Singapore Portrait Series currency notes
Encyclopedia
Banknote
A banknote is a kind of negotiable instrument, a promissory note made by a bank payable to the bearer on demand, used as money, and in many jurisdictions is legal tender. In addition to coins, banknotes make up the cash or bearer forms of all modern fiat money...
is the fourth and current set of notes to be issued for circulation in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. It was first introduced on 9 September 1999 by the Board of Commissioners of Currency Singapore (BCCS) whose role was since taken over by the Monetary Authority of Singapore
Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore is Singapore's central bank and financial regulatory authority...
(MAS) post-merger.
This series features the portrait of Encik Yusof bin Ishak
Yusof bin Ishak
Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:...
, the first president of Singapore. The design has been simplified and a whole range of new security features were introduced. Polymer versions
Polymer banknote
Polymer banknotes were developed by the Reserve Bank of Australia , Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and The University of Melbourne and were first issued as currency in Australia in 1988. These banknotes are made from the polymer biaxially-oriented polypropylene ...
of this series were released for general circulation by MAS as of 4 May 2004.
Background
The Portrait Series was first released by the Board of Commissioners of Currency Singapore (BCCS) on 9 September 1999 to welcome the new millennium, designed by local artist Eng Siak Loy. The banknote's obverse features the portrait of the first president of SingaporePresident of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
, Encik Yusof bin Ishak
Yusof bin Ishak
Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:...
. The reverse contain secondary themes that are linked to his life. The series has a total of seven denominations in general circulation; the denominations $1 and $500 were not carried forward from the previous Ship Series.
A more standardized approach is adopted across all banknote denominations, with features noticeably differing from all previous series. The watermark no longer features a lion head, the national symbol for Singapore, replaced by the portrait of Yusof bin Ishak. Due to design considerations, the dollar sign was considered redundant and is no longer included in this series. The background on the obverse of the Portrait Series feature a different cowrie for each denomination. The colour for denominations up to $50 have been retained, a tradition kept since the era of the Malaya and British Borneo dollar
Malaya and British Borneo dollar
The Malaya and British Borneo dollar was the currency of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo and Brunei from 1953 to 1967. The currency was issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo...
. The note printing company no longer appears on any part of the portrait note.
Two significant changes were made to the circulation of the Portrait Series since its beginning. On 31 March 2003, the BCCS merged with the Monetary Authority of Singapore
Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore is Singapore's central bank and financial regulatory authority...
(MAS), which took over the responsibility of banknote issuance. Banknotes after the date reflect the issuing authority as MAS and now bears the signature of the Chairman of MAS (currently SM
Senior Minister
Senior Minister is a political office in the political system of Singapore taken by a prime minister or senior cabinet minister when he or she retires from that office, but still has something to offer the government based on his or her long experience...
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
), replacing Dr. Richard Hu Tsu Tau. The second was the release of the polymer versions
Polymer banknote
Polymer banknotes were developed by the Reserve Bank of Australia , Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and The University of Melbourne and were first issued as currency in Australia in 1988. These banknotes are made from the polymer biaxially-oriented polypropylene ...
for general circulation, printed by Note Printing Australia
Note Printing Australia
Note Printing Australia , which is located in Craigieburn, Melbourne, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia and was corporatised in July 1998. NPA has its origins as a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank and was established in 1913 to print banknotes for Australia...
, which first began on 4 May 2004. The polymer banknotes are available for the lower denominations (S$2, S$5, S$10 & S$20) only. Higher denomination banknotes (S$50, S$100, S$1,000 & S$10,000) are still printed on paper. The paper version of the lower denomination banknotes remain in active circulation alongside the polymer version, though the number of S$2 and S$5 paper notes have dwindled significantly since the introduction of polymer notes.
Security features
Previous security features in the Ship Series were carried over to the portrait series, and new ones incorporated into the banknote. Two prominent security features form the cornerstone of the banknote - the engraved portrait of Encik Yusof bin Ishak and the KinegramSecurity hologram
Security holograms are very difficult to forge because they are replicated from a master hologram which requires expensive, specialized and technologically advanced equipment. They are used widely in several banknotes around the world, in particular those that are of high denominations...
