Friday, February 29, 2008

Singapore $5 Polymer Banknote, UNC


Singapore Polymer $5 Portrait, UNC.
Fancy Serial Number 040404.


This is a hard-to-find piece of uncirculated polymer banknote bearing the prefix of 2DD and a fancy number 040404.

Sold to a returned customer at Yahoo! Auctions Singapore.

SOLD!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Singapore $10 Polymer Banknotes, New Series


Singapore $10 Polymer, signed GCT, 10 pieces of uncirculated banknotes. Sold!

On February 1, a new series of $10 polymer banknotes was released for circulation.

Many prefixes starting with the number 2 were issued, and I believe the prefix 2BA is amongst those early prefixes released. It might even be the first prefix of this new series of banknotes.

Now at least one of my customers has indeed confirmed prefix 2BA to be the first prefix of this series of banknotes.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

A New Series of $10 Polymer Banknotes


Singapore $10 Polymer Banknotes, signed GCT, 10 pieces of consecutive numbers, UNC. SOLD!

On February 1, a new series of $10 polymer banknotes was released for circulation.

Many prefixes starting with the number 2 were issued, and I believe the prefix 2BA is amongst those early prefixes released. It might even be the first prefix of this new series.

This set of banknotes has been sold to one of my regular customers at Yahoo! Auctions Singapore.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Angpow Envelops from Marriott Hotel


One Big, One Small.
It's interesting to place the 2007 large longish angpow or hongbao envelop beside the 2008 small squarish envelop, both issued by Marriott Hotel in downtown Singapore, and see the difference in sizes.

Is it the green campaign to save some paper that successful, or is it a corporate decision to save some money inspite of the booming tourist trade?

I guess the price of paper and the cost of printing have gone up. That's why I could only collect loose pieces and not a whole packet from this hotel. Sold!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Angpow Red Packets from Hotels


Collecting red packets of angpow or hongbao envelops issued by hotels downtown is a good way to check out the booming business of the tourist trade.

You get to see the number of tourists checking in and out at the reception desks of those hotels downtown.

Besides, you get an opportunity to meet the front desk staff to find out how courteous or otherwise if they are performing their tasks dutifully or not.

Check out those packets above, from left to right: Orchard Hotel, Park Hotel Group, and Le Meridien.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Angpow Red Packets from Reluctant Companies


I have been a customer of Pacific Internet Singapore (PACNET) and AmFraser Securities Pte Ltd for several years.

About two weeks before this Lunar New Year 2008, I'd requested for some packets of angpow or hongbao envelops from these two corporations, but those items didn't reach me by post before February 7.

On February 11, I'd called up the customer service departments of these two corporations about this matter and I'd received these few packets (as shown above) within two days, and AmFraser Securities Pte Ltd had even sent me a 2008 desk calendar.

Are these corporations reluctant to give away what are meant to be gifts for their customers? If that is the case, then why would they want to spend money and print those items every year?

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Angpow Red Packets from Other Companies


Here are a few more angpow red packets that I'd received from some other companies downtown.

From left to right: Singapore Post, Aviva, and Häagen-Dazs.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Angpow Red Packets from Consumer Electronics Retailers


During this festive Lunar New Year season, several consumer electronics retailers give packets of angpow or hongbao envelops to their customers.

From left to right: Kadeka, Sanyo, Gain City, and Rinnai.

Angpow Red Packets from Shopping Malls


During this festive Lunar New Year season, several shopping malls and departmental stores downtown give packets of angpow or hongbao envelops to their customers, but quite reluctantly to anyone who requests for those packets.

Check out those packets, from left to right: Tangs (CK Tang Building), Robinsons (CentrePoint), CapitaLand Retail (Raffles City), and CityLink Mall (Raffles City).

Angpow Red Packets from Goldsmiths


During this festive Lunar New Year season, several goldsmiths and jewelry shops downtown give packets of angpow or hongbao envelops to their customers and anyone who requests for those packets.

From left to right: GoldHeart, Poh Heng, TianPo, and Lee Hwa.

Angpow Red Packets from Commercial Banks


During this festive Lunar New Year season, many commercial banks downtown give packets of angpow or hongbao envelops to their customers and anyone who requests for those packets.

From left to right: RHB, Maybank, UOB, CIMB, Standard Chartered, DBS, Singapura Finance, Bangkok Bank, Bank of China, and OCBC.

Angpow Red Packets from POSB


For the past two weeks, the POSB gives red packets of angpow or hongbao envelops to its customers who celebrate the coming Lunar New Year.

The POSB also gives half A4-size envelops to customers who exchange their old banknotes for brand new stacks of banknotes.

These large envelops are meant for customers to store those stacks of banknotes, and I think they are nice souvenirs for collection too.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Singapore $2 Polymer Banknote, UNC


Fancy Serial Number 494949.

More than a week ago, I'd discovered this piece of banknote bearing a fancy number when I'd exchanged for two new 100-piece stacks of $2 polymer banknotes from a neighborhood bank.

Sold to a returned customer at Yahoo! Auctions Singapore.

A New Stack of $10 Polymer Banknotes


Singapore $10 Polymer Banknotes, signed GCT, UNC.

During this festive Lunar New Year season, brand new stacks (100 pieces per stack) of $10 polymer banknotes like this are available from many banks downtown and several banks in the neighborhood.

Ring made of Sterling Silver


925 Hallmark.
Never Been Used Before.

Some ten years ago, a seller inside a shopping center downtown had a dozen silver rings like this piece for sale and I'd bought one at a relatively cheap price.

At that time, the price of silver was only a few dollars per ounce.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Guanyin 22K Gold Pendant, 916 Fineness


Never Been Used Before.
At least 7.70 grams of Pure Gold.
8.45 grams gross weight.
22K Gold Hallmark.

Bought in 1999 from a goldsmith shop situated inside Holiday Plaza, Johor Baru, this Goddess of Mercy or Guanyin pendant weighs exactly 8.45 grams, as stated in its cash receipt. It has a pure gold content of 7.74 grams.

Sold to a returned customer on January 31, 2008 at current gold bullion price of US$925 per troy ounce. One troy ounce equals 31.1035 grams, and US$1.00 exchanges for S$1.42. Sold!


Heavy Ring made of 24K Pure Gold, 999 Fineness


Pre-Owned, Lightly Used.
At least 9.40 grams of Pure Gold.
Tin Sing Pure Gold Hallmark.

Although this ring is made of 999 fineness gold, it doesn't get out of shape that easily 'coz it's thick and heavy.

Bought in 1960 from Tin Sing Goldsmiths situated in Chinatown, this ring weighs exactly 9.44 grams.

Never know a small item like this ring has up to six hallmarks on its inner surface.

Sold to a returned customer on January 31, 2008 at current gold bullion price of US$925 per troy ounce. One troy ounce equals 31.1035 grams, and US$1.00 exchanges for S$1.42. Sold!

Friday, February 1, 2008

Crusaders


Crusaders, Key DVD, 2005, NTSC1 (Region Code 1), Widescreen, Color, 199 mins. Made in USA.

Bought from an on-line DVD store in USA, this three-hour DVD was shipped by airmail half-way round the world to Singapore about one year ago.