...Singapore - 2015 Independence Commemorative SG50 Numismatic Currency Sets

Matching Serial Numbers Set #002905

Ten Dollars (all with 2-Diamond symbol on the back)

Dated 2015

regardless of race, language or religion

Opportunity for All

Safe and Secure

Caring Community

Strong families

Two-Diamond Symbol

Fifty Dollars

Dated 2015

Reverse

 

This is the third of the 4 items that I won for the Singapore SG50 Independence (50 Years of Nation-Building 1965-2015 series) commemorative series. This is a full set of the notes all with matching serial numbers of 002905. The $50 has the prefix of 50AA whilst the rest of the $10 are all printed with 5AA with 2-diamond symbol on the back. From what I understand all these are first prefix notes. I am also aware that there are $10 first prefix 5AA notes printed with only 1-diamond symbol. The $50 is the normal note and it has a star symbol printed on the back. In collection terms, these are considered as varieties to the normal issues with one diamond symbol. Based on what we know, this Independence series comprises 12 varieties - $50 with brown serial number, $50 with brown & blue serial number, $10 x 5 with one diamond symbol and $10 x 5 with 2-diamond symbol. This Identical Numbered set was sold by the central bank, Monetary Authority of Singapore, in partnership with Noel Gifts of Singapore as the distributor. Only 5,000 sets were put together for sale at a price of S$300 per set. The sales were oversubscribed and the allocation of buyers were then done via a balloting system. In general, 5,000 sets is still a lot in collectors terms. This is one of the 11 items of the SG50 Numismatic Currency issued to celebrate the country's 50th year of independence. In my opinion, this set is worth collecting, not just because all notes have first prefixes or matching serial numbers but also with the 2-diamond symbol printed on the back of the $10 notes. The last item that I won was the $50 with a $5 Silver Proof coloured coin folder. However as I am not a coin collector, I decided not to have it and therefore won't be posting it here. Obviously this set is not with me but still in Singapore. 

 

Front Cover

...Singapore - 2015 Independence Commemorative SG50 Numismatic Currency Sets 3-in-1 Uncut

Fifty Dollars - Three In One Uncut Sheet

Dated 2015

Reverse

 

Here is another numismatic product issued to commemorate Singapore Independence Golden Jubilee 1965-2015. A total of 5000 sheets were offered to the public at an issue price of S$300 per sheet/folder. This $50 3-Uncut sheet is also printed with the special prefix/serial number of SG50 in blue and gold/brown colours (normal notes printed with just gold/brown colour and not with SG50 prefix). Based on the total single notes issued i.e. S1 (50,000), S2 (15,000), S5 (5,000), S6 (1,000), S7 (150) and S8 (100), which give us a grand total of 71,250 individual notes. However, I have sighted a single note with serial number commencing 090000+. In view of this, one can arguably say that at least 100,000 pieces were printed, unless the serial numbers used for this series were not printed in sequential order from say #000001 to #071250. Here I have not included those rejected notes that may have errors or flaws during the manufacturing process as I do not have such information with me. It is also not known if any replacement prefix is used either, however, if these notes were printed by NPA, then one would not expect any. From the above, it is fair to say that only 71,250 notes (including the 3 Uncut Sheets) were sold by Noel Gifts International Limited in various presentation folders. MAS may have retained certain quantities, either for their archive or to be sold, most likely via public auction, at a later date. Such notes would have low and fancy serial numbers printed on it, perhaps also including other uncut sheet varieties i.e. full sheet, half sheet, 8 uncut sheet etc. Your guess is as good as mine!

Front Cover

...Singapore - 2015 Independence Commemorative SG50 Numismatic Currency Sets $50

Fifty Dollars

Dated 2015

Reverse

Singapore celebrated it's Golden Jubilee Independence on 09.09.2015 and issued a set of banknotes ($50 x 1 and $10 x 5) to commemorate this special occasion. In addition to this, the Central Bank, in partnership with Noel Gifts of Singapore, also issued the following numismatic products (SG50 Numismatic Currency Sets) in special folders; -

S1 - $50 single note with special prefix SG50 in blue (qty 50,000) @S$85 each;
S2 - $50 sheet of 3-in-1 Uncut (qty 5,000) @S$400 each;
S3a - $10 sheet of 3-in-1 Uncut variety A (qty 50) @S$200 each;
S3b - $10 sheet of 3-in-1 Uncut variety B (qty 50) @S$200 each;
S3c - $10 sheet of 3-in-1 Uncut variety C (qty 50) @S$200 each;
S3d - $10 sheet of 3-in-1 Uncut variety D (qty 50) @S$200 each;
S3e - $10 sheet of 3-in-1 Uncut variety E (qty 50) @S$200 each;
S5 - Full set with matching serial numbers (qty 5,000) @S$300 each;
S6 - $50 single note with $5 Silver proof coin (qty 1,000) @S$300 each;
S7 - $50 single note with $50 Gold proof coin (qty 150) @S$1,400 each; and
S8 - Platinum set banknotes with $2 CN, $5 Silver and $50 Gold coins (qty 100) @S$2,000 each.

