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SGD: Explaining Singapore Dollars, Singapore's Currency

Singapore currency – the banknotes Portrait Series
Singapore currency – the banknotes Portrait Series | © glen photo / Shutterstock

Singapore’s official currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD), and the design of the currency gives you an insight as to what Singaporeans aspire toward and hold dear to their hearts. Here’s a closer look at the history and features of the Singapore Dollar.

History

The Singapore Dollar as we know it today has only been in circulation since 1967, following the Independence of Singapore two years earlier. In Singapore’s early days as a growing trading port, various different currencies (Mexican/Spanish Dollars, Indian Rupees, Straits Dollars) were introduced and subsequently demonetised as various parties took power: the days of British colonisation in the 1800s; the Japanese occupation (Military Yen or ‘Banana notes’ for the distinctive banana tree image) in the 1940s; and the post-war merger with Malaya and Brunei (Malayan Dollar).

Notes issued in Malaya during the Japanese Occupation were called ‘Banana Notes’ for the banana tree design

Exchange Rates

Today, the Singapore Dollar is a fairly strong currency, with$1 SGD is worth about $0.76 USD. As of 2018, the Singapore Dollar is about on par with that of the Australian Dollar as well as the Canadian Dollar.

The Singapore dollar is interchangeable with the Brunei dollar due to a currency interchangeability agreement made between the two nations to promote monetary cooperation – which means you can use Brunei notes in Singapore and vice versa – though it is rare to see notes from Brunei in Singapore’s circulation these days.

A special series of Brunei dollar was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the currency interchangeability deal

Banknotes

There have been four banknote designs circulated in Singapore to date.

Singapore banknotes from the Portrait Series

Orchid Series

The very first series of banknotes launched in 1967 featured sprays of different orchids, Singapore’s national flower, on each denomination.

Bird Series

Nine years later in 1976, the bird series of banknotes was issued, each with a different species on one side of the note. The birds were meant to represent the young republic and its potential of soaring to greater heights, as well as the virtues of strength, adaptability and independence.

Ship Series

1984 saw the third series of banknotes that paid tribute to Singapore’s shipping history and importance as a port, depicting different ships that could be found in the Singapore harbour from early merchant sailboats to more modern container ships.

Portrait Series

Launched in 1999 and also colloquially referred to as the ‘Yusof Ishak series’ because all the notes feature the portrait of Singapore’s first President prominently on one side. The Portrait series was the first to be entirely designed by a local artist and acclaimed stamp designer, Eng Siak Loy. Polymer notes were introduced for the $2, $5 and $10 notes to increase durability of these oft-handled notes.

Coins

Three series of coins have been issued and circulated in Singapore to date.

Singaporean coins from Series 2 featuring local flowers

Series 1

This first series of coins launched in 1967 featured wildlife found around Singapore as well as a unifying design of two paddy stalks.

Series 2

Paying homage to Singapore’s reputation as a garden city, the coins from the 1985 series bore a floral theme showcasing flowers found in Singapore. The $1 coin is gold in colour and features a distinctive octagon shape – urban legend prescribes this 8-sided or ‘ba gua’ shape to fengshui and a superstitious prime minister trying to shift the fortunes of his country, which seems a little hokey but does make for a compelling tale.

Series 3

This new series of coins went into circulation in 2013 and features a distinctive design of a lion’s head on all the coins as well as major Singaporean landmarks like the Esplanade, Changi Airport and the Merlion. One-cent coins were not produced; they were de-circulated in 2003 while the $1 coins were now bi-metallic, similar in look to the gold-and silver-coloured Euro coins. This is the first series of coins where the size of the coin is proportionate to its denomination.

About the author

Jaclynn Seah is The Occasional Traveller, a freelance travel writer based in Singapore who loves discovering new places and cultures. See all her travels at theoccasionaltraveller.com

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