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Saudi Umayyad Dinar Sold at 6 Million Dollars

I have spent the whole night trying to do some research on Saudi coins. Fortunately, I have gained some luck to write an article about one great Coin of Saudi Arabia, the Umayyad Dinar. According to Wiki, the gold dinar is an Islamic medieval gold coin first issued in AH 77 (696–697 CE) by Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. The weight of the dinar is 1 mithqal (4.25 grams or 0.137 troy ounces). The word dinar comes from the Latin word denarius, which was a silver coin. The name "dinar" is also used for Sasanid, Kushan, and Kidarite gold coins, though it is not known what the contemporary name was. The first dinars were issued by the Umayyad Caliphate. Under the dynasties that followed the use of the dinar spread from Islamic Spain to Central Asia. Just recently, a rare Islamic gold coin sold by Morton & Eden Ltd. Last April 4, 2021, it has established a new record price for a non-U.S. coin sold at auction. The Umayyad dinar dated A.H. 105 (circa A.D. 723 to 724) realized £3,

The Great Badjang or Giant Taro

As we try to come up with things to do to make our days productive this Pandemic, a lot of people are leaning towards Gardening. Here in the Philippines, people are becoming crazy with a certain plant. It has large leaves which resembles an Elephant’s ear. Badjang, as we call it here in the Philippines, scientifically called Alocasia macrorrhizos, is a species of flowering plant in the arum family that it is native to rainforests of Island Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Queensland and has long been cultivated here in the Philippines, many Pacific islands, and elsewhere in the tropics. It is also famous as Giant Taro. The giant taro was originally domesticated in the Philippines, but are known from wild specimens to early Austronesians in Taiwan. From the Philippines, they spread outwards to the rest of Island Southeast Asia and eastward to Oceania where it became one of the staple crops of Pacific Islanders. They are one of the four main species of aroids (taros) cultivated by Austron

The Most Expensive Banknote: The 1890 Grand Watermelon Bill

As a self proclaimed Numismatist, I have an ample amount of great Coins in my Collection. It took me more than 20 years searching. researching and eventually collecting those precious Coins yet still, there are so much more to collect. There are few, actually less than 10 pieces of Banknotes in my Collection and honestly, I am having some problems handling them. Paper money became more sensitive as it age. It's condition lasts only around 7 to 8 years then its raw materials starts to deteriorate. However, if you are into collecting Banknotes, one very interesting find is the 1890 Grand Watermelon Bill. Series 1890 $1,000 Treasury Note, nicknamed "The Grand Watermelon" due to the shape and color of the zeros on the reverse. There are only seven known "Grand Watermelon" notes today, which makes it one of the rarest and most sought-after pieces in American paper currency. Imagine this, one of these Banknote was sold in an auction at a whooping 2.04 million American

The Most Expensive Coin in the World: The Flowing Hair

If you consider yourself a Numismatist, one who is fond of collecting Coins, you will wonder how much a certain Coin will be sold and on what Era will it come from.  The most valuable coin in the world, as of this date, 2nd quarter of 2021, is set to go on auction in Las Vegas, and experts say it could fetch upward of $10 million.  In 1791, following a study by Alexander Hamilton, Congress passed a joint resolution calling for the establishment of a national mint. Later that year, in his third State of the Union address, President George Washington urged Congress to provide for a mint, which was officially authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792. Despite the authorization, silver and gold coins were not struck until 1794. The Flowing Hair dollar, designed by Robert Scot, was initially produced in 1794, and again in 1795. In October 1795 the design was replaced by the Draped Bust dollar.  Dated to 1794, the rare silver dollar is thought to be one of the first, if not the very first, coins

The All New Toyota Vios 1.5 GR-S

While the world is on a standstill due to CoViD Pandemic, Toyota announces the release of its All New Vios 1.5 GRS. GR-S, which stands for Gazoo Racing Sport, is a guarantee that a car was developed guided by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing which specializes in developing Toyota's lineup of products built with racing DNA. The Toyota Vios is a subcompact car produced by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota, primarily for markets in the Asia-Pacific region since 2002. The Vios name is currently only used in Philippines, China, Taiwan, and South East Asian regions. The "Vios" name is derived from the Latin word "vio", meaning "go or travel (forward)". Finally, March of 2021, price starts at PHP 1,020,000.00, the Toyota Vios 1.5 GR-S is now in the Philippines. Many car enthusiasts sees the Toyota as provider of basic automobile and wishes that the company will soon release a more flashier car model, a sports type sedan, if it is not much to ask. Well, here it is, specs as

The All New Honda City Hatchback RS 1.5 CVT

After more than a year, we're still at the Pandemic... Here in the Philippines, people are starting to accept that wearing facemask and faceshield, having an ample amount of rubbing alcohol and observing social distancing is the new "Normal". People are starting to adapt with the situation and yet, going to work, if so happen that you're unfortunate enough to work from home, you have to find an alternative from commuting to work. A lot are embracing the more environmental approach, riding a traditional Bicycle, and there are some, the can-afford some, decided to invest in a more fashionable manner, a brand new car. Car manufacturers like Mitsubishi, Toyota and Honda, to name a few, are on a race to provide a compact yet stylish variance of Sedan. The Mirage G4 of Mitsubishi, Wigo and Vios of Toyota and for this article, Honda will try to impress us with their brand new City Hatchback 1.5 RS. You have read it right folks, introducing the latest from Honda, The City Hat

The Lapu Lapu Commemorative Banknote and Silver Medal

In Numismatic world, we are very particular with who will be the featured “Hero” in a certain coin especially here in the Philippines. History as it dictates, the most popular is Jose Rizal, our national hero. However, there is another hero who creates his own name and is way ancient than Jose Rizal. Lapulapu or Lapu-Lapu, whose name was first recorded as Çilapulapu, was a datu of Mactan in the Visayas. Modern Philippine society regards him as the first Filipino hero because of his resistance to imperial Spanish colonization. He is best known for the Battle of Mactan that happened at dawn on April 27, 1521, where he and his warriors defeated the forces of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his native allies Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula. Magellan's death ended his voyage of circumnavigation and delayed the Spanish occupation of the islands by over forty years until the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1564. Legazpi continued the expeditions of Magellan, leading to the

Mountain Bikes, Suspension and Wheel Sizes

Everybody has to have a hobby, especially these days during the “Pandemic”. I for one is fond of riding my Mountain Bike. I own a “Cross Country Trail Mountain Bike”. I know I know, you have to take your frown off your head as there are a lot of “Kinds” of Mountain Bikes, and that’s what we will talk about here. The riding disciplines, Bike suspension classification and even three types of wheel sizes so you personally can adapt as to what “Specifics” you should put on your Bike. Not all Bikes are created equal. If you ride your Bike on a regular basis, you’ll notice a lot of different looking Bikes. They are all created not just for looks, but for specific purpose or riding discipline. Most people, doesn’t really take time to have some research as to what kind of Bike to build, as long as they will have a “Fun” time riding their Bikes. Well, let’s get to it then. First Mountain Bike that we will show is the Cross Country Mountain Bike . Cross Country Mountain bikes, or XC bike