...Myanmar - 500 and 1000 Kyats ND2020 Commemorative

ပြည်ထောင်စု သမ္မတ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်‌

(Republic of the Union of Myanmar)

Central Bank of Myanmar est.1948
Currency : Kyat (MMK)

Here are the two notes both issued in 2020. The 1000 kyats note was issued on 04.01.2020 to coincide with the 72nd Year of Independence anniversary (04.01.1948) from the British. The 500 kyats note was released on 19.07.2020, which is also celebrated as Martyr's Day in Myanmar. This is the day in 1947 when several leaders of Myanmar's (Burma) independence movement were gunned down including their leader Aung San. For this purpose, I have also posted these two notes on my Commemorative site as commemorative issues as well.

Like many of Burma/Myanmar previous issues, this note also features the nation's independent hero, Major General Aung San (1915-1947). Aung San was first a communist, then a revolutionary and then a nationalist. He is considered a national hero for gaining independence of Burma from the British. However, he didn't live to see his achievement as he was assassinated allegedly by Galon U Saw (b.1990-1948) on 19.07.1947. U Saw was the Prime Minister of British Burma from 1940 to 1942. 

Five Hundred Kyats

Major General Aung San (1915-1947)

 

Front - Major General Aung San (1915-1947). His birth name was Htein Lin and was born in Natmauk in central British Burma. He was assassinated in 1947 when he was 32 years old during a cabinet meeting held in Yangon (Rangoon). The assassination was blamed on Galon U Saw who was once the Prime Minister of British Burma from 1940 to 1942. U Saw was then hanged in 1948. However, there were few conspiracy theories regarding Aung San's murder and rumour has it that British officers were involved in the murder. Unfortunately, until now no one knows who ordered the killing. Your guess is as good as mine.

 

Watermark - portrait facing left and electrotype value in Burmese

Dimensions - 152mm x 71mm

 

Back - Central Bank of Myanmar building. The bank was established in 1948 and was previously known as Union Bank of Burma. Its headquarter is based in Nay Pyi Taw (Naypyidaw) and has branches in two other major cities - Yangon and Mandalay

Central Bank of Myanmar building

One Thousand Kyats

Major General Aung San (1915-1947)

 

Front - Major General Aung San (1915-1947).

 

Watermark - portrait facing right and electrotype value in Burmese

Dimensions - 151.5mm x 71.5mm

 

Back - Pyithu Hluttaw building (Parliament) in Naypyitaw (capital city of Myanmar since 2006). The parliament is made up of two houses - House of Nationalities (224 members - Upper House) and House of People's Representatives (440 members - Lower House).

Pyithu Hluttaw complex in Naypyidaw