BI to launche new coin series

JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia will launch on Monday a new gold and silver coin collection, both domestically and overseas, to participate in raising funds for Unicef.

Bank Indonesia senior official H.Y. Susmanto said on Friday the gold coins had a nominal value of Rp 150,000, while the silver coins were worth Rp 10,000.

Speaking at a news conference, Susmanto said the central bank was participating in "The Unicef Children of the World Coin Collection" program because it cared for the welfare of children and would also help promote Indonesia overseas.

He said 5,000 gold coins and 20,000 silver coins would be issued for overseas coin collectors.

He added that only 5,000 would be distributed in the domestic market.

Susmanto said Unicef would be paid a royalty for each coin sold.

He said Bank Indonesia would work with state money printing firm Perum Peruri and the Paramount International Coin Corporation of the U.S. in the issuance and distribution of the coins.

He said domestic distribution would be handled by Peruri, while Paramount International would handle overseas distribution.

He added that the selling price would be decided by both Peruri and Paramount International, while the central bank would only guarantee the legitimacy of the coins.

The gold coin weighs 6.22 grams, with 0.999 percent gold content, while the silver coin weighs 28.28 gram with a silver content of 0.925 percent.

Susmanto said domestic collectors interested in obtaining the coin could contact Peruri. (rei)