Oeang Republik Indonesia Tapanoeli

I began to walk at exit path of Sri Deli Park.

My steps were so harmonious with my index finger pressure on camera to capture the best images along Sisingamangaraja Street.

Red motorcycle suddenly got off from asphalt and its brake pounding threw dust which made me momentarily cover my nose. A face which was hidden behind helmet turned towards me while waving. I paused while thinking what was happen. A little suspicious, I stepped up to him while keeping a safe distance.

He : “Sir, don’t carry your good camera like that. There are a lot of thieves here. Just keep it!“, speaking after slowly taking off his helmet.

Me: “Oh, thank you sir….Okay sir”, I relieved replied

He: “Be careful, Sir. Assalamualaikum“

Me: ”Wa’alaikumsalam Sir”. Good people are always around me.

—-****—-

I was stunned under Tirtanadi Water Tower while sitting and putting my backpack next to a tree trunk to protect myself from the sun’s heat. Then I filled my bottles with free drinking water in front left of PDAM (the name of water company) Tirtanadi office.

Worried that the dusk which had been queueing to present, I fastly stepped to Tjong A Fie’s house. Passing a railroad crossing and then entering Pemuda Street, I accidentally passed a roll up banner which its titled “Sumatra Money Museum“.

See the way toward Sumatra Money Museum here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1NWlMmGZr0

“Maybe just need about 30 minutes to explore, stop by for a moment!“, inwardly whispered teasing me. Without argumentation, now, I have been speaking with Miss L – a sweet young woman in a sky blue scarf – as a staff and also as a museum’s tour guide. She took souvenirs in the form of two coins made by Palembang Sultanate with a hole in its middle which was neatly wrapped while giving a piece of green paper as size as a ticket with a writing “Souvenir Fee USD 0.75“.

—-****—-

I stepped stairs and continually observed its classic building. Ms. L said, I was in “Gedung Juang ’45“. “No need to hurry, Sir. The museum closes at 5 pm“, she said with a smile.

Arriving on 2nd floor, I was treated to a view of money printing machine “Oeang Republik Indonesia Tapanoeli (ORITA)” which was used in early era of President Soekarno.

Founded 3 years ago by Saparudin Barus, this collection room became the first money museum in Sumatra. The collector’s personal intention was approved by local government after Gedung Juang ’45 was chosen as museum location. In the past, This building itself has an important role as headquarters of Barisan Pemuda Indonesia (Indonesian Youth Front) in carrying out resistance against Dutch colonial government.

In 1726, for the first time, the VOC published coins known as *DOIT* or *DUIT*.

Exploring from one storefront to another, accompanied by an explanation from Ms. L, I began to float into nation’s historical flow through coins sequence which is sorted by its using.

Indonesian coins from time to time along with Malaysian coins.

Being the only visitor that afternoon, I was willing to repeatly observe some trade exchange tools in the golden era of Srivijaya Kingdom. Or money which was made from burlap which was issued by Buton Kingdom in Sulawesi.

It’s so large, Soekarno era’s paper money!

At the end of my visitation, Miss L directed me to a long white cloth and she briefly explained that each visitor would be asked to write his impression message about the museum and ending with a signature underneath. Okay, no need to be stingy to write on the cloth. My signature scratch ended this visitation.

Museum’s storefront with many money collection from various times.

How lucky me to passing and visiting it….Let’s to next destination!

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Aku mulai menapaki jalur keluar Taman Sri Deli.

Langkahku begitu harmonis dengan tekanan telunjuk untuk mengabadikan gambar-gambar terbaik di sepanjang Jalan Sisingamangaraja.

“Bebek Merah” tiba-tiba turun dari aspal dan hentakan remnya melempar debu yang membuatku sesaat menutup hidung. Muka yang tersembunyi di balik helm itu menoleh ke arahku sembari melambaikan tangan. Aku terdiam sambil berfikir ada apakah. Sedikit curiga, aku melangkah kepadanya sembari menjaga jarak aman.

