MY COLLECTION - ALBUM NO 5 - BANGLADESH & HONG KONG COINS

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,
C/O COL GKS REDDY,

Secunderabad - 500 015.

Bangladesh Coins

          The Taka (Bengali: টাকা, sign: ৳ or Tk, code: BDT) is the currency of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Bank being the central bank of the country controls the issuance of the currency except ৳1 and ৳2 notes, which are the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance of the government of Bangladesh. The most commonly used symbol for the Taka is Tk and ৳, used on receipts while purchasing goods and services. ৳1 is subdivided into 100 poisha.

          In Bengali, the word "taka" is also commonly used generically to mean any money, currency, or notes. Thus, colloquially, a person speaking Bengali may use "taka" to refer to money regardless of what currency it is denominated in. The currency sign is encoded in Unicode at U+09F3 ৳bengali currency sign (HTML: ৳).

          My Collection of Bangladesh Coins is very meagre, as small coins of Bangladesh are generally not in circulation and hence difficult to obtain

One Paisa - 1974 - Steel coated Aluminium

Five Paise - 1988 - Steel Coated Aluminium

Ten Paise - 1989 - Steel Coated Aluminium

Twenty Five Paise - 1978 - Steel Coated Aluminium

Twenty Five Paise - 1980 - Steel Coated Aluminium

Fifty Paise - 1994 - Steel Coated Aluminium

One Taka - 1992 - Steel Coated Aluminium

One Taka - 1999 - Brass Coated Aluminium

Two Taka - 2008 - Steel Coated Aluminium

  

Five Taka - 1995 - Steel Coated Aluminium

Hong Kong Coins

          The Hong Kong dollar (sign: $; code: HKD; also abbreviated HK$) is the currency of Hong Kong. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. The Hong Kong dollar is subdivided into 100 cents. The currency is used in both Hong Kong and Macau, as the two regions are of close proximity and their currencies very similar exchange rates.

          In 1863, 1 mil, 1 and 10 cent coins were introduced, followed in 1866 by 5 and 20 cents, ½ and 1 dollar. The 1 mil and 1 cent were struck in bronze, with the 1 mil a holed coin. The remaining coins were struck in silver. Production of the 1 mil ended in 1866, whilst that of the ½ and 1 dollar ceased in 1868, with only the ½ dollar (now with the denomination given as 50 cents) resuming production in 1890. Production of all silver coins was suspended in 1905, only briefly resumed in 1932 and 1933 for the production of 5 cent coins.

         In 1934, the last 1 cent coins were issued, but the last minting was 1941. These were not issued because of the Second World War. The following year (1935), cupro-nickel 5 and 10 cents were introduced, replaced by nickel in 1937 and nickel-brass between 1948 and 1949. Copper-nickel 50 cents were issued in 1951, these were changed to Nickel-brass in 1977.

           In 1960, cupro-nickel 1 dollar coins were introduced, these were reduced in size in 1978. These were followed in 1975 by nickel-brass 20 cents and cupro-nickel 2 dollars (both scallop shaped), and in 1976 by decagonal, cupro-nickel 5 dollars, changed to a round thicker shape in 1980. The 5 cent was last issued in 1979, but last struck in 1988. In 1994, a bimetallic 10 dollar coin was introduced.

          Starting in 1993, prior to the establishment of the SAR, coins with Queen Elizabeth II's portrait were gradually withdrawn from circulation. Most of the notes and coins in circulations feature Hong Kong's Bauhinia flower or other symbols. Coins with the Queen's portrait are still legal tender and can be seen, but these are slowly being phased out. However, most still remain in legal tender and are in circulation.

Ten Cents - Queen Elizebeth II - 1965 - Copper

Ten Cents - Queen Elizebeth II - 1978 - Bronze

Ten Cents - Queen Elizebeth II - 1988 - Bronze

Ten Cents - 1998 - Brass

Twenty Cents - Queen Elizebeth II -1980 - Copper

Twenty Cents - 1998 - Nickel

Fifty Cents - Queen Elizebeth II - 1980 - Bronze

One Dollar - Queen Elizebeth II - 1980 - Nickel

One Dollar - 1997 - Nickel

Two Dollars - 1993 - Nickel

Five Dollars - 1993 - Nickel

Ten Dollars - 1994 - Bi-Metallic

Note - Some of the images of coins in my collection, have been taken from the Gallery to the extent available, to save on time & effort involved in photography & editing

VISIT TO EUROPE - SWITZERLAND - LUZERN - II & BRIENZ

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY
C/O COL GKS REDDY

Secunderabad - 500015

          Lucerne (/ˌluːˈsɜrn/; German: Luzern, [luˈtsɛrn] ( listen); French: Lucerne, [lysɛʁn]; Italian: Lucerna, [luˈtʃɛrna]; Romansh: Lucerna; Lucerne Swiss-German: Lozärn) is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and a nexus of transportation, telecommunications, and government of this region. The city's urban area consists of 17 cities and towns located in three different cantons with an overall population of about 250,000 people.

