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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,560 |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
So, I'm in Timor-Leste now. One thing I do, as I always do, is trying to get a type set of circulation coins here.
One of these coins should be the commemorative 100 Centavos coin. According to sources, only 2000 or 3000 of these have been minted. Sounds like a tough job to get one, right?
To my surprise, these coins circulate freely here and I already have several in my wallet now, varying from well-circulated to uncirculated. In fact, with the turnover of these coins here, it's more than unlikely that only such a tiny amount has been minted.
Does anyone know more about this 100 Centavo coin? How many pieces have really been minted?
(and in addition: is the 2017 25 centavo cent really a new variant on the existing type? the reeded edge is different and the planchet seems thicker than with previous years)
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Pillar of the Community
 Norway
1358 Posts |
Update: I can answer my own question now. Apparently not 2000 but 3000 were struck as proof versions. And then 50.000.000 in addition for release in circulation. 50.000.000 were struck for circulation. Which makes sense, as I get a lot of them in change and I haven't seen a single one US dollar note in change. I just had dinner at a tiny restaurant here and they had at least 20 of them in their register. In fact, I already have so many of them now that I would have over 1% of the total population of this coin by now if 2000 would be the correct number. So the tiny restaurant and I would have over 2,5% of all the coins. I have no idea why a lot of sources actually make false claims about mintage numbers here. I guess it has something to do with the obscurity of the country, the lack of information from the Bank of Timor-Leste and the initial announcement of just 2000 coins. Those 2000 have been upgraded to 3000, the weight of the coin is not 14 but 7 grams and an additional 50.000.000 have been struck for circulation. In addition, I do think we have indeed at least a new variant and probably a new coin when it comes to the 2017 25 centavo. I got hold of some tools and indeed is not only the reeded edge different, also the thickness of the coin has increased. Mystery solved, my inner Poirot is satisfied. EDIT: talking about lack of information from the Bank of Timor Leste: https://www.bancocentral.tl/uploads...733_2602.pdfNot only the composition has changed. Edited by UltraRant
06/05/2017 09:37 am
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9428 Posts |
I went on a cruise back in February and one of the stops was East Timor. I was hoping to load up on coins in the few hours we were there, but I became severely sick and was confined to my cabin. Missed going ashore there and also Bali. Sickness ruined half my cruise.:( However I do already own one of the aforementioned 3000 coins. :) Steve  |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
Trust me, you didn't miss much in Dili. I'll post a numismatic trip report when I'm back.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1323 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9428 Posts |
Quote:
Trust me, you didn't miss much in Dili. I'll post a numismatic trip report when I'm back. I never really expected to see much there. It was just the coins I wanted. I collect by year and denomination, so I was hoping to fill lots of gaps. :( Steve |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
Quote:
Is the 2017 centavos different to the 2013? I found that the 25 centavo coins up to 2013 are equal, the 2017 is definitely thicker, has different reeds on the edge and, according to the central bank of Timor leste, also has a different metal composition. I didn't get hold of a 2017 50 centavos coin. The 5 and 10 seem unaltered, where the 100 centavo only has one year. 1 centavo is no longer circulating. Quote:
I never really expected to see much there. It was just the coins I wanted. I collect by year and denomination, so I was hoping to fill lots of gaps. :( You should have been good there, as I got hold of most years of almost all types. My observation is that the older years are really worn now. 1 centavo doesn't circulate anymore. If you go back there, your best bet would be a supermarket (there are a few of them around the center) for getting hold of coins. Most restaurants round up to the nearest 50 centavo or even up to the dollar. Your main challenge in supermarkets: price tags do indicate what a product might cost, but the scanner at the cash till is determining how much you end up paying. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1323 Posts |
Thanks for the info re the 2017 coins, will look out for some!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
100 centavos is a really strange denomination. Why don't they just call them dollars?
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
@Finn235: It's what puzzles me a bit as well. Either they refuse to already name a unit for their own subunit and then I would expect the Escudo to rise again, not the dollar. Or the Centavo just is their national unit and they use the US Dollar as a (temporary) superunit. Either way, it's not really regular.  |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,560 |
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Posted 06/07/2017 05:25 am
