They are legal tender does it mean they can be use like normal
money ? 
S'pore's gift of gold coins for royal
couple
By Cheong Suk-Wai
SINGAPORE'S leaders arrived in Brunei yesterday for the wedding of
Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, bringing with them a gift of
unique gold coins.
Royal bride Sarah Salleh prepares to leave the throne hall after a
ceremony where henna is applied on her palms. -- STEPHANIE
YEOW
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew presented the prince and his bride two
solid gold coins - each embossed on one side with the couple's
portrait and today's date, marking the day of their wedding
ceremony.
The Crown Prince, 30, will marry Dayangku Sarah Pengiran Salleh
Abdul Rahaman, 17, today, capping 19 days of rituals in what has
been described as Asia's wedding of the year.
Each of Singapore's gift coins is legal tender for $10,000 and is
66mm in diameter, 6.5mm thick, and weighs 340g.
The Singapore leaders presented two identical coins to the groom's
father, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and his wife, the Raja Isteri
Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha.
Minted in Singapore, the gift underlines the warm bilateral ties,
which go back to the early days of Singapore's independence when
the Crown Prince's grandfather, the late Sultan Haji Omar Ali
Saifuddien III, and MM Lee became firm friends.
The couple's portrait is on one side of the coins.
It is understood that the coins, along with wedding gifts from
other countries, may go on display from today at the Istana Nurul
Iman, the venue for the traditional royal rituals and wedding
ceremonies.
This morning, the Singapore leaders will attend the royal couple's
bersanding ceremony, where the newlyweds will sit on a special dais
in the Indera Buana Throne Room at the Istana Nurul Iman.
Among the foreign royalty who will be present are the kings of
Malaysia and Bahrain, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan and Prince
Bandar of Saudi Arabia. Also here for the wedding are world and
regional leaders, including Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi and his predecessor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Indonesian
President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Philippine President Gloria
Arroyo.
Members of the Brunei royal family will form a 103-car motorcade to
take part in a celebratory procession through the streets of the
capital this morning, led by the Crown Prince and his bride, a
student.
Hundreds of thousands of Bruneians from all walks of life are
expected to line the 8km route to cheer them on.
PM Lee and Mrs Lee will fly home later this evening, while SM Goh
and MM Lee and their wives will stay on for the royal banquet
tomorrow.
