Doha: A US $1 bill with serial number I 11111111 G, among many rarest of rare banknotes from other countries all with serial number 1 collected by a Qatari numismatist, is showcased at an exhibition now on at Katara Cultural Village.
Among Hassan Al Nuami’s collection at the exhibition titled ‘Money and Letters’ is a big 1919 Russian banknote around 5x6 inches, a £10 note issued by Northern Bank Limited, established in 1824 in Belfast, with the serial number E 1111111 and, from India, a `1 and the pink colour `2 notes, both with serial number 1, that are now out of circulation are on display.
The exhibits are a small part of Al Nuaimi’s total collection which has nearly 100,000 banknotes with unique permutations and combinations of numbers from 1 to 9.
The Katara exhibition is displaying only banknotes with number 1 combinations. The Qatari is currently preparing to vie for place in the Guinness World Records.
Al Nuaimi said: “I am expanding my collection of banknotes with unique numbers. Once I’m fully prepared I will approach Guinness World Records. I want to do something unique for Qatar and myself through my collection.”
The Guinness World Record for the largest collection of banknotes belongs to India’s Anil Bohora who has a total of 10,025 different banknotes, as of January 13, 2009.
The exhibition is also showcasing the first ever Qatari Riyal notes of 500 and 5 denominations of number 1 series issued by Qatar Central Bank. Besides GCC nations and leading Europe countries, the exhibits include some rare banknotes from countries like Moldova, Seychelles, Brazil, Romania and Ethiopia. “My game is playing with numbers,” said Al Nuaimi who started collecting at the age of 16.
“Challenge me and I will pull out banknotes of any combination of numbers between 1 and 9 from my collection.”
His vast collection includes notes with rare permutations of numbers like 111118, 111181, 111811 and many such combinations which have been showcased at exhibitions he held in Brazil, London, Paris and his last two were recently held in Holland and Singapore.
His exhibitions have drawn praises from all over the world.
A young Lebanese couple, amazed by Al Nuaimi’s exhibits at Katara, said: “This is the first exhibition of this kind that I’m witnessing. This is a different way of looking at currency notes” .
Jessica Hanna and her husband Simon said: “It amazing. I wonder how he does it. He must have a lot of patience to do this.”
A Qatari visitor Sultan Mohammed Al Jaber and his four daughters were impressed too.
“To find banknotes with rare numbers is like looking for a diamond in an ocean,” said Al Jaber.
Building this vast collection must certainly be an expensive hobby.
“Yes, it is an expensive hobby. I once paid `100,000 to buy a bundle of 100 `1 notes. The face value of the bundle is `100, but I had to pay `100,000.”
Asked what is the total value of his collection, Al Nuaimi said: “This is my passion. I’m not counting money to get rare money! I only hope one day I will be able to bring glory and honour to Qatar if my collection wins the record.”
The exhibition is open up to August 11 at Katara Cultural Village. QNA