; MAS states that banknotes with missing or mutilated portrait or/and Kinegram command no value. Paper versions issued by BCCS features its logo and the face value, which those issued by the MAS features its logo with the Merlion and the face value. Polymer versions of the banknote have the Kinegram replaced by an image of the Singapore lion symbol with the face value, showing the coat of arms of Singapore
Coat of arms of Singapore
The coat of arms of Singapore was adopted in 1959, the year Singapore became self-governing within the British Empire. The committee that created it, headed by then Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye, was also responsible for the national flag and the national anthem...
when tilted at varying degrees.
Other security features include lithographic print, anti-copying line structures, perfect registration, microprinting
Microprinting
Microprinting is one of many anti-counterfeiting techniques used most often on currency and bank checks, as well as various other items of value. Microprinting involves printing very small text, usually too small to read with the naked eye, onto the note or item. Microprint is frequently hidden in...
, asymmetrical serial number, windowed security thread
Security thread
A security thread is a security feature of many bank notes to protect against counterfeiting, consisting of a thin ribbon that is threaded through the note's paper....
and LiftTwin. Polymer versions of the banknote include two clear windows and other security features that substitute its paper version. Several features that are invisible to the naked eye appear when both versions of the banknote are exposed under UV light.
$2 banknote
The money cowrie is featured on the obverse background of the $2 banknote. Its reverse carries the theme of educationEducation in Singapore
Education in Singapore is managed by the Ministry of Education , which controls the development and administration of state schools receiving government funding, but also has an advisory and supervisory role in respect of private schools...
and features three buildings, the Victoria Bridge School
Victoria School
Victoria School in Singapore is a government secondary school for boys, founded in 1876, at Siglap Link, about one kilometre from affiliated Victoria Junior College....
(now Victoria School), Old Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
Building at Bras Basah Road
Bras Basah Road
Bras Basah Road is a one-way road in Singapore in the planning areas of Museum and Downtown Core. The road starts at the junction of Orchard Road and Handy Road, at the ERP gantry towards the Central Business District, and ends at the junction of Nicoll Highway and Raffles Boulevard which then...
, and College of Medicine Building
College of Medicine Building
The College of Medicine Building is a historic building in Singapore, located within the grounds of the Singapore General Hospital at Outram Park, within the Bukit Merah Planning Area near Singapore's central business district.-History:...
.
Encik Yusof received his primary education in 1923 at Victoria Bridge School, and his secondary education in Raffles Institution; His father, Ishak bin Ahmad insisted that his children be English-educated. He was also the Chancellor of the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
between 1965 and 1970.
Banknotes signed by BCCS Chairman Richard Hu (September 1999), MAS Chairman PM
Prime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
and Minister of Finance (until December 2007) Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
(January 2005) and MAS Chairman Goh Chok Tong (polymer version, January 2006) are currently in general circulation.
$5 banknote
Garden city movement
The garden city movement is a method of urban planning that was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts" , containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and...
and features the 200-year-old tembusu
Tembusu
The Tembusu is a large evergreen tree in the family Gentianaceae. It is native to South-east Asia. Its trunk is dark brown, with deeply fissured bark, looking somewhat like a bittergourd. It grows in an irregular shape from 10 to 25m high . Its leaves are light green and oval in shape...
tree at Singapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 74-hectare botanical garden in Singapore. It is half the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew or around one-fifth the size of Central Park in New York. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m...
, as well as Singapore's national flower Vanda Miss Joaquim
Vanda Miss Joaquim
Vanda Miss Joaquim , also known as the Singapore Orchid and the Princess Aloha Orchid is a hybrid orchid cultivar that is Singapore's national flower....
. Encik Yusof was a keen-gardener who once made a living growing Orchids in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur before his appointment as president.
Banknotes signed by BCCS Chairman Richard Hu (September 1999), MAS Chairman and Minister of Finance (until December 2007) PM Lee Hsien Loong (August 2004) and MAS Chairman Goh Chok Tong (polymer version, May 2007) are currently in general circulation.
$10 banknote
The wandering cowrie is featured on the obverse background of the $10 banknote, the most-commonly found cowrie in Singapore. Its reverse carries the theme of sports and features sportsmen playing badminton, soccer, sailing, jogging and swimming. Encik Yusof was an active sportsman in his secondary school days, and won the national boxing title and the lightweight weightlifting championship.The $10 banknote was the first denomination printed and circulated in its polymer form. 10 million pieces were first released to the general public as a trial, and were the first in Singapore to be successfully dispensed from Automated teller machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
s (ATMs) and be used in payment involving machines. With the successful trial, MAS decided to release polymer versions of the $2, $5 and $10 for circulation.
