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The new form of money for
the 21st century. Newsletter 2, July.
By Bruce Phillips: bphillip@caverock.net.nz
2000
If
I was to say these are the best of times for collectors I am sure this would
raise a few eyebrows but let me explain.I am well aware that the current
market for many collectables isrelatively weak and changing. Few of the
traditional hobbies are really humming along. Collecting habits and interests
change overtime. Stamp collecting is a good example. Few young people
now participate in the hobby and the median age of collectors has probably
reached the age of about 60 years.
The traditional collectables of older
generations are not fantastically appealing to younger people brought up on a
diet of television, video games, fast foods and fast cars just to
mention a few competing fields of interest.However all is not lost
as the seeds are rapidly being sown for are surgence in interest in some
collectables. Today, societies arebeing increasingly exposed to mobile
phones and prepaid cards,GSM cards, pay to view television with set top
boxes and smartcards, chip based payphone, credit, debit and cash cards,
chip based cards for cashless ticketing.
At the present time we are
only seeing the first stage in an explosive expansion of chip card usage.
Within 10 years we are going to see billions of cards in circulation.
Familiarity increases interest and collectability, especially with items
that represent a form of money. E-cash moneycards have
absolutely outstanding potential to become very valuable
collectables. I confidently predict that by the end of the first decade
of the 21st Century a major collecting interest will revolve around e-cash
moneycards. That is why the present is such a great time to be a collector of
the various stored value cards that are available. I think that some
international brand names will be very widely collected but national brand
names will be locally important.Today's collectors of e-cash
moneycards cards will be very pleased that they sought out the early issues.
In particular Ibelieve that Visa Cash and Mondex cards will be at the
forefront of the internationally important issues.
Evidence of
expanding usage of E-CASH Moneycards and Chip Cards in general.
It has
recently been annouced that about 10 million Visa Cash cards will be issued
in Korea. A consortiun of banks and SK Telecom will issue the cards that will
allow purchases over the Internet and at retail outlets. In the
Philippines a group of banks, retailers and a telecommunications company will
also issue some 10 million Visa Cash cards.In both of the above cases
card processing will be done by a Singaporean company. Other processing
companies are being established for the same purpose of processing
smartcard payments. In Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany
similar developments are underway. Both the Australian and the UK
company will begin processing cards early in 2001.
In the UK it has
also been reported that a major bank will issue millions of Visa Cash cards
to use the UK facility run by Prepayment Cards Limited(PCL). The UK Post
Office is to issue and recharge cards issued by PCL. The Post Office may also
issue its own card using the PCL platform. As there are 18 500 Post
Offices this will provide a comprehensive network for card users.The
first stage in the deployment of cards will begin with 750 000 being issued
to commuters in the Manchester area. Further roll-outs will follow as most of
the major transport operators have signed up for the smart ticketing
system.
Some comments on the Visa Cash Cricket cards issued in
Australia and New Zealand.
There appears to be some confusion about
these issues. Cards with a cricketing theme were issued in both Australia and
New Zealand. Two cards with denominations of $25 and $50 were issued
in Adelaide in December 1999 and a $20 card was issued in Wellington, New
Zealand in January 2000. The Australian cards are very scarce and already
expensive but are destined to rise to much higher levels in the future. The
New Zealand card has been issued in much larger numbers but is surprisingly
difficult to obtain in used condition. Hoewever mint cards can be
readily purchased.
Contacts. listed below are card dealers and
collectors willing to assist in your search for cards.
Bruce Phillips:
bphillip@caverock.net.nz
Scott Shapiro: karsunltd@aol.com
Hendro Winatan:
hwinatan@paradise.net.nz
Bjorn Ahlander: reiahl@online.no
Robert Crane:
bobzaman@yahoo.com
Bob Champion: ampbob@bigpond.com.au
Jose Pereira:
flcp@retemail.es
Olley Millington: wunovuz3@ihug.co.nz
Cecilia Wong:
cecilia-wong@usa.net
Good Collecting
Bruce Phillips.
Photo #1 Mondex Card from Crédit Mutuel, France
Photo #2 Visa Cash Card from Hong Kong
Photo #3 Smart Card from Australia
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