Historical information

These notes are generally referred to as Japanese Invasion Money (JIM). This note is one of a series issued by the Japanese forces of occupation in the Pacific theatre during the second world war. Following the fall of Singapore into the hands of Imperial Japan on 15 February 1942 the Japanese introduced new currencies to replace those previously in use in the occupied territories of Singapore, Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei between 1942 and 1945. The new currency in Malaya and Singapore were issued with the same value as the Malayan dollar and first entered circulation in 1942. This example of Japanese Invasion Money was intended for use in Malaya as indicted by the letter M in the block letters MN. The currency was also referred to informally as "banana money" because of the motifs of banana trees on 10 dollar banknotes

Physical description

Green on cream lithographed banknote of ten dollar denomination. The face features a tropical scene with palms and a hand of bananas. A pair of block stamped serial letters (MN), in black, appear at the bottom of the note. The reverse is printed with a pattern featuring the value and a beach scene with palms centrally located.

Inscriptions & markings

The Japanese Government promises to pay the Bearer on demand ten dollars