          Due to its location on the shore of Lake Lucerne (der Vierwaldstättersee), within sight of Mount Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps, Lucerne has long been a destination for tourists. One of the city's famous landmarks is the Chapel Bridge (Kapell brücke), a wooden bridge first erected in the 14th century.

Visited Luzern on 27 Sep 2013, after visiting Wilderswill, Interlaken, Jung Frau Joch and Schynige Platte on 25 and 26 Sep 2013. We started from Interlaken by train at 0700h and reached Luzern by about 1030h or so.



Luzern Old Town

          Meander through the Old Town. The Old Town of Lucerne is the most charming part of the city, with its pedestrian-only streets and alleys, and array of hotels, restaurants and shops. Walking tours of the Old Town are very popular and take in all the landmarks, monuments, sights and sounds of the city. Half-timbered structures still line the River Reuss and the Old Town walls remain high above the city.

A cobbled street in Luzern Old Town

Hirschenplatz Square , Old Town

Old Decorated house at Hirschenplatz Square, Luzern Old Town

Dornach house, around 1900, neo-Gothic with Mannerist 

fresco paintings designed by Seraphin Weingartner

Kornmarkt [grain market], Rathaus [town hall]

          First mentioned in 1356, Kornmarkt was the grain market place of the city until the 19th century. The ground floor of the town hall served as a grain storage from 1438, from 1447 on the upper parts of the building served as town hall. Today the city administration is located on the other side of River Reuss, but there are still some official activities, for example marriage ceremonies (which have to take place in front of a town clerk to be valid under Swiss law).

Old Town Hall Cum Grain Market, Luzern

Weinmarkt [Wine Market]

Weinmarkt fountain, Luzern Old Town

Haus zur Sonne with painted façade

"Marriage at Canaan" by Eduard Renggli, 1928

St Peters Kapelle, Luzern

          The Kapellplatz surrounds tiny St. Peterskapelle, an 18th-century church that was built over a 12th-century predecessor. This chapel also lends its name to the Kapellbrücke, the charming wooden bridge synonymous with Lucerne.

          The exterior walls of St. Peter's are adorned with several interesting works of art. An alabaster carving of the Mount of Olives remains from the previous church building. The fresco of Brother Klaus dates from the late 19th century, and the painting of St. Christopher is from the early 20th century. 

St Peters Kapelle, Kapelleplatz, Luzern

Fritschi fountain, Kapelleplatz, Luzern old town

A view of the Kappelplatz Square with its Cobbled Paths

Tower at Schwanenplatz (Swans Square), on 

the Northern Bank of River Reuss 

St Peters Church and Swan Square Tower from The Seebruke 

Bridge joining Swan Square and Railway station

A view of Kapelle Bridge from North end of Seebruke Bridge

A view of Menzingen Church as seen from the Swan Square Luzern

View of a swiss village on the way from Luzern to Brienz

A view of another village astride Luzern - Brienz Rail Track

Brienz

          Brienz is a village and municipality on the northern shore of Lake Brienz, at the foot of the Brienzer Rothorn mountain, and in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. Besides the village of Brienz, the municipality includes the settlements of Kienholz and Axalp.

          Politically, the municipality is located in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district of the canton of Bern.

          Started back from Luzern to Interlaken at 1500h and decided to stop at Brienz for a visit. Reached Brienz at about 1645h

On arrival at Brienz Railway Station

A view of Tourist Boat operating on Lake Brienz

On the Northern Bank of Lake Brienz

A settlement at the far Bak of Lake Brienz

Brienz Village located at the Foot of Brienzer Rothorn 

Mountain and at the edge of Lake Brienz

A view of Lake Brienz

Another view of Brienz Village

Note:- The information about the places visited has been Extracted from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia

VISIT TO EUROPE - UNITED KINGDOM - IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM DUXFORD - LAND WARFARE

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY
C/O COL GKS REDDY

Secunderabad - 500015

Imperial War Museum Duxford

          Imperial War Museum Duxford is a branch of the Imperial War Museum near Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England. Britain's largest aviation museum, Duxford houses the museum's large exhibits, including nearly 200 aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and minor naval vessels in seven main exhibition buildings. The site also provides storage space for the museum's other collections of material such as film, photographs, documents, books and artefacts. The site accommodates several British Army regimental museums, including those of the Parachute Regiment(named Airborne Assault) and the Royal Anglian Regiment.

          Based on the historic Duxford Aerodrome, the site was originally operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the First World War. During theSecond World War Duxford played a prominent role during the Battle of Britain and was later used by United States Army Air Forces fighter units in support of the daylight bombing of Germany. Duxford remained an active RAF airfield until 1961. After the Ministry of Defence declared the site surplus to requirements in 1969 the Imperial War Museum received permission to use part of the site for storage. The entirety of the site was transferred to the museum in February 1976.