Banknotes signed by BCCS Chairman Richard Hu (September 1999), MAS Chairman PM and Minister of Finance (until December 2007) Lee Hsien Loong (polymer version May 2004, paper version May 2005) and MAS Chairman Goh Chok Tong (polymer version, January 2008) are currently in general circulation.
$50 banknote
The cylindrical cowrie is featured on the obverse background of the $50 banknote. Its reverse carries the theme of arts and features two paintings and four musical instruments. The pipaPipa
The pipa is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument, belonging to the plucked category of instruments . Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12–26...
, kompang, veena
Veena
Veena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...
and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
represent the musical instruments for different cultures in Singapore.
Cheong Soo Pieng
Cheong Soo Pieng
Cheong Soo Pieng was a Singaporean artist who was a pioneer of the Nanyang art style, and a driving force to the development of Modernism in visual art in the early 20th-century Singapore...
(creator of Drying Salted Fish) and Chen Wen Hsi
Chen Wen Hsi
Chen Wen Hsi , is one of Singapore's pioneer artists, known for his avant-garde Chinese paintings.He was born in Baigong in Guangdong province, and had his early education at Chen Li Primary School and St...
(creator of Gibbons Fetching the Moon from the Water) are two pioneering artists who created a new type of fine arts in Singapore that influenced other local artists, in which their two paintings are featured.
Banknotes signed by BCCS Chairman Richard Hu (September 1999), MAS Chairman PM and Minister of Finance (until December 2007) Lee Hsien Loong (March 2002) and MAS Chairman Goh Chok Tong (November 2009) are currently in general circulation. This denomination is dispensed widely by automated teller machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
s (the other being the $10 note to a smaller extent).
$100 banknote
The swallow cowrie is featured on the obverse background of the $100 banknote. Its reverse carries the theme of youth and features a National Service officer with his ceremonial sword standing against the tower of the SAFTI Military InstituteSAFTI Military Institute
The SAFTI Military Institute is a tri-service military training institution for officers of all ranks of the Singapore Armed Forces . Located within an 88 hectare campus in Jurong West, it was officially opened by the then-prime minister Goh Chok Tong on 25 August 1995...
, uniformed youths representing Singapore Red Cross
Singapore Red Cross
The Singapore Red Cross started out in 30 September 1949 as part of the British Red Cross Society. In 6 April 1973, the Singapore Red Cross was officially incorporated by the Parliament of Singapore...
, St John's Ambulance Brigade, Singapore Scout Association and the National Police Cadet Corps
National Police Cadet Corps
The National Police Cadet Corps is the largest uniformed group for youths in Singapore in terms of membership. As of 31 March 2004, the organisation has 596 teacher officers and 20,146 student members in 155 secondary schools, 2 polytechnics open units and 2 University Open Units.With the support...
.
Banknotes signed by BCCS Chairman Richard Hu (September 1999) and MAS Chairman Goh Chok Tong (November 2009) are currently in general circulation.
$1,000 banknote
The swallow cowrie is featured on the obverse background of the $1,000 banknote. Its reverse carries the theme of governmentGovernment of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
featuring the buildings of the three branches of government : The Parliament House
Parliament House, Singapore
The Parliament House of Singapore is a public building and cultural landmark and houses the Parliament of Singapore. It is located in the Civic District of the Downtown Core within Singapore's central business district . Within its vicinity is Raffles Place, which lies across it from the Singapore...
, Old Supreme Court Building
Old Supreme Court Building
The Old Supreme Court Building is the former courthouse of the Supreme Court of Singapore, before it moved out of the building and commenced operations in the new building on 20 June 2005...
and Istana, representing the Legislative, Judiciary and Executive respectively. The Istana is the president's official residence, built in 1869 which first housed the colonial governor. The entire national anthem
Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura is the national anthem of Singapore. Composed by Zubir Said in 1958 as a theme song for official functions of the City Council of Singapore, the song was selected in 1959 as the island's anthem when it attained self-government. Upon full independence in 1965, Majulah Singapura...