Si Bapak: “Bang, jangan nenteng kamera bagus seperti itu. Disini banyak jambret. Disimpan saja!”, berbicara setelah perlahan melepas helmnya.

Aku: “Oh, terimakasih pak….Baik pak”, Jawabku lega.

Si Bapak: ”Hati-hati ya Bang. Assalamu’alaikum”.

Aku: ”Wa’alaikumsalam pak”. Orang baik selalu ada di sekitarku ternyata.

—-****—-

Aku tertegun dibawah Tirtanadi Tower sembari duduk dan menaruh backpack di sebelah batang pohon untuk berlindung dari panasnya surya. Kemudian aku mengisi kedua botolku dengan krain air minum gratis di kiri depan kantor PDAM Tirtanadi.

Khawatir senja yang sudah mengantri hadir, aku kembali melangkah menuju ke kediaman Tjong A Fie. Melewati persimpangan jalur kereta api lalu masuk ke Jalan Pemuda, tak sengaja aku meewati roll up banner bertajuk “Museum Uang Sumatera”.

“Kiranya cukup 30 menit, mampir sebentar!”, bisik batin menggodaku. Tanpa perlawanan argument, aku kini sudah bercakap dengan Nona L -perempuan muda manis berjilbab biru langit- sang penjaga merangkap tour guide museum. Dia mengambil souvenir berupa dua uang koin buatan Kesultanan Palembang dengan lubang di tengah yang di wrapping rapi sekaligus memberikan selembar kertas hijau seukuran tiket bertulis “Biaya Souvenir Rp. 10.000”.

—-****—-

Aku menaiki tangga dan terus mengamati bangunan klasik itu. Kata Nona L, saya sedang berada di Gedung Juang ’45. “Ga perlu buru-buru, Bang. Museum tutup jam 5 sore kok”, selorohnya menjelaskan lewat senyuman.

Tiba di lantai 2, aku disuguhi pemandangan berupa mesin cetak Oeang Republik Indonesia Tapanoeli (ORITA) yang digunakan pada masa awal pemerintahan Soekarno.

Didirikan 3 tahun lalu oleh Saparudin Barus, ruang koleksi ini menjadi museum uang pertama di Sumatera. Seakan niat pribadi sang kolektor diamini pemerintah daerah setelah Gedung Juang ’45 dipilih sebagai lokasi museum. Gedung ini sendiri mempunyai peran penting sebagai markas Barisan Pemuda Indonesia dalam melakukan perlawanan terhadap pemerintah kolonial Belanda.

Tahun 1726 untuk pertama kali VOC mencetak uang koin yang dikenal dengan nama DOIT atau DUIT.

Menjelajah dari etalase satu ke etalase yang lain diiringi dengan penjelasan dari Nona L, aku mulai hanyut dalam aliran arus sejarah bangsa melalui urutan koin yang diurutkan berdasarkan masa digunakannya.

Koin Indonesia dari masa ke masa beserta koin Malaysia.

Menjadi satu-satunya pengunjung di siang itu, aku rela mengulang kembali untuk mengamati beberapa alat tukar perdagangan pada era keemasan Kerajaan Sriwijaya. Atau kertas berbahan goni yang dikeluarkan kerajaan Buton di Sulawesi .

Duh lebar banget sih, uang kertas era Soekarno !

Di akhir kunjungan, Nona L mengarahkanku pada kain panjang berwarna putih dan dia menjelaskan singkat bahwa setiap pengunjung akan diminta sukarela menuliskan pesan kesannya tentang museum dan diakhiri dengan bubuhan tanda tangan dibawahnya. Oke lah, tak perlu pelit untuk menulisi kain itu. Goresan tanda tanganku mengakhiri kunjungan wisata edukasi kali ini.

Etalase museum yang kaya koleksi uang dari berbagai masa.

Beruntung sekali melewat dan melawatnya….Yuks, lanjut!

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Tag: Oeang Republik Indonesia Tapanoeli

Attaching a Signature at the Sumatra Money Museum

Menggores Tanda Tangan di Museum Uang Sumatera