Vietnam - 1975 - 5,000 Dong - P35

Country / Region: Vietnam
Continent: Asia

Denomination: 5,000 Dong

Year: 1975
Grade: Uncirculated
Face Value (as at 2013.03.15): about USD0.24
Pick: 35
Dimension: 152 mm x 75 mm

Figure (Obverse): Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City

Figure (Reverse): The Leopard

Helen's Score: 6.2/10 (apparently she’s not very fond of the fierce leopard… I personally give this one a 9 at least!)

Interesting Fact: This is it - the legendary “The Leopard” banknote from Vietnam! I’m thrilled to be able to finally add this fine gem (what’s more, in UNC) to collection. It seems that while The Leopard is really sought after, not many stories related to it are widely available on the Internet. Would really appreciate if anyone could point me to sources where I can learn more about its related history. From what I can find now (a nice single informative page here), the economy of South Vietnam made a turn for the worse and inflation soared in 1973-74. The government issued 5,000 and 10,000 dong banknotes despite public disapproval. Accordingly, they were only used 2 months before The Fall of Saigon. One can imagine that most of the printed banknotes were destroyed amidst the turmoil. However, a very few of these manage to survive, and have since become one of the most sought-after post-modern banknotes.

Country / Region: Armenia

Continent: Eurasia

Denomination: 100,000 Dram

Year: 2009

Grade: Uncirculated

Face Value (as at 2013.01.23): about USD246.65

Pick: 54
Dimension: 160 mm x 72 mm

Figure (Obverse): Abgar V of Edessa

Figure (Reverse): St. Thaddeus transferring the image of Christ to Abgar V of Edessa

Interesting Fact: Having received this splendid banknote on the day of our 2nd wedding anniversary is really great. Personally I think this note should have been a runaway winner of Banknote of 2009; instead the honor goes to the 2-dollar note from Bermuda. It's also beautiful, of course, but I like the Bermuda banknotes as a set (Flora & Fauna) rather than a standalone note from the series. What I find especially interesting is the back side of the 100,000 Dram note, which depicts St. Thaddeus transferring a portrait of the Christ painted from life to Abgar V. Quoting Wikipedia, "...As the legend later expanded, this portrait, purportedly painted by the court archivist Hannan during his visit to Jesus, is first mentioned in the Syriac text called the "Doctrine of Addai" (or Doctrina Addai; the name Addaei or Addaeus = Thaddaeus or Thaddeus), from the second half of the 4th century. Here it is said that the reply of Jesus was given not in writing, but orally, and that the event took place in 32 AD. This Teaching of Addai is also the earliest account of an image of Jesus painted from life, enshrined by the ailing King Abgar V in one of his palaces." Would be interesting if I could learn more on this.

Country / Region: Bhutan

Continent: Asia

Denomination: 1,000 Ngultrum

Year: 2008

Grade: Uncirculated

Face Value (as at 2012.06.25): about USD17.50

Pick: 34

Figure (Obverse): Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Figure (Reverse): Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu

Interesting Fact: King Wangchuck is seen wearing the Raven Crown (dbu-zhva bya-rog-can), which is the most distinguished symbol of the King of Bhutan. The Raven is the national bird of Bhutan. Killing a raven in Bhutan would lead to death penalty at one time.

One thing that caught my attention is the rim of the Raven Crown, which is decorated with the motif of tantric skull. The tantric skulls are decorations associated with wrathful deities. You can find out more information about the crown here.

King Wangchuck has been called “The world's most handsome king”. He married Queen Jetsun Pema on 13 October 2011 and issued a commemorative note for the occasion. It has since become my favorite banknote from Bhutan. Will post it up later.

Country / Region: Japan
Continent: Asia
Denomination: 1,000 Yen
Year: 1963
Grade: Fine+
Face Value (as at 2012.06.17): about USD12.70
Pick: 96
Figure (Obverse): Itō Hirobumi
Figure (Reverse): The headquarters of Nippon Ginkō

Story: Probably the very first note that got me on this journey. My father used to work in a multi-national firm where he often had to go to Japan for short-term business trips. I remembered one time when my mother and I visited him in Tokyo, and a Kitazawa-san treated our family to dinner. Til now, the wagyu beef that night remained the best wagyu I had ever tasted :)

When my father returned from one of his numerous business trips, some time when I was four, he brought this note home, and somehow it ended up in my possession :) As you can see from the scan, the condition is nowhere near perfect, with brown stains on top and several folds on both sides. But this is and would always be a banknote that I will never give away.

By the way, Happy Father’s Day.

Interesting Fact: Hirobumi is the 1^st Prime Minister of Japan. He was one of the five長州五傑 (Chōshū Goketsu), chosen ones who studied in England from 1863 at University College London. It was illegal to leave Japan then as sakoku (鎖國) was still in place. As the story goes, Mr. Weigal, a manager of Jardine Matheson in Yokohama, disguised the young men as English sailors and brought them aboard on a vessel to Shanghai, where they were sheltered on an opium storage ship before dividing into two groups for the long voyage to London.

Supposedly, the captain of the first vessel took the boys onboard at 1,000 ryō (両) each. Exactly 100 years later, Hirobumi showed up on the national 1,000 yen banknote.