Philippine

Philippine 2 Piso 1978 UNC
Front: Jose Rizal
Back: Declaration of Independence on 12 June 1898

Rizal on the obverse side of a 1970 Philippine peso coin

Rizal, on the 2000 Philippine peso coin

Rizal as a student at the University of Santo Tomas.

Rizal, 17 years old, a student at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila.

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896, Bagumbayan), was a Filipino polymath, nationalist and the most prominent advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is considered the Philippines' national hero and the anniversary of Rizal's death is commemorated as a Philippine holiday called Rizal Day. Rizal's 1896 military trial and execution made him a martyr of the Philippine Revolution.

A photographic record of Rizal's execution in what was then Bagumbayan.

José Rizal's parents, Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro(1818–1898)[8] and Teodora Alonso y Quintos(1827–1911),[8] were prosperous farmers who were granted lease of a hacienda and an accompanying rice farm by the Dominicans. Rizal was the seventh child of their eleven children namely: Saturnina (1850–1913), Paciano (1851–1930), Narcisa (1852–1939), Olympia (1855–1887), Lucia (1857–1919), María (1859–1945), José Protacio (1861–1896), Concepcion (1862–1865), Josefa (1865–1945), Trinidad (1868–1951) and Soledad (1870–1929).

Rizal first studied under the tutelage of Justiniano Aquino Cruz in Biñan, Laguna. He was sent to Manila and enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He graduated as one of the nine students in his class declared sobresaliente or outstanding. He continued his education at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila to obtain a land surveyor and assessor's degree, and at the same time at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters where he studied Philosophy and Letters. Upon learning that his mother was going blind, he decided to study medicine specializing in ophthalmology at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery but did not complete the program claiming discrimination made by the Spanish Dominican friars against the native students. Read more

Tribute to Rizal, Cavenagh Bridge, Singapore

Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peru, Chan Chan Archaeological Zone, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Peru 1000 Intis 1988 UNC
Front: General Andrés Avelino Cáceres Dorregaray (4 February 1833 – 10 October 1923)
Back: Ruins of Chan Chan



The largest Pre-Columbian city in South America, Chan Chan is an archaeological site located in the Peruvian region of La Libertad, five km west of Trujillo. Chan Chan covers an area of approximately 20 km², and had a dense urban center of about 6km². Chan Chan was constructed by the Chimor (the kingdom of the Chimú), a late intermediate period civilization which grew out of the remnants of the Moche civilization. The vast adobe city of Chan Chan was built by the Chimu around AD 850 and lasted until its conquest by the Inca Empire in AD 1470. It was the imperial capital of the Chimor until it was conquered in the 15th century. It is estimated that around 30,000 people lived in the city of Chan Chan.

Chan Chan was added as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1986. The city is severely threatened by tornados from El Niño, which causes heavy rains and flooding on the Peruvian coast. It is in a fertile, well-watered section of the coastal plain.[2] The city's ruins are additionally threatened by earthquakes and looters. Present-day visitors to Chan Chan can enter the Tschudi Complex, believed to be one of the later citadels built in the city. There are also several other Chimú and Moche ruins in the area around Trujillo. This site was discovered by the Conquistador Francisco Pizarro.
Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Turkey-1990-2005 series

Turkey 250000 Lira UNC
Front: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Back: Red Tower, Alanya



The Kızıl Kule (Red Tower) is a main tourist attraction in the Turkish city of Alanya. The building is considered to be the symbol of the city, and is even used on the city's flag. Construction of the building began in the beginning of the reign of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Ala ad-Din Kay Qubadh I and was completed in 1226. The sultan brought the accomplished architect Ebu Ali Reha from Aleppo, Syria to Alanya to complete the building. The name derives from the more red color brick he used in its construction. So well-made was it that it remains one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture. Though more preservation has gone into the building, it clearly is the best preserved Seljuk building in the city. The octagonal red brick tower protects the Tersane (shipyard) which dates from 1221. The building itself is 33 m (108 ft) high and 12.5 m (41 ft) wide. Like many buildings in the city, the Tower flies a Turkish Flag from its crenelations.

In 1979 The city opened the Ethnographic Museum of Alanya inside of the tower. Besides providing visitors with a history of the tower and town, the museum gives attention to the heraldry, in particular the Seljuk double headed eagle that graces the flag. The building is open from 8:00-12:00 in the morning and 1:30-5:30 in the afternoon, and is closed on Mondays. Admission to the tower and the museum is on one ticket, and costs 3 Turkish Lira.

The tower was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 250,000 lira banknotes of 1992-2005.



Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Turkey-1990-2005 series

Turkey 100000 Lira UNC
Front: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Back: Meeting of him with elementary students.

