Have you even seen a $1 Singapore coin? It is Octogan shaped. The one dollar coin is inscribed with an octagon, which looks like a Chinese Bagua. It seems that the Feng Shui masters in Singapore said that the construction of the MRT tunnels through downtown Singapore would have a negative effect on the country and her people. To counter this, they recommended that every household display a bagua to negate this. As there were many locals who did not adhere to this Chinese belief, the hexagon shaped design was incorporated into the one dollar coin. Hearsay has it that Singapore's senior minister, Lee Kwan Yew who is a firm believer in Feng Shui was told by fortune tellers that his dynasty would remain in power as long as the octagon was spread throughout Singapore.
There is another story about Mr Lee again making some changes on the face of the one dollar coin to correct the Feng Shui of his country's economy.
The Singapore $1 Coin Story
Ever spotted the difference?
I wonder how many of you noticed the differences between a more dated $1 coin and one that is more recently created.
I’m sure most of us know that MM Lee is a believer of fengshui. Besides the octagonal shape of our $1 coin, there’s something else people missed out.
Take a look at the close up of this coin dated 1990:
That was how the back of our $1 coin looked. Notice the banner right above “1990″ and the invisible arc line formed between the animals’ heads – they are both arched downwards.
Remember the Asian Financial Crisis that happened back in 1997 which hit Singapore pretty badly?
It was said that MM Lee consulted a fengshui shi fu about what he could do to improve the situation caused by the Asian Financial Crisis, and the fengshui shi fu swiftly gave a solution, that is to change the way the back of the coin is designed.
The shi fu pointed out that the design resembled a sad face:
“The Singaporeans are already so upset over the financial crisis, yet the $1 coin still has a sad looking face. How can?!! Change change change!” he said.
And change we did. Take a look at the design on our 1997 coin:
It sure looks like a smiley face to me.
4 comments:
Why you keep on describing the coin as hexagon when in fact it is octagon which you also a few times?
Thanks for pointing out the slip. I have made the correction.
I actually did not write this article but reposted it from somewhere. If you read the posts that were written by me, I do not have the habit of using Lahs when I write.
Anyway, thanks for your help in pointing out the discrepancy. Must be more careful next time.
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