Singapore will unveil the world’s inaugural Youth Olympic Games on 14 August 2010. In conjunction with the event, commemorative coins will be issued and sold.

$10 Gold Proof-Like Coin

1/4oz of 999.9 gold. Mintage of 5,000 pieces.

The $10 Gold Proof-Like Coin features the symbol of the Singapore 2010 emblem and the Olympic rings, which are encircled by spiralling fire and water imagery of the Singapore 2010.

$5 Silver Proof-Like Coin

1oz of 999 fine silver with hologram effect. Mintage of 10,000 pieces.

The $5 Silver Proof-Like Coin features the symbol of the Singapore 2010 emblem and the Olympic rings at the centre flanked by two mascots in vibrant colours.

On the lower circumference is a crescent-shaped hologram featuring repeated patterns of the iconic Singapore lion head. The coin will be sold by itself or in a set framed by four pieces of medallions in coloured finish that feature sport pictograms with local orchids at the rim.

$2 Bi-Metal Brilliant Uncirculated Coin

Brilliant uncirculated condition. Mintage of 30,000 pieces.

The $2 Bi-Metal Brilliant Uncirculated Coin features the striking symbol of the Singapore 2010 emblem on the Aluminium-Bronze core. Two youthful Singapore 2010 mascots, Lyo and Merly, and the distinctive Olympic rings are also featured in vibrant colours.

The coins can be purchased from the Singapore Mint using this order form or one of the retail shops below:

Olympic Superstore

Address: Orchard Road (outside Ngee Ann City)
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun (Daily), 10am to 10pm

Coin City

Address: 51 Cuppage Road #01-07 Starhub Centre
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat: 11.30am – 7.30pm Sun/Public Holiday: 12-5.30pm, close for lunch (2–3pm)
Tel: +65 6339 0886

Coin Gallery

Address: 20 Teban Gardens Crescent
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 8.30am – 4.30pm
Tel: +65 6895 0288

Singapore Coins and Notes Museum

Address: 2 Trengganu St, #03-00
Opening Hours: 10.00am – 8.00pm daily
Tel: +65 6222 2486

The other day, my friend was sharing with me a very interesting story.

When my friend was younger, he used to collect stamps. Not as a professional stamp collector, but more as a casual hobby – the way kids do. Every stamp he could lay his hands on, he would put them into an album. Sometimes, he would spend some money to buy those special edition stamps.

All in all, he probably spent less than $200 but collected enough stamps to fill a couple of albums.

That was about twenty years ago. As he got older, he stopped adding new stamps to the collection.

Recently, he bought his stamp collection to a professional to be valued. Guess how much his stamps was worth.

$10,000!

The valuer offered to pay him a cool $10k to buy over his entire collection.

I was pretty surprised at the amount he was offered. How I regret throwing away my stamp collection a few years ago.

I wonder how much they would have fetched.

If you have a collection sitting around in your home, it might be a good idea to go and find out how much they are worth.

And perhaps it’s time for me to start collecting stamps again.