...German Democratic Republic - 1949-1990 - Foreign Exchange Certificates 1979

 Deutsche Demokratische Republik

(German Democratic Republic 1949-1990)

(East Germany)

Staatsbank der Deutsche Demokratische Republik

(State Bank of Germany Democratic Republic)

Currency - Mark (DDM)

 

Here are four notes issued by the Forum Außenhandelsgesellschaft m.b.H. (Forum Foreign Trade Company m.b.H.), and all notes are dated 1979. A complete set consists of 50 pfennig, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 marks. The value of these Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC) or Forum Cheques were issued at par with the West German mark, and to enable foreigners to purchase high quality goods at specific shops (Intershops) controlled by the East Germany government. These high quality goods are usually from or associated with Western countries, and these Intershops only accept the Forum Cheques as payments and not the East German mark. 

 

The Forum Cheques were issued by the Forum Foreign Trade Company m.b.H., a subsidiary of the Commercial Coordination Department of the East Germany Foreign Trade Ministry founded in 1976. These cheques were treated just like money or West Germany marks but with restricted use. The Forum cheques were not transferable nor were they refundable. For any purchases, any changes will also be in the form of a Forum Cheque or in the forms of small goods like chocolate bars or lollipops, depending on the amount. The translation on the note is referred to as a cheque or Forum Cheque. These Forum Cheques were reportedly first issued on 16.04.1979.

 

The Intershops were founded in 1962 and its main purpose was to allow the flow of foreign hard currencies into the East Germany economy. Initially, these Intershops were out of reach for the East Germans but in 1974, the government relaxed the rule, and allowed its citizens to shop at these special shops. By 1978, there were about 100 Intershops in the country and employed up to 900 employees. Following  the fall of the Berlin Wall on 09.11.1989, these Forum Cheques can be converted back to West German mark until 31.05.1990. They then became non-legal tender at the Intershops on 30.06.1990. On 03.10.1990, these Intershops were dissolved following the unification of East and West Germany as one nation.

 

Like all East German banknotes, there are no signatures printed on them, and these Forum Cheques have no watermark either. 

Each Forum Cheque are printed with the following German test (for the 50 pfennig): -

Front

Forum Außenhandelsgesellschaft m.b.H.

Scheck über
FüNFZIG PFENNIG
zum Erwerb von Waren

Der Scheck ist vorgesehen für die Verrechnung
in Einrichtungen der "Forum" Außenhandels"
gesellschaft m.b.H.

In English Google Translation

Forum Foreign Trade Company m.b.H.

Check over 

FIFTY PENNIES 

to purchase goods 

The check is intended for clearing 

in facilities of the “Forum “Foreign Trade” 

 gesellschaft m.b.H.

 

Back

Der Scheck
ist nicht rücktauschbar
und nicht übertragbar

English

The cheque

is not returnable

and not transferable

 

I believe what I have posted here were the reminders of the unissued Forum Cheques. If not, imagine the missed opportunity to cash them back to the West German marks for the value like the 500 marks. 

Fifty Pfennig

Forum Cheque

Dimensions - 110mm x 48.5mm

 

Forum Cheque

 

One Mark

Forum Cheque

Dimensions - 116mm x 52mm

 

Forum Cheque

 

Five Mark

Forum Cheque

Dimensions - 122mm x 49.5mm

 

Forum Cheque

 

Ten Mark

Forum Cheque

Dimensions - 127mm x 58mm

 

Forum Cheque

 

Five Hundred Mark

Forum Cheque

Dimensions - 145mm x 67mm

 

Forum Cheque

...Northern Ireland, Northern Bank Limited - One Pound 1970 Training Specimen Note

 Tuaisceart Éireann

(Northern Ireland)

Northern Bank Limited (est.1824)

(now Danske Bank Limited)
Currency : Pound Sterling (GBP)

 

This is a Northern Bank Ltd bank's training specimen note issued for the purpose of assisting training the bank's tellers/staff. This note is similar to those full sets of bank's teller training banknotes issued by Note Printing Australia (NPA).

