in 2011 and 2012, when 606,000 and 531,000 counterfeit banknotes were withdrawn from circulation respectively.

But the ECB pointed out that the proportion of counterfeits actually remains very low. Over 15 billion euro banknotes are presently in circulation, which means that the number of counterfeit banknotes withdrawn represents less than 0.0005% of the total number.

And the new Europa series banknotes, with their enhanced security features, are set to help ensure that the eurozone remains a step ahead of counterfeiters.

Over 75% of counterfeits in the second half of 2013 were €20 and €50 banknotes.

from Malta Independent


you can see the security features listed here

A LOVELY CHRISTMAS GIFT

The last 5 post all contained notes from the same seller - world paper money - on ebay and as a nice gesture they included the notes above as a bonus gift, which was really nice. although I already have a 10p british armed forces note, i didn't have the bank of England one pound note. This one pound note was issue between 1949 and 1955 but doesn't use a date on it this one has the P S Beale signature on it that dates it .

More from the bank of England Here

More from British armed forces Here

And links to banknote news about Britain here and here and here

you can also see the row about lack of women on British banknotes Here

ANOTHER NOTE FROM BURUNDI

This is a 50 Franc note from Burundi issued in 2005. it has a man in a dugout canoe on the front and more men and a canoe  as well as a hippo on the reverse.

The Flag of Burundi

See more from Burundi here

THE POLYMER 5 QUETZALES

This lovely Note is a Polymer note from Guatemala. It is the 5 Quetzales note dated as 2010 but the Guatemalan bank says that the polymer version wasn't issued until 2011!! it has a portrait of Justo Rufino Barrios, a reformer president of Guatamala. The reverse is a picture of a school.

For more details on each of the components of the note see Here (in spanish)

more Guatemalan notes here 

A SCARY MAN FROM SIERRA LEONE

This note is the 1000 Leones note from Sierra Leone, issued in 2010. On the front, described by my friend Gillian as " a scary man", is Bai Bureh, a ruler in Sierra Leone and led an uprising against the British in 1898. On the reverse is a satellite communications dish.The Watermark is the head of a Lion.

See more notes from Sierra Leone here 

NEW LIBYAN DINAR

This is the newest 1 dinar note from Libya. the first issue after the Revolution/ Arab spring  in 2011/12 were reworkings of the previous notes with all traces on Gaddafi removed but this one is a new design issued in 2013. It has Anti- Gaddafi protestors on the front and the the Libyan flag and peace doves on the reverse.

More Libyan notes here

MORE FROM AFGHANISTAN

Here we have a wee collection of notes from afghanistan (see here for more) starting with the 1000 Afghani note from 1991 (1370 SH) with the blue mosque (mazar-e-sharif) on the front and the victory arch near kabul on the reverse. the next one is the 500 Afghani note which is a better one than the one already listed here.

the next note is the 100 Afghani note from 1979 (SH 1358) featuring the bank coat of arms and a farmer on the front and the Naghlu hydroelectric dam on the reverse. Finally , again from 1979 (SH 1358), is the 50 Afghani note with the , now ruined, Dar al Aman palace