Indonesia

Indonesia 2000 Rupiah 2009 AUNC
Front: Pangeran Antasari
Back: Tarian Adat Dayak

Argentina

Argentina 10 Pesos 1976 VG
Front: Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano / Gral.BELGRANO
Back: Cataratas Del Iguazu

Numismatics

Belgrano appears in an important number of currencies in the numismatic history of Argentina. He had appeared for the first time in the Peso Ley 18.188, in the banknotes of 1, 5 and 10 pesos. He was later included in the 10.000 pesos banknotes of the pesos argentinos, the highest banknote value in circulation. The Australes had chosen a number of procers that did not include Belgrano, but later the 10.000 pesos argentinos banknotes were allowed to be used as australes. The Peso, modern currency of Argentina, includes Belgrano in the banknotes of 10 pesos. The 1997 and 2002 series only modified small details.



Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano, usually referred to as Manuel Belgrano (3 June 1770 – 20 June 1820) was an Argentine economist, lawyer, politician, and military leader, born in Buenos Aires, the fourth child of the Italian businessman Domingo Belgrano y Peri and Josefa Casero. He took part in the Argentine Wars of Independence and created the Flag of Argentina.

Belgrano was a notable member of the criollo population of Buenos Aires, and worked for its emancipation from Spain. At first he promoted the aspirations of Carlota Joaquina to became the rule of the viceroyalty, but without success. With other criollos he promoted the May Revolution, removing the viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros from power, as was elected as member of the Primera Junta that took power after him. He was chosen as commander of the Army of the North and, despite being defeated by the Spanish forces, he paved the way for the independence of Paraguay in 1811. In 1812 he created the flag of Argentina near the city of Rosario, and directed the exodus of Jujuy, that lead to the victories against the royalists in the battles of Salta and Tucuman. He took part of the Congress of Tucuman, promoting the idea to establish a monarchy with an Inca king, but didn't get enough support. He died on 20 June 1820.

Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peru

Peru 5000 Intis 1988 UNC
Front: Miguel Grau
Back: Fisherman

Miguel María Grau Seminario 27 July 1834 - 8 October 1879) was a renowned Peruvian naval officer and hero of the Naval Battle of Angamos during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884). He was known as the el Caballero de los Mares (Spanish for "Knight of the Seas") for his chivalry and is esteemed by both Peruvians and Chileans. He is an iconic figure for the Peruvian Navy, and one of the most famous military leaders of the Americas.
Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nigeria

Nigeria 1 Naira AUNC
Front: Herbert Macauley 1864-1946
Back: Mask

Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay (November 14, 1864—May 7, 1946) was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, engineer, journalist, and musician and considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism. Macaulay was born in Lagos on November 14, 1864. He was the grandson of bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther and the son of the founder of the first secondary school in Nigeria. After going to a Christian missionary school, he took a job as a clerk at the Lagos Department of Public Works. From 1891 to 1894 he studied civil engineering in Plymouth, England. On his return, he worked for the Crown as a land inspector. He left his position in 1898 due to growing distaste for Nigeria's position as a British colony.

Information Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oman

Oman 100 Baisa 1995
Front: H. M. Sultan Qaboos bin Said and a falaj
Back: Wildlife, including an oryx.

Qaboos bin Said Al Said born 18 November 1940 in Salalah is the Sultan of Oman. He rose to power after overthrowing his father, Sa‘id ibn Taymur, in a palace coup in 1970. He is the 14th descendant of the Al Bu Sa‘idi dynasty. He received his primary and secondary education in Salalah and at Pune, India and attended a private educational establishment in England from the age of sixteen. At 20 he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After graduating from Sandhurst, he joined a British Infantry regiment, The Cameronians, and served in the 1st Battalion in Germany for one year. He also held a staff appointment with the British Army.


In 1976 Qaboos ibn Sa‘id married his cousin, Kamila, née Sayyidah Nawwal bint Tariq (born 1951), daughter of HH Sayyid Tariq ibn Taymur, soon ended in divorce. He is an avid fan and promoter of classical music.

Oman
According to UNESCO some 3,000 qanat systems, called Aflaj (plural) of Falaj (singular), are still in use in Oman today. Nizwa, the former capital city of Oman, was built around a falaj which is in use to this day. In July 2006, five representative examples of this irrigation system were inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nepal

Nepal 5 Rupees
Front: King Birendra, Goddess Taleju Temple
Back: Yaks

Nepal's stability was threatened even more when Birendra and most of his family (including Queen Aiswarya) were massacred at a royal dinner on 1 June 2001. However published reports from eyewitnesses and the results of an investigation carried by a two man committee made up of the Chief of the Supreme Court Keshav Prasad Upadhaya and the speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat, confirmed his eldest son and heir, Dipendra, was the gunman. There is some speculation that Gyanendra was behind a conspiracy. The motive given for Dipendra's actions were a clash with his mother over his wish to marry Devyani Rana. Dipendra also had a history of alcohol and illegal drugs abuse and had also suffered from depression in the past. Dipendra was proclaimed king but died a few days later of self inflicted gunshot wounds. Birendra's brother, Gyanendra, then became King.

