Name/Title
CE 1942 50 Cents Japanese Occupation of MalayaDescription
Japanese Occupation of Malaya: Dollar Notes / “Banana Money”
Japanese Imperial Government, Malaya, c. 1942–1945
Paper banknote; various denominations
Japanese occupation forces issued dollar-denominated notes for Malaya after seizing the British-controlled territories during World War II. Prewar Malaya had not used ordinary British pounds; it used a local colonial dollar system associated with the Straits Settlements and Malayan territories. Japanese authorities retained the dollar denomination, English-language legends, Western numerals, decorative borders, and familiar banknote conventions so the currency could circulate within existing commercial habits. The notes transferred monetary authority from British colonial institutions to “The Japanese Government,” while often using tropical imagery to suggest regional familiarity. The Malayan series became widely known as “banana money,” especially because of the banana plant shown on the 10 dollar note. Massive wartime issuance contributed to severe inflation, and the currency became worthless after Japan’s defeat.Create Date
June 10, 2026Update Date
June 19, 2026
