LKY100 Commemorative Coin collection set for 4 September, announces MAS

SINGAPORE: Those who successfully secured the revered LKY100 coin, launched in honor of Singapore’s founding prime minister late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, will soon be able to collect their tokens starting 4 September.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) made this significant announcement on Monday (21 Aug), offering further insight into the process that enthusiasts and collectors can expect.

In May, MAS unveiled the special $10 coin to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

MAS confirmed the production of an impressive four million LKY100 coins, a quantity that aptly caters to the remarkable demand.

Over 700,000 applications were received for 3.3 million coins during the online application phase, showcasing the widespread anticipation for this historical artifact.

For those fortunate enough to secure the coveted LKY100 coin, here are the key details:

Collection Window: 4 September to 26 November

Starting from 21 August – 30 September, successful applicants will receive a personalized SMS notification from MAS.

This message will provide critical information, including the number of coins allocated and a two-week collection timeframe. Collectors will be able to retrieve their coins from their designated bank branch during this period.

Applicants should note that due to high demand at specific branches, some may be assigned an alternate collection location, ensuring a smooth process for all.

Flexibility for Collection: 27 November – 3 December

For those who cannot collect their coins during the initial two-week period, there’s no need to worry.

A second collection phase will be open from November 27 November – 3 December, providing an additional opportunity to obtain the cherished LKY100 coin.

MAS offers the following recommendations to ensure a hassle-free collection experience:

• Adhere to the assigned collection period and designated bank branch.
• Confirm the operational hours of your chosen bank branch via its official website.
• Bring along your NRIC/birth certificate and the SMS notification from MAS.
• Payment of S$10 per coin should be made at the designated bank branch during collection.
• If unable to collect in person, individuals can designate representatives by providing copies of NRIC/birth certificates and the MAS SMS notification screenshot.
• Be aware that any SMS from MAS regarding the LKY100 coin will not include clickable URLs or upfront payment requests.
• To manage crowd flow, it is advised not to rush to the banks during the initial days of the collection period.

From 4 December, all uncollected and remaining coins will be made available to the general public, including non-Singaporeans, at selected bank branches.

For comprehensive information and answers to common queries about the LKY100 coin collection process, refer to the official resource at https://go.gov.sg/lky100coin.

“Working for the well-being of Singapore and Singaporeans” would be a better way of honouring Mr LKY’s legacy: Dr Lee Wei Ling

Back in 2016, Dr Lee Wei Ling, daughter of the late Lee Kuan Yew, already warned that his father would have cringed at the hero worship just one year after his death.

She said in a Facebook post on 6 Apr 2016, worked hard “and determinedly in life to advance Singapore, and not for his place in history, or leaving a great legacy”.

Any form of “veneration”, then, “could have the opposite effect” and may “lead future generations of Singaporeans to think” that Mr LKY was “motivated by his desire for fame or creation of a dynasty”, cautioned Dr Lee.

While she found “tremendous comfort” at the time to see how her father’s efforts were appreciated by Singaporeans who came in droves to mourn his death, she questioned how the “time, effort and resources” spent on certain acts of commemoration following his death “would benefit Singapore and Singaporeans”.

Citing a report by The Straits Times a year after Mr LKY’s death which carried a photo of a large outline of Mr LKY’s face made using 4,877 erasers, Dr Lee said that while the effort was “well-meaning”, it was reminiscent of the “contrived” greetings by young children on the streets during the Singapore delegation’s visit to China in 1976.

“We are Singaporeans, not prone to excessive, unnatural displays of emotion … Papa merely waved at the children, as he would have done in Singapore. I refused to even do that. I stared straight ahead, feeling very sad for the people of the “Middle Kingdom” that was still run like a kingdom,” she said.

Dr Lee also compared the China government’s decision to build a Memorial Hall as a tribute to Chairman Mao — founder of the People’s Republic of China — just a month after his death with how the United Kingdom’s Parliament commemorated former Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s funeral 50 years after the actual funeral.

Sir Churchill served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 during which he led Britain to victory in the Second World War, and later again served as premier from 1951 to 1955.

The 50th anniversary of Sir Churchill’s funeral, which took place in 2015, was marked by “a service and wreath-laying at the Houses of Parliament, a memorial service at Westminster Abbey, and the rebroadcast by BBC Parliament of the original live coverage”, noted Dr Lee.

“Compare what Churchill’s commemoration which was conducted 50 years after his death with the activities that have been taking place in Singapore that will continue for an entire week.

“I think Papa would have objected if he were able to convey his view,” said Dr Lee.

Given that the late Mr LKY was — in the words of Dr Lee — a statesman who worked hard to advance Singapore “with no thought to any gain for himself” alongside other pioneers of modern-day Singapore, one might question if erecting a structure such as the Founders’ Memorial is indeed the best way to “simultaneously honour the past and inspire the present and future” of the Republic.