New ez-link cards among bicentennial collectibles

(Clockwise from top left) EZ-Link's special edition cards, OCBC Bank's passbooks, SK Jewellery's set of three 2g 999 pure gold bars and 1g 999 pure gold bar. ST PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI

Those hoping to own a piece of history can now get their hands on special edition ez-link cards, bank passbooks or gold bars marking Singapore's bicentennial year.

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Sir Stamford Raffles' arrival, several companies have come up with collectible items.

Among them are special edition ez-link cards, launched on July 9, with four designs featuring architecture and landmarks representative of Singapore's development from a village settlement into a bustling metropolis.

The 1819 design captures Singapore's landscape of fishing villages, while the 1869 card pays tribute to Singapore's shophouses, a historical architecture brought over by early Chinese immigrants.

The 1969 card features the iconic dragon playground, which symbolises Singapore's youth, while the 2019 design features Marina Bay Sands.

Over 50,000 cards have been sold online. They are now available only at TransitLink ticket offices and selected SMRT passenger service centres.

OCBC Bank launched a limited-edition passbook in two designs on July 7. The first design features landmarks, such as the Merlion, Gardens by the Bay and Singapore's national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim.

The special edition ez-link cards in four designs, featuring architecture and landmarks from various stages of Singapore's history. ST PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI

The second design shows the fireworks seen annually on National Day and the shophouses next to the Singapore River.

The passbooks will be given to the first 5,400 customers who deposit $30,000 in fresh funds into their OCBC savings account at any OCBC Bank branch.

SK Jewellery also launched two gold bar sets earlier this month to commemorate the nation's bicentennial.

The first set has three gold bars, which weigh 2g each, depicting Singapore as a flourishing free port from 1824 to the 1960s during the colonial era, a post-independence nation after 1965, and the country's future visions.

They cost between $1,199 and $1,819 and are limited to 1,819 sets.

The second option is a 1g gold bar in a garden city golden frame - on the bar is an illustration of traditional shophouses, with modern buildings in the background, highlighting the progress of Singapore.

Prices start at $399.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 27, 2019, with the headline New ez-link cards among bicentennial collectibles. Subscribe