Collectors brave hot spell to queue up for special coins

Koay (left) and Lee showing their silver commemorative coins issued by Bank Negara. Photo: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

AFTER waiting for five hours amid the heatwave, an avid collector walked away all smiles with a set of commemorative coins in his possession.

The coins were recently launched by Bank Negara Malaysia to mark the 70th anniversary of Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).

Koay Cheng San, 66, who had been collecting coins for the past 30 years, turned up at the bank’s Penang branch in Light Street, George Town, at about 5am.

He said there were already eight people waiting in queue even though the bank only opened at 8.45am.

“I managed to get my hands on 10 Nordic gold brilliant uncirculated coins with a face value of RM1 for RM10.60 each.

“I also got a RM10 silver commemorative coin for RM212. I am sure this coin can fetch up to RM600 in the near future,” said theelated pensioner.

Koay revealed that he had wanted to buy another set later, but the coins were already sold out by then.

Coin collectors queuing up to buy the commemorative coins issued by Bank Negara Malaysia in conjunction with the 70th Anniversary of Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) at Bank Negara Malaysia, Penang. Photo: CHARLES MARIASOOSAY/The Star

Another passionate coin collector, Ong Joe Sin, 13, came all the way from Bukit Mertajam and waited for almost four hours.

“I’ve been collecting coins since nine as I find them very interesting and valuable. I bought these commemorative coins using my own savings,” he said.

The silver and Nordic gold brilliant uncirculated commemorative coins are limited to only 500 and 10,000 piecesrespectively.

The coins, also available in a set of two, are limited to 2,000 sets. It has the iconic image of RTM’s headquarters, Angkasapuri, which has a unique facade decorated with a motif based on the shape of the tongue.

The words “RADIO TELEVISYEN MALAYSIA” are also on the upper circum-ference and the years 1946 – 2016, denoting its 70 years are inscribed below the words.

On the reverse side of the coin, the words “BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA” are featured while the face value of the coin is inscribed on the lower circumference.

The 70th Anniversary logo is featured in the centre of the coin.

The coins are available for sale from now at Bank Negara Malaysia’s Museum and Art Gallery, its regional offices and branches located in Penang, Johor Baru, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

RTM is the first broadcaster that launcheda radio broadcast on April 1, 1946, and television broadcast on Dec 28, 1963.