Singapore 3rd Series Coins

The Singapore 3rd series of coins are already out for collectors to purchase from the Singapore Mint. The 2nd series of coins has been in circulation since 1986, a good 27 years. There are 3 different sets on sale by the Singapore Mint, you can find them in the online shop here. The set above contains the 2nd and 3rd series coins with the same year of mintage - 2013.

Singapore Uncirculated Old Coin Sets

Besides proof sets for collectors, Singapore Mint have also produced Uncirculated Coin Sets (different from Proof sets) for sale to the public. These coins are normal coins that you can obtain from the bank, but are not circulated. Before these coins had the chance to be issued out, they were packed in sets for sale by the Singapore Mint, often at a small premium. For the proof coins, they are uncirculated coins which are specially polished to a shine. Thus, under some careful comparison, one can discern a proof set from an uncirculated set.

However, for collectors who just want a normal set of nice looking coins at a low price, they can consider buying these Uncirculated Coin Sets. The coins are brand new, and sets are as affordable as 8-10 dollars per set.

Singapore/Malaya 1 Square 1 Cent Coins

Did you know that Singapore used to have 1 cent coins in the shape of a square with rounded ages? These 1 cent coins are even bigger than our 10 cents coin we are using now. In the 1940s-1950s, a few of these 1 cent coins can buy you a meal. The one cent coins issued around the 1940s bear the portrait of King George, while those minted in 1953 bear the portrait of Queen Elizabeth.

Coins are also for sale

at

1 SGD each

Singapore 1974 Proof Coin Set

In this post, I will upload photos of the Singapore 1974 Proof Coin Set. Singapore Mint started minting proof sets since 1967. Mintages for the sets however, varies from year to year. In 1974, only a total of 1500 sets were minted as compared to 1985 where 20,000 sets were minted. This 1974 proof set is quite rare, as many of the 1500 sets were sold to collectors worldwide. I have purchased this from a coin dealer overseas.

Singapore 5 Dollars Orchid Silver Coin

I chanced upon this beautiful coin one day and bought it immediately. This coin was minted in .925 silver in 1984 (20,000 pieces), commemorating 25 years of nation-building.

Singapore Silver Colour 1 Dollar Coin

This should be an interesting post, have you even seen a silver colour 1 dollar coin before? Im talking about the current golden colour 1 that we are using, not the stylised lion from 1967 to 1984 coin.

There is actually a less known Singapore 1 dollar coin which was produced briefly, from the years of 1986 to 1987. These were the early years of mintage for the new design of the 1 dollar coin. An interesting fact is that during these 2 years, the 1 dollar coin is made silver in colour, with cupro-nickel and is much bigger than the 1 dollar coin we are using now, even though they have the same design.

This novelty and "rarity" of this silver 1 dollar coin had made the price of this coin go up for the past few years. Notice that the coat of arms is also different, with slight adjustment to the position of the flag.

(1986 1 dollar coin on the left, current golden colour 1 dollar coin on the right)

1988 Singapore Proof Coin Set

Singapore released her second series of coin in the years of 1985 - 1986, with the first proof coin set released in the year of 1986. A proof set consists of all the circulatory coins, minted in silver and encapsulated, and sold with a certificate of authenticity.

When buying a proof set, firstly ensure there is a certificate. Secondly, please check whether the dates correspond to the certificate. Thirdly, check whether the capsules were opened. The same applies to the uncirculated coin sets. Do check whether the plastic casing has been cut open.

This is because even in a country as safe as Singapore, there are also black sheeps in the numismatic community. I have ever chanced upon "doctored" commemorative note sets (where the 50 dollar plastic commemorative note was swapped with a circulated one, and selling for the original price), and uncirculated coin sets filled up with circulated coins of different years. The shop still has the cheek to sell the sets at the price of the real thing. This shop in particular is located around Furama hotel, and operated by a foreign talent, coincidentally from a country known best for copying. I wonder whether if the checks on the integrity of newly migrated foreign talents are stringent enough. Please beware.

Anyway, enjoy the scans. This is a 1988 Silver Proof Set. It is one of my favourites as the coins are housed in a nice velvet red folder with our coat of arms in gold on the front.

Silver Tiger Coins

Chinese zodiac has been a big influence on many silver mints across the world, where they mint silver coins with Chinese zodiac animals every year. Some mints may sell these coins as purely an investment option where it is only priced slightly higher above silver spot price, but some of the mints sell the coins way above the silver price. Coins purchased from the Singapore mint have retail prices way higher than its face value and silver content. But of course, we have to factor in the high overhead costs they might have for producing the coins as well.

I have collected 2 of Singapore's Tiger Coins, 1986 and 1998, and a 2010 Australian Tiger coin, which is actually my Chinese zodiac.

1st Series of Singapore 10 Dollar Coins

After independence, Singapore had minted its first 10 dollar silver coin in 1972 - 1974 (Eagle), 1975 - 1977 (Ship), 1977 (Asean), 1978 - 1980 Satellite). These coins comes in 2 versions, the uncirculated coins in pouches and proof coins in boxes. Uncirculated coins are minted with a larger quantity, while the proof coins supply is much lesser. The issue price for proof coins are also significantly higher as it comes encapsulated, has a shinier and nicer finishing, and of course a certificate of authenticity by the Singapore Mint.

Silver was initially used as a component for all coins, for both uncirculated coins and proof coins. However, it was changed in 1980 where the satellite uncirculated coin was minted in Copper-Nickel. So do take note when you purchase an uncirculated satellite coin minted in 1980, please do not take the silver content into consideration as there is none.

The below picture shows a coin from each series, namely the ship, eagle and satellite. You can see that the finishing of the ship and satellite coins are more mirror like and shinier than the finishing of the eagle coins as these coins are proof coins. The eagle coin is an uncirculated coin. However, the proof coins does not appear as silvery as the eagle coin, this is due to toning, which is the ageing of the coin, and this does not affect its value.

1st Set of Singapore Coins

Many of you who are born after the 80s may have only seen the 1 cent, 10 cents and 20 cents but not the full set of these coins. The older coins had more elaborate designs and in my opinion, looks nicer than the current set of coins. Something interesting to note, the 1 dollar coin was changed from a silver round coin to a golden coin which looks like an octagon. Urban legend has it that it was the idea of a certain prominent political figure who had made the change after consulting a fengshui master. GIYBF, google is your best friend.

I have attached a scan of the 1982 proof set. The older coins were slightly bigger in size, especially the 1 dollar coin.