Malayan Bank Notes

Introduction

The dollar (Malay: ringgit, Jawi: ريڠڬيت) was the currency of the British colonies and protectorates in Malaya and Brunei until 1953. It was introduced in 1939, replacing the Straits dollar at par, with 1 dollar = two shillings four pence sterling (60 dollars = 7 pounds).

History

The Malayan dollar was issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya, with a hiatus during the Japanese occupation (1942–1945). During this period, paper money was issued in denominations in cents and dollars. This currency was fixed at 1 dollar = 1 Japanese yen, compared to a 1:2 pre-war rate. Following the war, the Japanese occupation currency was declared worthless and the previous issues of the Malayan dollar regained their value relative to sterling.

In 1952 the board was renamed the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo. The Board began issuing banknotes in 1953.

Bank Notes

1, 5 and 10 dollars notes were printed in the U.K. for circulation in Malaya in 1940. However, because a shipload of 1 and 5 dollars notes were captured by German forces, only the 10 dollars were issued. Because of the war in Europe, the Survey Department printed 10 and 25 cents for circulation. These were replaced in 1941 by notes printed by Thomas de la Rue in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese government issued notes for 1, 5, 10 and 50 cents, 1, 5 and 10 dollars in 1942, followed by 100 dollars in 1944 and 1000 dollars in 1945. This currency was known colloquially as Banana money, a reference to the bananas shown on the $10 bill, and possibly also a scornful reference to Banana republics.

After the British regained control of Malaya, notes were issued in 1945 (dated 1941), in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1000 and 10,000 dollars.

Gallery

One Cent (1941)

Five Cent (1941)

Ten Cent (1941)

Twenty Cent (1940)

Twenty Five Cent (1941)

Fifty Cent (1941)

One Dollar (1940)

One Dollar (1941)

Five Dollar (1941)

Ten Dollar (1940)

Ten Dollar (1941)

Fifty Dollar (1941)

One Hundred Dollar (1941)

Ten Thousand Dollar (1941)

Note:

Obverse - King George VI

Reverse - Coat of arms of the Federated Malay States (left), the Straits Settlements (centre top), and the Unfederated Malay States and Brunei (right).