Friday, July 27, 2007

Brunei's Latest $500 Polymer Note


This $500 polymer note was issued sometime last year to replace the old paper note. Many Bruneians did not realise it but then not that many people deal with $500 note, so you can't blame them. My mother was one and she kept hers as she thought this was a very special note. I told her it was just the normal note and if she wants to keep it, it's okay but then she can get one anytime as this is a normal circulation note. I saw it being sold on ebay with a 25% to 40% premium.

The most unusual thing about this issue is that it does not have the potrait of the reigning Sultan. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah wanted to honour and remember his father and hence the potrait of his father on this new $500 note. The last time, Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Saadul Khairi Waddien appeared on the Brunei notes was in 1967 and that was replaced in 1972. That time too, the 1967 series only go from $1, $5, $10, $50 and $100. I guess this new $500 note can be an extension of the 1967 series.

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