Postal firm will issue gold stamps

JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned postal operator PT Pos Indonesia will issue a commemorative collection of gold stamps worth Rp 76 billion (US$33.7 million) next month, featuring three selected designs to mark the country's 50th Independence Day.

The company's president, Cahyana Ahmadjayadi, told The Jakarta Post shortly before meeting with Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave yesterday that his company is preparing some 10,000 sets, which will be offered to selected parties.

"Each of the sets is comprised of three stamps made of 24- carat gold. We have sent gold to Switzerland, where we ordered designers to create the replicas," he said.

He said that the stamps are versions of regular stamps issued in 1982, 1993 and 1995. The first type will be similar to the one issued on Aug. 17, 1982, featuring a Garuda, the country's national symbol. The second was originally issued on Aug. 17, 1993, illustrating President Soeharto, while the third will show a child carrying the national red and white flag. All will be issued on Aug. 17, 1995.

The third stamp was the recent winner of a stamp design contest held in connection with Indonesia's golden anniversary.

Joop, who came up with the idea of gold stamps, is scheduled to launch the collection on Aug. 11, Cahyana said.

He said the gold stamp series will likely be sold for about Rp 7.5 million (US$3,330) each. "The nominal price of the gold is about Rp 3 million, while the price of the collection will be two to two-and-a-half times higher."

We will record the collectors so the movement of the stamps can be monitored, he said.

Meanwhile, an executive of the company, Mulyanto, said that the United States issued such a collection in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America, while Singapore will also issue similar collection later this year.

"The U.S. collection consisted of 25 gold-plated stamps, while Singapore will issue 30 gold-plated stamps," he said. (icn)