BANK NEGARA MUSEUM NUMISMATIC GALLERIES

It is not every day that one gets to become a counterfeit detector agent to check for counterfeit money. Well, today I have been given the chance. Save for the humming of the airconditioner, the room I am in is so quiet and cold. I slip on my glasses. In front of me is a device, about the size of a brick, that emits purple-coloured UV light. My task is to check the authenticity of a RM50 banknote.

To the untrained eye, the note may look identical to other banknotes but there are several security features that will tell me if it is a genuine banknote. For instance, the design patterns are of songket-weaving, which are featured prominently in the background and edges of the banknote.

Setting down the banknote, I feel for the diamond-shaped marking with a layer of tactile ink printed on the top left corner of the note. Next, I put the note under the UV light and look for the watermark portrait of Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, on the obverse side. At the base of the watermark, the numeral 50 must be clearly visible under bright light.

Things get a little exciting from here: Under the UV light, I have to look for the holographic stripe that has the denomination 50 and the hibiscus flower. When I tilt the banknote slightly, I can see the holograph effect with its multi-coloured spectrum. This RM50 note has passed the test; it’s a genuine note.

Tired of squinting at the micro-letterings on the note, I decide to head out to the RM1 Million Tunnel. Here, I feast my eyes on all four generations of banknotes used in the nation.

So where am I? This is the Children’s Gallery of the Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery in the Sasana Kijang building on Jalan Dato’ Onn in Kuala Lumpur.

Other Galleries
But that’s not the only cool gallery here. There are six: Numismatic Gallery where the Children’s Gallery is located, Bank Negara Malaysia Gallery, Economics Gallery, Islamic Finance Gallery and an art gallery. Children’s gallery. The Economics Gallery (left) and the Art gallery .

At the Numismatic Gallery, I learn about the early history of money, when objects of different shapes and sizes were commonly accepted as currency in the region. Objects such as cowrie shells were used by early humans as metal tool money (in the shape of knife and spade) like the ones used in China.

Those keen to learn about barter trade can choose to become early traders in this section. Selecting a role as an early Chinese merchant from the Ming dynasty, who has just arrived from China with precious goods like tea and silk, my goal is to trade it with a fellow merchant for spices.

Next, I move to another section where coins and notes from the early days are on display. I see well-preserved gold and silver in different shapes, sizes and weight formerly used as a form of currency. One particular piece catches my eyes.

The Tin Animal Money, a form of currency used by the royals of the Malay Peninsula in the 15th century, is on display here. Crocodile, beetle and chicken are some of the common shapes.

Also on display are currencies used during the British colonial days as well as those from the Japanese Occupation in Malaya.

The museum is packed with interactive displays, fancy artwork, artefacts and information cards detailing the exhibits. At each gallery you may also find a smaller room with more interactive displays, like the one in the Bank Negara Malaysia Gallery. In one, I hop on a stationary bike and pedal at a certain pace to access information about the history of money.

To read the complete article, see:
Six galleries on money matters (https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/new-straits-times/20181011/282303911092438)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web