Late King Birendra was born at the Narayanhity Royal Palace in Kathmandu as the eldest son of the then Crown Prince Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and his wife Crown Princess Indra Rajya Laxmi.

Late King Birendra was the first Nepalese monarch to receive a formal education. He spent eight years studying at St Joseph's College a Jesuit school in Darjeeling, India. On 13 March 1955 his grandfather King Tribhuvan died and his father succeeded to the Nepalese throne. With his father's ascension Birendra became the Crown Prince of Nepal.

In 1959 Late King Birendra enrolled at Eton College in the United Kingdom. After studying at Eton until 1964 he returned to Nepal where he began to explore the country by travelling incognito to remote parts of the country where he lived on whatever was available in the villages and monasteries. He later completed his education by spending some time at the University of Tokyo before studying political theory at Harvard University from 1967 to 1968. Late King Birendra enjoyed to travel in his youth and went on trips to Canada, Latin America, Africa and a number of Asian countries. He was also an art collector and supporter of Nepalese crafts people and artists. He also learnt to fly helicopters.

Birendra was married to Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Rana from the Rana family on 27 February 1970. The wedding which was billed as one of the most lavish Hindu nuptial ceremonies in history cost $9.5 million to stage. Birendra and Aishwaraya had three children.

* Prince Dipendra (27 June 1971 – 4 June 2001)
* Princess Shruti (15 October 1976 – 1 June 2001)
* Prince Nirajan (6 November 1977–1 June 2001)



Taleju temple in Kathamandu was constructed in 1564 by the King Mahendra Malla. This temple is totally devoted to Taleju, a type of the goddess Durga. The Taleju temple is one of the most well known temples out of the three Taleju temples construted by the Malla kings. Apart, Kathamandu, the other two Taleju Temples are in Bhaktapur and Patan.

Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, kathamanduhotels.org

Myanmar

Myanmar 1kyat 1990 UNC
Front: Bogyoke (General) Aung San (13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947)
Back: Dragon carving

Bogyoke (General) Aung San 13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army, the Tatmadaw.

He was instrumental in bringing about Burma's independence from British colonial rule, but was assassinated six months before its final achievement. He is recognized as the leading architect of independence, and the founder of the Union of Burma. Affectionately known as "Bogyoke" (General), Aung San is still widely admired by the Burmese people, and his name is still invoked in Burmese politics to this day.

Aung San was the father of Nobel Peace laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Read more

Information Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Poland

Poland 50 Zloyth 1988 UNC
Front: Karol Swierczewski (22 February 1897 till 28 March 1947)
Back:

This is an obsolete 50 złoty banknote of the People's Republic of Poland with the face of Karol Świerczewski.

Karol Świerczewski was a Pole who became a Soviet military officer and a general. He served as a general in the service of the Soviet Union, Republican Spain and the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity after World War II. Read more

Srilanka, Sacred City of Anuradhapura, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sri Lanka 500 Rupees 2005 UNC
Front: Kandy dancer; stylised dragon; Kandy drummers
Back: Thuparamaya Dagaba(Stupa in Anuradhapura)

Thuparama Continuing north from the Jethawana Dagaba, turn left at the crossroads to the site's oldest dagaba to house the right collar-bone of the Buddha. Built by Devanampiyathissa, the 19m high dagaba has retained its beautiful bell shape, despite restoration work, It is surrounded by concentric circles of a graceful granite monolithic pillars of a Vatadage which was added in the 7th Century, possibly originally design to support an over-arching thatched cover. It is a center of active pilgrimage, decorated with flags and light. Immediately to its north-east was the original Dalada Maligawa where the Tooth Relic was first enshrined when it was brought to Ceylon in AD 313. Chinese traveler monk Fahian gave a vivid description of its display, but only the stone columns remain
The THUPARAMA Dagoba situated north of the Ruwanweli Seya.
This is the first stupa (dagaba) built in Sri Lanka.

King Devanampiyatissa erected this in the 3rd Century B.C After Buddhism was introduced by Arehath Mahinda Himi.

Thuparama was in ruins in In the 7th century and restored, and a Vatadage was added. The concentric stone pillars standing right round the Stupa are the reaming of the old Vatadage. Information and Image Obtained from mysrilanka.com

Thuparama dagaba in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Inmage Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone 500 Leones 1991 G
Front: Joseph Saidu Momoh (January 26, 1937 – August 3, 2003)
Back: Ships

Mozambique

Mozambique 100 Meticais 1989 AUNC
Front: Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane, June 20, 1920, to February 3, 1969
Back: Ceromony