Haďti earthquake update: I have finally made contact with an old friend in Haiti, Joseph Guerdy-Lissade, IBNS and LANSA member, numismatic author and member of the Haiti bi-centennial banknotes design team. Guerdy reports that his house was destroyed and sadly his youngest son died in the earthquake. His other children and wife survived with injuries.  I also received an email from Daniel Elie, the designer of the Haiti 1,000 Gourde banknote, a member of the Haiti bi-centennial banknotes design team and author of the Bulletin de L'Institut de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine National (ISPAN). He and his family survived but he said the situation was "apocalyptic". In spite of the extreme conditions in Haiti, Daniel was able to get his latest bulletin to press, displaying the enormous destruction that occurred to so many historic structures, including the National Palace (left).

Current reports indicate that 150,000 people may have perished in the devastating earthquake. Not yet recovered from 3 hurricanes and severe flooding in 2008, this could not come at a worse time.

I just heard on TV that 10,000 women will give birth in Port-au-Prince within the next month. Because of the destruction of the hospitals the UN has provided a "kit" that will allow the women to give birth on their own!

While Haďti has been distinguished as the first black country to achieve independence when its people revolted against French occupation and defeated Napoleon's mighty army in 1801, it has had an extremely difficult history, placing it today as the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

An effective organization I have supported will be among the important NGO's helping Haďti recover once again, is Food For The Poor. FFP has been extremely efficient with their donor contributions in the past and they have the highest  ◊◊◊◊ Charity Navigator rating.

This site has a comprehensive section on Haďti banknotes displaying almost 700 different issues, along with a several original articles.               30.1.2010

Georgia [საქართველო] and Russia [Российская Федерация] plan to agree on opening the Kazbegi-Zemo Larsi border with a meeting tentatively set for March 2010. Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and continues to occupy Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia claims their troops entered South Ossetia in response to a Georgian troops entering the area. Georgia says it was in response to escalating South Ossetia attacks and Russian attacks on Georgian territory. Whose was right?  We'd appreciate hearing opinions on this and also on the situation on the ground in this volatile and strategically important region of the world.

We currently have 18 banknotes displayed from Georgia including the 50 Lari of 2004 which depicts Queen Tamar, the first woman to rule the country. She was able to consolidate her empire dominating the Caucasus from 1184-1213.

In keeping with our current home page theme, we have pictured another important woman, Ana Uchaneishvili who is currently Georgia Chief Staff Advisor to the Prime Minister. She served as Assistant to the Minister of Energy and Head of the Staff of the Minister of Finance prior to her current position.   Banknote image Ömer Yalcinkaya.    26.12.2009

FAMOUS WOMEN IN HISTORY

Las Mariposas, The Butterflies is another Famous Women in History Power Point Presentation created by Heather Arthurson of IBNS, Perth Australia. It is a moving story about the Mirabal Sisters, of the Dominican Republic who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.

Three of the sisters were assassinated but the fourth, Bélgica Adela "Dedé" Mirabal-Reyes survived and currently runs a museum in Salcedo dedicated to the memory of her sisters. A commemorative banknote was issued for the sisters in 2007.

Catherine Flon Archaie is the subject of a Power Point presentation given by Perth, Australia IBNS member Heather Arthurson. Catherine Flon, is seen at left in a wonderful painting by artist  Alexandra Barbot.

Flon was the goddaughter of Haitian Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines who asked her to rip out the white of the French flag to create the first Haitian flag. Flon, the Betsy Ross of Haďti, has been featured on several Haitii banknotes. learn more...

JORDAN

Jordan's Queen Rania is very popular in Jordan not only because of her great beauty but for the excellent work she is doing in the country. The Jordan  section has a total of 27 images, included is a wonderful autographed image of Queen Rania sent in by Dr. Márián Zoltán of Hungary.

Dr.Zoltán has collected autographed pictures of world leaders and personalities for many years and is currently looking for the whereabouts of the former Sultan of Zanzibar, Jamshid bin Abdullah. Readers with knowledge of the Sultan are encouraged to write us and we will pass the information on.

Our sincere thanks go to specialist Mahdi Bseiso for his help with this section. 

NORWAY

Norway section has 196 notes displayed. Collectors who can provide images of 17th and 19th century as well as World War II Emergency issues are encouraged to send them in so we can enhance this nice reference section.

Pictured is Kirsten Flagstad who has been called the "world’s most dramatic soprano." She is featured on Norway's 100 Kroner banknotes starting in 1995 through the current 2003 issues. Norges Bank began first picturing their revered personalities in 1877 with King Oscar II. In 1977 the first woman to appear on a Norway banknote was writer Camilla Collett, who has been referred to as Norway's first feminist. Novelist and Nobel laureate Sigrid Undset is pictured on the 500 Kroner notes starting in 1999.

Our sincere thanks go to the late Walter Jellum  for his help with this section.