          Visited Imperial War Museum, Duxford on Tuesday 08 Oct 2013, along with my elder daughter Jahnavi Reddy. We started the day with a visit to Air Warfare Section, after which we visited Land Warfare Section

Land Warfare Exhibits - Displayed Outside

D - 30, 122 mm Towed Howitzer, Soviet Long Range Artillery Weapon in Service 

since early 1960 with Soviet Union, Soviet Block and many other Countries 

British FV 432 APC with Pearson Surface Clearance Device - Lightweight Tracked 

Armoured Box, used primarily for Transporting Infantry on the Battlefield

Entrance to the Land Warfare Equipment Exhibit Hall

British Ferret Mark II Armoured Car - Standard Post WW II Reconnaissance 

Vehicle fitted with a 30 mm Machine Gun 

British M3A3 Grant Tank - This Tank was used by Lt Gen Montgomery 

during Battle of El Alamein. To make room for extra Communication Equipment, the 

37 mm Gun Barrel was replaced with a wooden dummy

Soviet Josef Stalin 2M Heavy Tank - Late Second WW Tank of advanced 

ballistic design which spearheaded the Soviet Offensives of 1944 - 45, as they 

smashed their way through to |Berlin

Soviet SU -100 Tank Destroyer - Produced to counter the German Panther and 

Tiger Tanks, SU - 100 was a T - 34 Tank Chassis adapted to fit a 100 mm Naval 

Gun, which would not fit in the normal T - 34 Gun Turret

A closer view of Soviet SU - 100 Tank Destroyer

British 5.5 " Medium Gun

German Goliath Demolition Vehicle - Electric or Petrol Driven Goliath 

Remote controlled were designed to be guided by a command wire to the 

base of fortifications, where their 80 Kgs of explosives would be detonated. 

Used by the Germans from 1943 - 45, but they were not a great Success

A close view of Goliath Demolition Vehicle

British Valentine Mark III Infantry Tank - Designed to accompany Infantry into Battle, 

the Valentines had to undertake many other Roles in the Battlefield during 1940 - 1944.

British Vickers Mark VI Light Tank - was the Principal Light Tank of the British 

Army at the outbreak of WW II. Though they were almost Obsolete by that time,

 many served in France in 1940 and North Africa in 1941

A close view of Vickers Light Tank

Soviet ZPU - 4 Anti Aircraft Artillery - Introduced in 1949, this Anti Aircraft 

weapon comprises four standard Heavy (14.5 mm) Machine Guns

British EPS Springer All Terrain Transport Vehicle - It is an all terrain 

Multipurpose small transport vehicle. It is designed to carry combat 

supplies from Helicopter Landing sites to forward operating bases. It is being 

used by the British Army in Afghanistan

British Scorpion Light Tank - After extensive trails, the Scorpion entered British 

Army service in 1972. Designed for stealthy Reconnaissance, it is light, fast 

and agile and yet mounts a 76 mm Gun. It has been recently phased out of service

British Saladin Armoured Car FV 601 - The standard Armoured Car for over 

20 years, the Saladin Design incorporated the experience of WW II. It has 

excellent cross country performance, high speed, heavy armament and compact size

Tatra OT - 810 Half Track - In Armoured Warfare, "Only movement 

brings Victory". Infantry Regiments of Panzer Divisions used 

Armoured Personnel carriers like this to keep up with the tanks. 

US 155 mm M - 40 Self propelled Gun - Introduced at the very end of WW II, 

when a small number saw action, the M - 40 saw its major actions in Korean 

War. The 155 mm SP weapon is now standard to most armies of the world

Soviet BMP -1, Infantry Combat Vehicle - was introduced into Soviet 

Army Service in 1967. It was designed to enable its crew and 

infantry to fight through enemy positions from within the vehicle

German Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer - Although only 382 vehicles 

were built, the "Hunting Panther" was the most successful German 

Tank Destroyer of WW II. The largest group of these vehicles fought in the 

Ardennes offensive of 1944.

British Mark 10 General Service Wagon of WW I - At the outbreak of 

WW I in 1914, the overwhelming majority of transport of all armies was 

horse drawn. This two horse drawn wagon built in 1915 was typical of the period

9.2 " Coastal Defense Gun - An example of the Coastal Guns installed 

throughout the British Empire in the early 1900s 

The German V-1 Rocket "The Flying Bomb" - German WW II 

Cruise Missile fired at Britain during 1944 - 45

Standard Beaverette - A 1940 Emergency Measure Light Armoured Car, 

built on the chassis of Standard Motor 14 HP passenger car.

3.7 " Anti Aircraft Gun - British WW II Heavy Anti aircraft Gun

Note:- The information about the places visited has been Extracted from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia