MY COLLECTION - ALBUM NO 7 - SOVIET UNION & EUROPE - POLAND COINS

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,g
C/O COL GKS REDDY,

Secunderabad - 500 015.


Poland Coins

        The złoty (pronounced [ˈzwɔtɨ] ( listen); sign: zł; code: PLN), which literally means "golden", is the currency of Poland. The modern złoty is subdivided into 100 groszy (singular: grosz, alternative plural forms: grosze; groszy). The recognized English form of the word is zloty, plural zloty or zlotys. The currency sign zł, is composed of Polish small letters z and ł (Unicode:U+007A z latin small letter z & U+0142 ł latin small letter l with stroke).

         As a result of inflation in the early 1990s, the currency underwent redenomination. Thus, on January 1, 1995, 10,000 old złotych (PLZ) became one new złoty (PLN).

History of Zloty

          The złoty (golden) is a traditional Polish currency unit dating back to the Middle Ages. Initially, in the 14th and 15th centuries, the name was used for all kinds of foreign gold coins used in Poland, most notably Venetian and Hungarian ducats. In 1496 the Sejm approved the creation of a national currency, the złoty, and its value was set at 30 groszy, a coin minted since 1347 and modelled on the Prague groschen. The grosz was subdivided into 2 półgrosz or 3 solidi.

          The name złoty (sometimes referred to as the florin) was used for a number of different coins, including the 30 groszy coin called the polski złoty, the czerwony złoty (Red złoty) and the złoty reński (the Rhine guilder), which were in circulation at the time. However, the value of the Polish złoty dropped over time relative to these foreign coins and it became a silver coin, with the foreign ducats eventually circulating at approximately 5 złotych.

          Following the monetary reform carried out by King Stanisław August Poniatowski, the złoty became Poland's official currency and the exchange rate of 1 złoty to 30 groszy was confirmed. Until 1787, the złoty was tied to the Conventionsthaler of the Holy Roman Empire, with 8 złoty equal to one Conventionsthaler and, consequently, 4 groschen equal to the złoty. Two debasements of the currency occurred in the years before the final partition of Poland.

The new Polish złoty (PLN) is the unofficial name of the current currency of Poland, introduced on January 1, 1995 as a result of the redenomination of the old currency. The official name of the Polish currency did not change since the Polish currency law of 1950 (DZ.U nr 50. poz. 459 with later changes), which defines the official currency as the złoty, up to one million denominated notes remains in effect. The redenomination rate was 10,000 old Polish złoty to 1 new Polish złoty. The issuing bank is the National Bank of Poland. See also original law from 7 July 1994 Dziennik Ustaw Nr 84, 386

          Conditions of Poland's joining the European Union (in May 2004) oblige the country to eventually adopt the euro, though not at any specific date and only after Poland meets the necessary stability criteria. Serious discussions of joining the Eurozone have ensued. However, article 227 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland will need to be amended first, so it seems unlikely that Poland will adopt the Euro before 2019. Public opinion research by CBOS from March 2011 shows that 60% of Poles are against changing their currency. Only 32% of Poles want to adopt the Euro, compared to 41% in April 2010

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.

MY COLLECTION - ALBUM NO 7 - SOVIET UNION & EUROPE - HELVETIA (SWITZERLAND) AND LATVIA COINS

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY
C/O COL GKS REDDY

Secunderabad - 500 015.


Helvetia (Switzerland) Coins

        The franc (sign: Fr. or SFr. or FS; German: Franken, French and Romansh: franc, Italian: franco; code: CHF) is the currency andlegal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. The Swiss National Bank(SNB) issues banknotes and the federal mint Swissmint issues coins.

          The smaller denomination, a hundredth of a franc, is a Rappen (Rp.) in German, centime (c.) in French, centesimo (ct.) in Italian, andrap (rp.) in Romansh. The ISO code of the currency used by banks and financial institutions is CHF, although "Fr." is used by most businesses and advertisers; some use SFr.; the Latinate "CH" stands for Confoederatio Helvetica.

       Given the different languages used in Switzerland, Latin is used for language-neutral inscriptions on the coins.

Latvia Coins

          The lats (plural: lati (2–9) latu (10 and more)), ISO 4217 currency code: LVL or 428) was the currency of Latvia until it was replaced by the euro on 1 January 2014. A two week transition period during which the lats was in circulation along with the euro ended on 14 January 2014. It is abbreviated as Ls and is sub-divided into 100 santīmi (singular: santīms; from French centime).

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 - UNITED KINGDOM - LONDON - REGENT PARK

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,
C/O COL GKS REDDY,

Secunderabad - 500 015.

          Since the children were busy with their office work, I decided to get out and see the Bloom of Tulips in Queen Mary's Garden in Regent Park, in Camden Council of Central London, before the flowers dry up. I visited Regent's park on 24 Apr 2014 and the Trip was worth it and quite enjoyable.

Regent's Park London.

          Regent's Park (officially The Regent's Park) is one of the Royal Parks of London. It lies within inner North West London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden. It contains Regent's University London and the London Zoo.

          The park has an outer ring road called the Outer Circle (4.3 km) and an inner ring road called the Inner Circle (1 km), which surrounds the most carefully tended section of the park, Queen Mary's Gardens. Apart from two link roads between these two, the park is reserved for pedestrians. The south, east and most of the west side of the park are lined with elegant white stucco terraces of houses designed by John Nash. Running through the northern end of the park is Regent's Canal which connects the Grand Union Canal to the former London docks.