The above folder issues were distributed by a company called Noel Gifts International Ltd. The sales were offered to the public on a pre-order basis between 18.08.2015 and 11.09.2015. All items were sold out with the exception of item no 1. As demands exceed supply, items 2 to 11 were placed on a balloting process to determine the lucky winners. To me, this is a much fairer system as everyone has the same equal chance of getting what they wanted, rather than the first come first basis method they did in the 2007 $20 Commemorative notes set. Those who missed out on the 2007 $20 polymer commemorative notes set will know what I meant. In that serial, the entire 10,000 folder sets were sold out within 24 hours of opening to the public.

Whilst some of the items offered were very limited, especially the $10 3-Uncut sheets, it is not sure if more will be made available to collectors at a later date. I have a feeling that the above limited editions may only refer to the numismatic items in a folder issued in this content, perhaps with the exception of the $50 note (qty 50,000). Nothing was mentioned that these are the only uncut sheets ever printed available to collectors. Additional notes may be available by itself without the folder. In general, 50 sheets of 3-Uncut for the $10 note is very low, especially for such an important celebration. I am sure many local collectors would be very disappointed for not getting at least one piece. If you managed to get one at cost, then you are a very lucky person. Time will tell if we will see more of these at a later date. For the sake of the collectors, I hope we will.

Here I have posted the $50 single note with serial numbers in blue colour. The prefix for this is SG50, different from those normal issues. At the moment, the price for this issue is still very affordable if you can't get one directly from the distributor. At the time of my posting, this folder is still available for sale at Noel Gifts.

Front Cover

...Singapore - 50th Year of Independence 2015 Commemorative

Ten Dollars

Dated 2015

regardless of race, language or religion, 1 Diamond

Opportunity for all, 1 Diamond

Safe and Secure, 1 Diamond

Caring Community, 1 Diamond

Strong Families, 1 Diamond

Fifty Dollars

Dated 2015

Reverse, 1 Star

A complete set of Commemorative Polymer notes of five $10 (dated 2015) and one $50 (ND2015). Singapore, aka the little red dot, celebrates it's Independence Silver Jubilee on the 9th of August 2015. The release of these commemorative notes was first announced on 13.04.2015 and were released to the public on 20.08.2015 by 9 commercial banks throughout the island. Singapore became a self-governing State following the general election in 1959 when the Peoples' Action Party (PAP) won a landslide victory. On 16.9.1963, Singapore, Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah (North Borneo) joined together and formed a new country called Malaysia. However due to differences between Singapore and Malaya, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia and became an independent nation on 9.8.1965. Some would argue that Singapore deliberately acted and behaved in such a manner that it purposely wanted to get expelled from the Malaysia union. The reason for joining Malaysia in the first place was a strategic move to get fully independent from the British and from there by breaking away from Malaysia to become a fully independent nation. None of the Singapore PAP representatives attended the debate when they got expelled from Malaysia. This can only indicate their original intendion when joining Malaysia in the first place. This is the second time in the history of Singapore that a design of banknotes featuring the image of the late former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (b.16.9.1923-23.3.2015). The first time was also on the $50 note which was issued in 1990 to celebrate the country's 25th independence. This new $50 note (quantity 20 million pieces) is printed in gold colour which represents the country's Golden Jubilee celebration. This note is printed with a year date of 1965. The five $10 notes (total 75 million pieces) all have common front design of the portrait of the first President Yusof bin Ishak (b.12.8.2010-23.11.1970) but with varying themes on the back - "regardless of race, language or religion", "Opportunity for All", "Safe and Secure", "Strong Families" and "Caring Community, Active Citizenry". As all notes are printed with the portrait of Yusof bin Ishak, the design of the portraits between the $10 and $50 notes are not the same. The new notes are also issued in a folder with all six notes, a total of 2.8 million folders, at no extra cost. These folders are sponsored by the 9 commercial banks that distributed the new notes to the public. This is indeed a good move to ensure the citizens of this country get these notes in full at no extra cost.