Malayan dollar

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The Malayan dollar 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.

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 ranging from 1 cent to 1000 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 (two shillings four pence).

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

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Albert Pick (1996). Neil Shafer, George S. Cuhaj, Colin R. Bruce II (editors): Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues to 1960, 8th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-469-1.
  • (2003) Chester L. Krause, Cliffor Mischler, Colin R. Bruce II, et al. (editors): 2004 Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1901-present, 31st ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87349-593-4.

[edit] External links

Pre-WWII
Preceded by:
Straits dollar
Ratio: at par, or 60 dollars = 7 British pounds
Currency of Straits Settlements, Brunei
19391942
Succeeded by:
Japanese occupation Malayan dollar
Location: present day Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei
Reason: Japanese occupation
Ratio: at par
Note: The Japanese allowed the Malayan dollar to circulate. But they were in practice hoarded as a more reliable store of value.


Post-WWII
Preceded by:
Japanese occupation Malayan dollar
Location: present day Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei
Reason: Japan lost World War II
Ratio: The occupation currency became worthless. The value of the pre-occupation currency was restored.
Currency of Straits Settlements
September 1945March 31, 1946
Currency of Malaya, Singapore
19461953
Succeeded by:
Malaya and British Borneo dollar
Reason: creation of a common Board of Commissioners of Currency
Ratio: at par, or 60 dollars = 7 British pounds
Currency of Brunei
19451953