          The 166 hectares (410 acres) park is mainly open parkland which enjoys a wide range of facilities and amenities including gardens, a lake with a heronry, waterfowl and a boating area, sports pitches, and children's playgrounds. The northern side of the park is the home of London Zoo and the headquarters of the Zoological Society of London. There are several public gardens with flowers and specimen plants, including Queen Mary's Gardens in the Inner Circle, in which the Open Air Theatre is located; the formal Italian Gardens and adjacent informal English Gardens in the south-east corner of the park; and the gardens of St John's Lodge. Winfield House, the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, stands in private grounds in the western section of the park. Nearby is the domed London Central Mosque, better known as Regent's Park mosque, a highly visible landmark.

I took a Tube from Rayners Lane Station and got down at Regent's Park Tube Station, after changing at Baker Lane. Walked down from Regent's Park Tube Station to the Park, about 5 mins walk. Took some photos, after entering the Park Road and also in the park, before reaching Queen Mary's Park.

A Building at the entry of Park Square West

The Park end View of the same Building, taken from the Park Entrance

Flowering Trees on the Western Boundary of the Park

Regent Park Layout Plan at the Park Entrance

Wild Flowers at the Entrance of the Park

Pink Flower Wild Tree in the Park

A White Flower wild Tree near Queen Mary's Garden in Regent Park

Queen mary's Garden, Regent Park

          Queen Mary’s Garden is a world-famous garden named after the wife of King George V. In 1932 when Queen Mary’s Gardens opened to the general public, the first superintendent planted a rose garden which was completed in 1934.

          The rose garden is London's largest collection of roses with approximately 12,000 roses planted within the gardens. There are 85 single variety beds on display, including one which is home to our very own ‘Royal Parks’ rose. Examples of most rose varieties, from the classics to the most modern English roses, are present in the gardens.

          Roses are not the only treasure of the gardens. The Delphinium border has full National Collection status. The Mediterranean Borders are well established, and the Begonia Garden, with its 9,000 begonias, is twice yearly planted with seasonal bedding.

          Shrubberies are strategically designed and located to add a sense of mystery and privacy to the gardens.

          The rich sights and scents of these marvellous plants play such an important part in the delightful experience of visiting Queen Mary‘s Gardens. Benches are available for visitors to sit and enjoy the garden. To see the best blooms visit us in the first two weeks of June.

          I skipped the Rose section of Queen Mary's Garden and went straight for the Tulips section, as I was more interested in seeing Tulips. Unlike in other Gardens, the Tulips are mixed with various other flowers, make it more colourful.

Tulips mixed with other flowers and arranged in a circle

Tulips around a decorative vase

Tlips with other flowers around another vase

Tulips in a Circle

Tulips with other flowers and plants

Red Tulips in a circle

A rectangular bed of Tulips with other flowers

A side view of another rectangular bed

Tulips around another vase

Red and Pink Tulips around a vase

Side view of another Rectangular bed

Yellow Tulips in a rectangular bed

Tulips with other flowers around avase

Corner view of White and Pink Tulips Bed

A decorative Resting Hut near the Exit gate of Queen Mary's Garden

Eastern Side of the Park.

After seeing the Tulips section of Queen Mary's Garden, I started for Prim Rose Hill on the Eastern edge of Regent Park. I took some more photos while walking through the park.

Sir Cowasjee Drinking Water Fountain in the park

The Plaque on the Fountain.

Views of Beautiful and large lawns with wild flowering trees on the borders.

London Zoo, Regent Park

One of the buildings in the Zoo as seen from the park

Deer enclosure as seen from the park

A restaurant in the park, outside the Zoo.

A flowering bush on the Zoo Boundary

Beautiful Fern on the Zoo Boundary

Regent Park Canal

          From Lime house Basin in Docklands, the Regent's Canal passes through Mile End, Hackney, Islington, King's Cross, Camden, Regents Park through to Little Venice and Paddington.

          Canals were built to carry Britain's goods 200 years ago, long before the advent of railways and motorways. Time moves on and, sadly, commercial boats and barges have all but disappeared, but the waterways still retain their charm and character.

Views of  Regent Park Canal taken from Prim Rose Hill Bridge

Prim Rose Hill Bridge from the Church end

St Mark's Church from Prim Rose Hill Bridge

Primrose Hill, Regent Park

          Primrose Hill is a hill of 256 feet (78 m) located on the northern side of Regent's Park in London, and also the name given to the surrounding district. The hill has a clear view of central London to the south-east, as well as Belsize Park and Hampstead to the north. It is one of the most exclusive and expensive residential areas in London and is home to many prominent residents.

          Like Regent's Park, Primrose Hill was once part of a great chase appropriated by Henry VIII. Later, in 1841, it became Crown property and in 1842 an Act of Parliament secured the land as public open space. The built up part of Primrose Hill consists mainly of Victorian terraces. It has always been one of the more fashionable districts in the urban belt that lies between the core of London and the outer suburbs, and remains expensive and prosperous.

Some Views of Central London from Primrose Hill

British Telecom Tower and London Eye from the Hill

British Army, Navy and Air HQ buildings Rear View (?) from Primrose Hill

Another view of BT Tower and London Eye with London Docks in the background

The Shard (Tallest building of London)

A view of London Docks from Primrose Hill

Another view of the Shard

A closer view of London Docks from Primrose Hill

Other views of London from Primrose Hill

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