Retiree still counting his money

JITRA: Yaacob Ahmad, 67, a retiree of the Public Works Department (JKR) is the proud owner of a collection of 200 pieces of old coins and banknotes, including those issued before Independence.

He began to take an interest in collecting old money as a 19-year-old boy as his father would give him coins which were no longer in circulation.

“My father used to keep old money and when I took over his collection, all my relatives and friends would also pass old coins and banknotes to me,” he said at his residence in Kampung Lubuk Batu near here.

 

Coining glory: Yaacob showing his coin and banknote collection at his home in Kampung Lubuk Batu yesterday. — Bernama

His oldest piece is a 1883 Straits Settlement half cent coin.

“I have only bought two coins for my collection, which were from China” he said.

Yaacob does not intend to sell his collection.

“I want to keep the collection intact for my grandchildren and the generations to come,” he said.

His collection also includes foreign coins from Italy, China, Mexico, Hong Kong and India while he has paper money from Japan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Britain.

“I hope my children will keep my collection so that future generations will be able to view these historical pieces,” he said.

Among his prized possessions are the 20th Merdeka Anniversary RM1 coin, Bank Negara Malaysia’s 25th Anniversary RM25 coin and the Third Malaysia Plan 1976-1980 RM1 coin. — Bernama