Singapore dollar

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Singapore dollar
新加坡元 (Chinese)
Dolar Singapura (Malay)
சிங்கப்பூர் வெள்ளி (Tamil)
Circulating notes and coins of the Singapore dollar
Circulating notes and coins of the Singapore dollar
ISO 4217 Code SGD
User(s) Singapore, Brunei
Inflation 1%
Source The World Factbook, 2006 est.
Pegged by Brunei dollar at par
Subunit
1/100 cent
Symbol S$
Nickname Sing
Coins
Freq. used 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, $1
Rarely used 1 cent
Banknotes $2, $5, $10, $50, $100, $1000, $10000
Monetary authority Monetary Authority of Singapore
Website www.mas.gov.sg
SGD redirects here. For other uses see SGD (disambiguation)

The dollar (currency code SGD) is the currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents.

Contents

[edit] History

Between 1845 and 1939, Singapore used the Straits dollar. This was replaced by the Malayan dollar, and later the Malaya and British Borneo dollar, which were issued by a central Board of Commissioners of Currency.

Singapore continued to use the common currency upon joining Malaysia in 1963 but, two years after Singapore's expulsion and independence from Malaysia in 1965, the monetary union between Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei broke down. Singapore established the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore, on April 7, 1967 and released its first series of notes, the "Orchid" notes, on June 12, 1967. Nevertheless, the Singapore dollar was exchangeable at par with the Malaysian dollar until 1973. Interchangeability with the Brunei dollar is still maintained.

The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore, was dissolved on October 1, 2002 and its functions, property and liabilities had been transferred to the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

[edit] Current status

The Singapore dollar is a freely convertible currency which is allowed to float according to supply and demand on the foreign exchange market, but it is monitored by the Monetary Authority of Singapore against a trade-weighted basket of currencies. The currencies involved are not publicised to protect the currency against speculative attacks and other unusual pressures on its value.

Since the Asian financial crisis, various countries like People's Republic of China have adopted Singapore's managed float system.

Before the crisis 1 USD was worth approximately 1.4, falling to 1.8 SGD. As of March 16, 2007, 1 USD is worth approximately 1.52520 SGD. The Brunei dollar is pegged to the Singapore dollar at 1:1 rate [1], and the other's currency is accepted as "customary tender", but not legal tender, in both countries.

[edit] Coins

To date, two series of coins for circulation have been issued.

[edit] Current coins in circulation

The current series of coins feature the Coat of Arms of Singapore on the obverse, and the Flora theme on the reverse.

Currently Circulating Coins [2]
Value Technical parameters Description Date of issue
Diameter Thickness Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse
1 cent1 15.9 mm 1.1 mm 1.24 g Copper-plated zinc Plain Coat of Arms, "Singapore" in 4 official languages Value, Vanda Miss Joaquim September 28, 1987
5 cents 16.75 mm 1.22 mm 1.56 g Aluminium bronze Milled Coat of Arms, "Singapore" in 4 official languages Value, Monstera deliciosa December 2, 1985
10 cents 18.5 mm 1.38 mm 2.6 g Cupronickel Milled Coat of Arms, "Singapore" in 4 official languages Value, Jasminum multiflorum December 2, 1985
20 cents 21.36 mm 1.72 mm 4.5 g Value, Calliandra surinamensis
50 cents 24.66 mm 2.06 mm 7.29 g Milled Value, Allamanda Cathartica December 2, 1985
50 cents Inscribed "REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE" and the lion symbol May 28, 1990
$12 22.40 mm 2.4 mm 6.3 g Aluminium bronze Inscribed "REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE" and the lion symbol Coat of Arms, "Singapore" in 4 official languages Value, Lochnera rosea September 28, 1987
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

[edit] Remarks

  1. 1 cent coin is currently being decirculated.
  2. 1 dollar notes exist, but currently it is being rarely used and found.
  3. 5 dollar coins exist, but are not being circulated.

[edit] Banknotes

An ship series $1 note (obverse)
An ship series $1 note (obverse)
An ship series $1 note (reverse)
An ship series $1 note (reverse)

To date, four series of currency notes for circulation have been issued.

[edit] Current banknotes in circulation

These notes feature the face of Encik Yusof bin Ishak, the first president of the Republic of Singapore, on one side, and the other side depicts a feature of civic virtue. There are also S$2 notes that are in circulation that are made with a plastic polymer. Both types of S$2 notes are legal tender.

Portrait series [3]
Image Value Dimensions Main Colour Description Date of issue Material
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark
[4] [5] $2 126 × 63 mm Purple Encik Yusof bin Ishak, Money Cowrie Education Encik Yusof bin Ishak September 9, 1999 Paper
[6] [7] January 12, 2006 Polymer
[8] $5 133 × 66 mm Green Encik Yusof bin Ishak, Gold-Ringed Cowrie Garden City September 9, 1999 Paper
[9] [10] $10 141 × 69 mm Red Encik Yusof bin Ishak, Wandering Cowrie Sports September 9, 1999 Paper
[11] [12] May 4, 2004 Polymer
[13] $50 156 × 74 mm Blue Encik Yusof bin Ishak, Cylindrical Cowrie Arts September 9, 1999 Paper
[14] $100 162 × 77 mm Orange Encik Yusof bin Ishak, Swallow Cowrie Youth
[15] $1000 170 × 83 mm Purple Encik Yusof bin Ishak, Beautiful Cowrie Government
[16] $10000 180 × 90 mm Gold Encik Yusof bin Ishak, Onyx Cowrie Economics
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
Current SGD exchange rates
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[edit] Trivia

A Singapore $1 coin inscribed with an octagon
A Singapore $1 coin inscribed with an octagon

The one dollar coin is inscribed with an octagon, which looks like a ba gua, a Chinese lucky charm. Feng Shui masters are believed to have said that the construction of MRT tunnels through downtown Singapore would have an adverse effect; they recommended that every household display a bagua to negate this. Bearing in mind that there were many locals who did not adhere to this Chinese belief, this was not possible. Thus the design of the one dollar coin.

[edit] External links

  1. ^ Orchid Series (1967–1976) at the Monetary Authority of Singapore
  2. ^ Bird Series (1976–1984) at the Monetary Authority of Singapore
  3. ^ Ship Series (1984–1999) at the Monetary Authority of Singapore
  4. ^ Portrait Series (1999–present) at the Monetary Authority of Singapore


Preceded by:
Malaya and British Borneo dollar
Reason: Independence
Ratio: at par, or 60 dollars = 7 British pounds
Currency of Singapore, Brunei
1967
Concurrent with: Brunei dollar
Succeeded by:
Current