Now, coming back to this training specimen one pound note, this is a genuine note printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd, New Malden, Surrey, England. Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd was established and began printing banknotes in 1856. The company was then bought over by De La Rue in 1990. It was reported that a total of 45,000 pieces were issued/printed for training purposes and all are printed with the following text on the front and on the back in red: -

Front - SPECIMEN --- TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY ---

NOT NEGOTIABLE

Back - THIS IS A SPECIMEN OF NORTHERN BANK LTD.

CURRENCY NOTE

IT HAS NO VALUE AND MUST NOT BE NEGOTIATED

 

Whilst this one pound training specimen note has no face value as printed, it is now a collectible item especially to a banknotes collector, and as such it is worth much more than the value of one pound.

This note is printed with the date of 01.07.1970, which is also the date that Northern Bank took over the Belfast Banking Company. At the time of the takeover, the Northern Bank was owned by the Midland Bank Group. Northern Bank was acquired by the Midland Bank Group in 1965. In 1988, the National Australia Bank Ltd acquired the Northern Bank (together with Clydesdale Bank and Northern Bank (Ireland) Limited). In 2004, the Northern Bank was then sold to Danske Bank, and now trades under their brand name in Northern Ireland.

This is the first series of banknotes issued following the takeover by the Midland Bank group. All banknotes are signed by the Managing Director, but without their title printed on the notes. All the 1970 one pound notes, for both the normal circulating and training notes are all printed with the prefix C. As for the circulating note, a total of 4.0 million pieces were issued, with the two varieties of thin and thick signatures. This series of notes, from ₤1 to ₤100 went on for circulation in Northern Ireland for 18 years.

Three main industries of Northern Ireland

Front - The obverse depicts the three main industries of Northern Ireland, from L-R - agriculture, shipbuilding and linen manufacture.

 

Managing Director (not printed) - William Sydney Wilson

Watermarks - Griffin & Guineas' motif

Dimensions - 135.5mm x 67mm

Back - The reverse features the Midland Bank's 'Griffin & Guineas' motif in the middle, with the face value printed on both sides. It would be fair to say that there is nothing special about the design on the back. In fact, it looks fairly simple with limited security features too.

Midland Bank's 'Griffin & Guineas' motif

...Transnistria - One Ruble 2007(2021) Commemorative 30 Years Of Ihe PMR Financial System

Република Молдовеняскэ Нистрянэ

Приднестровская Молдавская Республика

(Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic)

Transnistrian Republican Bank
Currency : Ruble (RUP)

 

This is another one ruble overprint commemorative banknote released on 18.05.2021, for the celebration of 30 years of the PMR financial system in Transnistria.

 

This is an overprint commemorative on the current 1 ruble design similar to the 2012 (2007) modified series. A total quantity of 2,510 pieces printed with 2,500 notes sold in booklets/folders.

 

The commemorative text/logo is printed to the right side of the note where the usual watermarks are. The design consists of two numerals and a Transnistria billowing flag. The following text are also printed on the note: 

 

30 лет финансовой системе ПМР

 (30 years of the PMR financial system [in three lines])

 One Ruble

Russian General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov (b.1730-1800)

A portrait of the Russian General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov (b.1730-1800) in military uniform. General Suvorav was a Russian born military hero holding the rank of Field Marshal Generalissimo. He was the fourth Generalissimo of Russia; To the far right is the commemorative logo.

Signature - n/a

Watermarks - General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov and electrotype bank logo

Dimensions - 130.5mm x 56.5mm

Back - Kitskansk Bridgehead memorial or Chiţcani monument in Chitcani. This monument was built in 1972 (opened 09.05.1972) to commemorate victory against the German invasion during the Second World War in 1944. Chitcani is situated north of Tiraspol, the capital city of Transnistria.

