News & Notes, Volume I, No. 5

                                             A Petition on Behalf of Private Collecting

The numismatist Dr. Ursula Kampmann (known by many English speakers from her site CoinsWeekly) is promoting an online petition to protest a proposed German law concerning the Protection of Cultural Heritage. If passed, the law, she contends, would potentially impose onerous burdens upon collectors to prove that their holdings have legitimate provenance. While the concerns focus on coin collecting, they would apply equally to stamps, currency, and other paper artifacts.

Dr. Kampmann is a well-regarded figure in numismatics, and her concerns are worthy of serious consideration. A description of the legislation can be found at the CoinsWeekly site; the online petition is here, and can be signed by supporters of any nationality.

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• Banknotes, ever versatile.
• A look back at China's 2012 Commemorative Note (from PMG, via COINWeek)
• Bulgaria plans to replace its 2-Levs currency with coins.
• Federal Reserve System's advice about virtual currencies.
• A brief history of the Afghan currency.
• I hadn't thought to defend Hamilton on the $10 quite this way.
• The Ithaca HOUR is being phased out in favor of a more conventional, electronic replacement.
• Exeter (UK) has new local currency notes, including one with a rugby motif.
• The Bank of England's list of visual artists nominated for the new £20 note.
• More musings on money and art, with a link to the ROBIN™currency.
• Take the test.
• New issue: Maldives (from CoinWeek)

• Some Macau merchants are passing off Patacas as Hong Kong Dollars.
• Fake N1000 notes in Borno State, Nigeria.
• Serial numbers in Hong Kong (from E-Sylum)
• Oklahoma criminals can do better than this.
• "Just joking".

•  Banknotes of British Malaya (from E-Sylum)