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Singapore Mint suspends orders for medallions marking 5th anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew's death
The Pride of Singapore medallion range comprises four commemorative gold, silver, and base-metal medallions, as well as made-to-order copper busts.PHOTO: THE SINGAPORE MINT
PUBLISHED
6 HOURS AGO
UPDATED
31 MIN AGO
Jean Iau
Clement Yong
SINGAPORE - Orders for medallions engraved with the face of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew have been stopped for now, hours after their launch on the same day.
As of 7pm on Monday (March 2), the medallions were no longer available for order on the Singapore Mint’s website, according to a notice on the site that said orders were “temporarily suspended”.
It is not clear at the moment why the orders of the medallions were stopped. The Straits Times has contacted the Singapore Mint for more information.
Earlier in the day at about 12.45pm, the Singapore Mint announced in a media release that it had launched the medallions to mark the fifth anniversary of Mr Lee's death on March 23, 2015.
The Pride of Singapore medallion range featuring Mr Lee was to comprise four commemorative gold, silver, and base-metal medallions, as well as made-to-order copper busts.
The latest launch was to be the second issue of the Singapore Mint's Singapore Salute Series. The first issue was a set of medallions of Sir Stamford Raffles launched in 2019 to commemorate the Singapore Bicentennial.
News of the launch provoked a backlash among netizens, with many saying that the engraving of Mr Lee on medallions expressly went against his wishes when he was alive to not be memorialised.
Some also thought the use of his image was political in what could be an election year, while others said it was in bad taste to profit from Mr Lee’s image through the medallions’ sale.
Some people also believed that the timing of the launch was unfortunate, due to the ongoing dispute between the children of the late Mr Lee.
Even so, some people supported the launch of the medallions, saying that it can help the younger generation remember Singapore’s history. Others also argued that it was not a big deal, with the medallions being a far cry from the erection of a statue of Mr Lee.
The new issue was to feature 1/2 oz 999.9 fine gold and 1 oz 999 fine silver oval-shaped medallions engraved with the portrait of Mr Lee.
The copper and nickel-plated zinc medallions of the issue were also to have sampans and Singapore's skyline on the reverse side, representing the development of Singapore from humble beginnings.
The medallions were initially available at early bird prices between $10 and $1,888 each.
The copper busts were available in 110mm and 430mm sizes and were made to order. Singapore Mint did not state their prices then.
The latest range was supposed to be available for pre-order from Monday to March 15 at the Singapore Mint's outlets and online store.
The Pride of Singapore medallion range comprises four commemorative gold, silver, and base-metal medallions, as well as made-to-order copper busts.PHOTO: THE SINGAPORE MINT
PUBLISHED
6 HOURS AGO
UPDATED
31 MIN AGO
Jean Iau
Clement Yong
SINGAPORE - Orders for medallions engraved with the face of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew have been stopped for now, hours after their launch on the same day.
As of 7pm on Monday (March 2), the medallions were no longer available for order on the Singapore Mint’s website, according to a notice on the site that said orders were “temporarily suspended”.
It is not clear at the moment why the orders of the medallions were stopped. The Straits Times has contacted the Singapore Mint for more information.
Earlier in the day at about 12.45pm, the Singapore Mint announced in a media release that it had launched the medallions to mark the fifth anniversary of Mr Lee's death on March 23, 2015.
The Pride of Singapore medallion range featuring Mr Lee was to comprise four commemorative gold, silver, and base-metal medallions, as well as made-to-order copper busts.
The latest launch was to be the second issue of the Singapore Mint's Singapore Salute Series. The first issue was a set of medallions of Sir Stamford Raffles launched in 2019 to commemorate the Singapore Bicentennial.
News of the launch provoked a backlash among netizens, with many saying that the engraving of Mr Lee on medallions expressly went against his wishes when he was alive to not be memorialised.
Some also thought the use of his image was political in what could be an election year, while others said it was in bad taste to profit from Mr Lee’s image through the medallions’ sale.
Some people also believed that the timing of the launch was unfortunate, due to the ongoing dispute between the children of the late Mr Lee.
Even so, some people supported the launch of the medallions, saying that it can help the younger generation remember Singapore’s history. Others also argued that it was not a big deal, with the medallions being a far cry from the erection of a statue of Mr Lee.
The new issue was to feature 1/2 oz 999.9 fine gold and 1 oz 999 fine silver oval-shaped medallions engraved with the portrait of Mr Lee.
The copper and nickel-plated zinc medallions of the issue were also to have sampans and Singapore's skyline on the reverse side, representing the development of Singapore from humble beginnings.
The medallions were initially available at early bird prices between $10 and $1,888 each.
The copper busts were available in 110mm and 430mm sizes and were made to order. Singapore Mint did not state their prices then.
The latest range was supposed to be available for pre-order from Monday to March 15 at the Singapore Mint's outlets and online store.