's lyrics are included as microprint, which is a unique feature to the $1,000 banknote.
Banknotes signed by BCCS Chairman Richard Hu (September 1999) and MAS Chairman Goh Chok Tong (November 2009) are currently in general circulation.
$10,000 banknote
The onyx cowrie is featured on the obverse background of the $10,000 banknote. Its reverse carries the theme of economyEconomy of Singapore
Singapore has a highly developed state capitalist mixed economy; the state owns stakes in firms that comprise perhaps 60% of the GDP through entities such as the sovereign wealth fund Temasek...
featuring Singapore as a knowledge-based economy - biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
, R&D and silicon wafer. Encik Yusof was a businessman who started the first Malay newspaper for the masses, Utusan Melayu.
Banknotes signed by BCCS Chairman Richard Hu (September 1999) are currently in general circulation. It is one of the highest-value banknote in the world in terms of absolute value (approx. US$7,700) that is in public circulation. Even though larger denominations being withdrawn around the world, the MAS has retained the use of the $10,000 denomination, which continues to account for a significant value of the total cash currently in circulation.
Millennium $2 banknote
In celebration of the Millennium 2000, five million pieces of the $2 banknote were printed with the Millennium 2000 logo replacing the prefix of the serial number normally found in other notes under general circulation.Overprinted banknotes
Three commemorative limited issues have been made for the Portrait Series (including the $20 issue below). 10,000 sets of the $10 polymer was issued with the overprint 'Commemorative First Issue by MAS' with the prefix MAS. 5,000 sets of $50 banknotes signed by PM Lee Hsien Loong have been stamped with overprint commemorating the merger of the BCCS and MAS.$20 banknote
On 27 June 2007, Singapore and Brunei celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement (since 12 June 1967) with the joint-issue of the commemorative $20 notes.The two authorities issue distinct versions of the new $20 notes. They are both yellow, 149 × 72 mm in size, and made of polymer
Polymer banknote
Polymer banknotes were developed by the Reserve Bank of Australia , Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and The University of Melbourne and were first issued as currency in Australia in 1988. These banknotes are made from the polymer biaxially-oriented polypropylene ...
. The reverses are almost identical except that the Brunei version has their state title in Jawi script, while the Singaporean version has the state title of Brunei in Latin script
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. The obverse of the Singaporean version is similar to the current Portrait Series, whereas the obverse of the Brunei version is similar to the $50 and $100 of the 2004 series.
A limited edition set was offered for sale, which consisted of both versions in a folder, with matching serial number. The notes have "40th Anniversary Currency Interchangeability Agreement" overprinted on obverse. In addition, the Singaporean version has the two countries' state creates above the commemorative text. Only 12,000 sets were available, 10,000 from the Monetary Authority of Singapore
Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore is Singapore's central bank and financial regulatory authority...
, and 2,000 from the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board. The circulation version was made available from 16 July 2007.
Specifications
| 4th Series – Portrait Series (1999–present) | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Colour | Description | Date of issue | Status | $2 | 126 × 63 mm | Purple | President Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:... , Money Cowrie |
Education | 9 September 1999 | Circulation | Paper | ||||
| 12 January 2006 | Polymer | |||||||||||||||||
| $5 | 133 × 66 mm | Green | President Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:... , Gold-Ringed Cowrie |
Garden City | 9 September 1999 | Paper | ||||||||||||
| 18 May 2007 | Polymer | |||||||||||||||||
| $10 | 141 × 69 mm | Red | President Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:... , Wandering Cowrie |
Sports | 9 September 1999 | Paper | ||||||||||||
| 4 May 2004 | Polymer | |||||||||||||||||
| $50 | 156 × 74 mm | Blue | President Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:... , Cylindrical Cowrie |
Arts | 9 September 1999 | Paper | ||||||||||||
| $100 | 162 × 77 mm | Orange | President Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:... , Swallow Cowrie |
Youth | Paper | |||||||||||||
| $1000 | 170 × 83 mm | Pink | President Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:... , Beautiful Cowrie |
Government | Paper | |||||||||||||
| $10000 | 180 × 90 mm | Gold | President Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:... , Onyx Cowrie |
Economics | Paper | |||||||||||||