The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) launched the 2009 Heritage Orchids of Singapore Coin Set today.

This is the fourth set of coins issued in tribute to one of Singapore's national treasures. The orchid coin series have proven to be popular with coin collectors.

The 2009 Heritage Orchids of Singapore Coin Set consists of two coins featuring Spathoglottis Primrose and Vanda Amy.

The Spathoglottis Primrose was the first hybrid of the Singapore Botanic Gardens' breeding programme initiated by Professor Richard Eric Holttum more than 70 years ago.

This hybrid is a very robust and free flowering plant, which makes it suitable for growing under tropical conditions.

The Vanda Amy is an attractive hybrid, one of the earlier hybrid registered and created by John Laycock in 1956, a well known lawyer and one of the founding members of the present Orchid Society of South East Asia.

It was named by Mr Laycock for his daughter Amy, who was a City Councillor in the period before independence.
This orchid is a terete-leave Vanda that grows and flowers well in the sun.

The obverse of the coins bears the Singapore Arms with the year-date 2009.

The coins will be issued in a premium set from today. The details of the coin set are:

a. 2-in-1 $5 Silver Proof Coin Set
Two pieces of 999 fine silver coins with colour application. Each coin weighs 20 grammes and has a diameter of 38.70 mm. Mintage of 8,000 sets only. Each set is accompanied by two certificates of authenticity with the same serial numbers.

b. 2-in-1 ez-link (CEPAS) Card Set
Two pieces of ez-link (CEPAS) cards featuring the two orchid species. Mintage of 3,000 sets.

c. $5 Silver Proof Coin and ez-link (CEPAS) Card Set
Two pieces of 999 fine silver coins with colour application and two ez-link (CEPAS) cards. Mintage of 1,000 sets (the coins and the ez-link (CEPAS) cards are from items (a) and (b) above respectively).

The coins will be sold by The Singapore Mint.

For enquiries and coin orders, the public can contact The Singapore Mint at 6566 2626 / 6339 0886 / 6895 0288 / 6895 0358 or www.singaporemint.com.

Orders must reach The Singapore Mint by 20 September 2009.