 

Kitskansk Bridgehead memorial or Chiţcani monument in Chitcani

Front Cover

Footnotes:-

1) Transnistria is an unrecognised state. However, it is recognised by three other unrecognised states, like Abkhazia (Georgia) Artsakh (Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh), and South Ossetia (Georgia).

2) Independence or secession from Moldova was declared on 02.09.1990.

3) The Government of Transnistria controls a narrow strip of land (4,463 square kilometers) situated between the Dniester river and the Moldova-Ukraine border.

4) Internationally, Transnistria is recognised as part of Moldova.

5) Transnistria first introduced it's own currency on 22.08.1994. 

6) The Transnistria ruble is a non recognised currency outside its territory and as such it is not possible to exchange it into Moldovan lei or any other currencies.

7) Transnistria has a population of less than half a million people, and most people speak the Russian language.

...Scotland, The Royal Bank of Scotland - 20 Pounds Polymer Dated 02.12.2021 s.Alison Rose

Alba

Scotland

The Royal Bank of Scotland Limited (RBS)
(Founded 1727, First issuing banknotes on 08.12.1727)

Currency : Pound Sterling (GBP) 

 

Posted below is a reprint of the 2019 £20 polymer series with the new date of 02.12.2021. There is no change to the design for the previous note dated 29.01.2021, except the new date.

Twenty Pounds

Kate Cranston (b.1849-1934)

 

Front - This note honored the Scottish entrepreneur Catherine “Kate” Cranston. Her name and her year of birth/death are printed under her portrait. In the background is the image of Cranston’s Tea Rooms.

 

Signature - Alison Rose (CEO)

Dimensions - 140mm x 73.5mm

 

Back - Two playful Red Squirrels on a tree; An excerpt from the poem ‘Cupid and Venus’ by Mark Alexander Boyd; A Midge; and background imagery of botanical used in the dyeing process.

 

Two playful Red Squirrels on a tree

...Russia - 5 and 10 Rubles ND2022 Reprints

Российская Федерация

(Russian Federation)

 

Центральный банк Российской Федерации

(Central Bank of the Russian Federation)

Currency - Ruble (RUB)

 

Below are the two Russian rubles released in 2022 of 5 and 10 rubles. These two are reprints of those previously issued. The 5 rubles is the first reprint since it was first released in 1998, whilst for the 10 rubles, this is the 8th variety since it was introduced. Both notes are dated 1997. Whilst the main designs are still the same, there are minor alterations or text added to distinguish from earlier issues.

 

The value of the Russian ruble currency has depreciated substantially since February 2022, and even before that, the value for one ruble was worth around US$0.015+/- and it is interesting to know why the central bank is still printing such a small denomination and not completely replacing these with coins. However, it was reported that the central bank has ceased minting both the 5 and 10 rubles in coins and this is why these two paper banknotes are reintroduced. The current conflict and sanction against Russia must have impacted them in getting the supply of metal for the production of coins. Needless to say, these two notes did not cost me that much to acquire them for my collection.

 

Like all previous ruble banknotes, there are no signatures printed on either of the banknotes.

 

Five Rubles

Monument of the Russian Millennium

 

Front - Monument of the Russian Millennium. This monument was built in 1862 for the celebration of the millennium of Rurik's arrival to Novgorod. In the background is the St Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod. This cathedral was reportedly built between 1045 and 1050 to replace an oaken cathedral.

 

Watermark - Cathedral of St. Sophia

Dimensions - 138mm x 62mm

 

Back - A fragment of the old city wall of Novgorod.The city of Novgorod is situated about 190 km south of St Petersburg.

Old city wall of Novgorod

Ten Rubles

Bridge over the Yenisei river

 

Front - Image of a bridge over the Yenisei river in Krasnoyarsk and a steeple in the center.

 

Watermark - Steeple (a church tower or spire)

Dimensions - 151mm x 61mm

 

Back - Hydroelectric dam in Krasnoyark.

Hydroelectric dam