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The commemorative, polymer, non-circulating 1-dinar note issued to celebrate the second anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait (No. CS1 in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money) was prepared with replacement notes. The replacement note is slightly strange in that the only distinguishing feature of the note is the serial number. The serial number on all notes is CK 000091. The 'CK' represents 'Central Bank of Kuwait' and the '91' represents the year of the war. Had one of the notes been seen in isolation, it may be suspected that it was a normal note with a peculiar serial number. However, Trevor Wilkin (an Australian banknote dealer) has acquired a number of these notes and they are all the same. Trevor has checked the background to the preparation of these notes and has been advised by an impeccable source that a number of these notes were specifically prepared by Note Printing Australia, with this serial number, to be issued as replacement notes to the Central Bank of Kuwait. It is strange that they are described as 'replacement' notes, as it is unusual to see replacement notes with the same serial numbers. They might be thought more as sample notes (or even specimen notes), but the source advising Trevor Wilkin has clearly identified them as replacement notes, with the special serial number evidently requested by the Central Bank of Kuwait. (If you are interested in obtaining one of these notes, contact Trevor at trevorsnotes@bigpond.com ) [Submitted by Trevor Wilkin -- December 2001]
The new Bahraini 20-dinar note was released on 16 December 2001. The press release states:
On the occasion of the National Day, the Bahrain Monetary Agency wishes to announce to the general public that, with effect from 16th December 2001, it will issue a new BD20 banknote, which will be legal tender. This new banknote will circulate alongside the existing banknotes currently in circulation. The main feature of the new banknote is that the obverse bearing the portrait of H.H. the Amir of the State of Bahrain and this new banknote has the same features that are existing in the current BD20 banknote.
The Press Release, with an image of the note, can be viewed at http://www.bma.gov.bh/pr_new_note.htm [Submitted by Chris Zellweger -- December 2001]
A new 500-rial note appears to have crept into circulation, without any attention being drawn to it. An image of the note can be viewed at the web-site of the Central Bank of Yemen at http://www.centralbank.gov.ye/current_currency.htm If anyone has any information on when this note was released, I'd be interested to learn of these details. [Submitted by Aaron Seeskin -- December 2001]
Mahdi Bseiso reports that The Central Bank of Jordan
has decided to re-introduce the 1 Dinar Banknote and put it in circulation
once again. After a long stop in printing this value a new version
was put in circulation starting Oct.1, 2001. The note (P.29) is exactly
the same except that it has the date of issue as 2001 and it has
new signatures. So now there are three types of this note:
a - 1995 sign. 19
b- 1996 sign. 21
c- 2001 sign. ?? Governor
Dr Ummaya Toukan -- Minister of Finance Dr Michel Marto
[Submitted by Mahdi Bseiso -- October 2001]
Note: If you have a spare couple of minutes, I suggest that you visit Mahdi's website at -- http://www.come2jordan.com/money/ It is a great reference site for Jordanian notes.
After some time, a current 1-dinar note from Bahrain has been located with a security thread that is solid. It would appear that we may now find other denominations with micro-printed threads in future (as suspected) and we may find the 5-dinar note with a solid thread. Keep your eyes open! [Submited by Ray On - October 2001]
The 500-dirham note has been issued with the 2000 date. It will, of course, be only a matter of time before all denominations get refreshed. (But will they ever refresh the 200-dirham note?) [Submited by Ray On - October 2001]
Pakistan banknotes with overprints of 'Bangladesh' in English and Bengali have been reported for many years, but have remained relatively scarce on the collector market. These notes were apparently overprinted during the Civil War that led to the independence of Bangladesh. For as long as the notes have been known to exist, there has been debate over their origin. Were the overstamps simply the result of civil disobedience, or did the provisional government of Bangladesh order the overprints? Unfortunately the verdict is still out on this matter. However, over the past twelvemonths (or less) many of these notes have found their way onto the collector market. What has become apparent, as the notes become available, is that there is a variety of overprints in English as well as Bengali. The obvious question is 'Are they forgeries'. I believe not! It is difficult to be absolutly definite about these notes, but everything about them is consistent with the overprints being executed during 1971. In addition to the known notes coming on to the market, there are three other notes (not listed in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money) recently seen. One of the new notes with an overprint is the brown 10-rupee note with the portrait of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, which was issued in 1970. The second note is the 100-rupee note and the third is the 500-rupee note. The othe higher denomination notes are known to have existed, but none had so far been recorded as surviving. An article in a June 1970 edition of 'Dawn', an English language newspaper published in Karachi, had shown a photograph of one of the 500-rupee notes with an overprint. However all the 100- and 500-rupee note were demonetized in June 1970 and possession of overprinted notes became illegal. The 500-rupee note sold recently on e-bay for US$229.00 and the 100-rupee note sold for US$38.00. [Peter Symes -- September 2001]
The varieties of 1000-shilling notes from Somalia continue to appear. The latest variety with seven numerals in the serial number have hit the market, but the font is the same as for a previous issue. Evidently, Somalia is a mess with no real government in charge. Several small areas of Somalia have broken away into smaller states. Somaliland has broken away for some years now, but other areas such as Puntland are now declaring their autonomy. It appears that several of the leaders (loosely referred to as 'Warlords') are now commissioning the printing of the banknotes. Apparently only 1000-shilling notes are being replicated. It is uncertain what can be called official and what is simply printed to provide a medium of exchange. Check the page on Somalia to see the current differences. [Peter Symes -- August 2001]
For some time there have been varieties of the 1000-shilling note from Somalia appearing on the market. Most collectors will be aware of the two original varieties. These are dated 1990 and 1996 and carry a series number commencing with 'D'. It is interesting to note, however, that the fonts for the serial numbers on these notes are different. Over recent times the following three varieties have appeared:
Each of the five varieties (including the original 'D' series notes) have different fonts used for the serial numbers, with the exception of the 'M' and 'G' series which use the same font. The 'A' series of notes are believed to have been issued in Puntland, which has claimed some autonomy, although evidently not independence, from Somalia. This note is different to the others in that the number '1000' on the front of the note is printed in green, as opposed to purple on the other notes. It is possible that there are other varitities of this note about, as it is believed that many of the 'warlords' are printing their own notes. It is also believed that this is the only denomination being used to any extent in circulation. [Peter Symes -- September 2001]
It now appears that Kuwait has two new Ministers of Finance signing the notes. Just after it was discovered that Ahmed al-Abdullah al-Ahmed al-Sabah was signing the notes as the Minister of Finance. it now appears that there is an even more recent signatory -- Dr. Yousef al-Ibrahim (also as Minister of Finance). Only four notes with the new signatures have been positively identified so far. These notes are the 1/4- and 1-Dinar notes with with the signature of Ahmed al-Abdullah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, and the 5- and 20-Dinar notes with Dr. Yousef al-Ibrahim. The new signatures and the serial numbers identified so far on the Page for Kuwait . [August 2001]
Pakistan has re-released the 1-rupee note after deciding to phase out this denomination. The 1-rupee note is the same as the last issue, but it carries the signature of Mohammed Younus Khan (Secretary of Finance). The reason for the release of this note is that the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation (PSPC) had a stock of these notes printed, but they carried no serial number or signature. The Ministry of Finance asked for the notes to be destroyed, but the PSPC refused to do so until the notes were paid for. Having been forced to pay for the notes, the Ministry of Finance decided to put the notes to good use and issued them with the new signature. [Submitted by Dr. Munaf Billoo - July 2001]
It has been discovered that a mistake exists on the 5-dinar note issued in Kuwait during the late 1980s and early 1990s. This is No.14b in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money. When the 'b' variety of notes in this series was introduced, micro printing was added to the notes. Micro printing in English was added to the front of the notes and micro printing in Arabic was added to the back of the notes. In all cases the micro printing read 'Central Bank of Kuwait'. The error on the 5-dinar note is that the Arabic micro printing actually reads 'Central Bank of Yemen'. (The English micro printing on the front of the note reads 'Central Bank of Kuwait'.) [Submitted by Aaron Seeskin - July 2001]
It is quite amazing that this error was not picked up, and interesting that it has remained unknown for such a period. Thomas De La Rue (TDLR), who printed the notes were also printing a 20-rial note with micro printing for Yemen at this time and it appears that someone at TDLR made a mistake when preparing the printing plate for the Kuwaiti 5-dinar note.
A new 20-pound note dated 18/3/2001 has been issued in Egypt. The note has a segmented security thread and an OVD rosette on the front of the note. [Submitted by Nazir Rehmatulla - July 2001]
A new polymer 'non-legal' tender note has been released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait. [April 2001]
The 5-, 10-, 20- and 50-rial notes have been released with a foil strip running near the right-hand edge of the note. [March 2001]
A new 100-taka note was released on 15 March. The note
is blue and carries a portrait of Sheikh Mujib on its front. It is the same
size as the 500-taka note and is printed on the same paper, with the same
watermark and security thread.
A polymer 10-taka note was issued on 14 December 2000 in limited amounts.
The bulk of the notes were released on 15 March 2001 with the new 100-taka
notes. [March 2001]
All notes now released in the new series (no denomination showing over the watermark). The 1000-dirham note has been released with a date of '2000'. [Submitted by Murray Hanewich - Feb. 2001]
The £100 note has been released with modifications.
The major differences are: The date is: 2000/9/7 (no longer the code) on
the left side, Signature is #19, Prefix is N/18.
On the left side of upper serial number there is a white circle with two
curves on it, which combined with another circle on the back - same position
- make up an "Egyptian Eye". The background shadow behind the mosque is
different, it also has some yellow/orange dots on both sides of the note.
[Submitted by Armen Hovsepian - Jan. 2001]
Kuwait: It is understood that a one
dinar polymer note is to be issued. It will not circulate widely but unlike
the previous one, this one will be legal tender. It is suggested that the
number issued may be as low as 250,000.
Oman: It has been reported that a holographic band has
been added to the current 5, 10 and 20 R notes. None of the new notes has
yet been seen.
Egypt: The current 100 pound note has been enhanced.
Details are as yet unknown.
[Submitted by Nazir Rahemtulla - Jan. 2001]