A Piece of WWII Numismatic History

Own a significant artifact from the British Administration in Southeast Asia. This 1941 Malaya 1 Dollar note was issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya, during the onset of World War II. As the Japanese occupation loomed, these notes represent the final pre-invasion monetary era of the Straits Settlements and Malay States.

Technical Specifications

• Issuing Authority: Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya

• Date of Issue: 1st July 1941

• Pick Number: P-11

• Denomination: 1 Dollar (One Dollar)

• Grade: EF (Extremely Fine) – Displays original crispness with only light handling or minor folds. Exceptional eye appeal for a 1940s circulated note.

• Printer: Waterlow & Sons Limited, London

Design Highlights

• Obverse: Features a regal portrait of King George VI on the right, set against a blue and orange multicolor underprint.

• Reverse: Showcases the 11 Coats of Arms representing the Malay States (including Perak, Selangor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Johore, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Trengganu, Brunei, and the Straits Settlements).

• Watermark: Lion’s head (left).

Why Collect This Note?

The 1941 series is highly sought after by collectors of British Commonwealth and Asian currency. Due to the chaos of the Japanese invasion in December 1941, many of these notes were lost at sea (notably on the SS Automedon) or destroyed to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. Finding an EF grade specimen today is a rare opportunity to secure a high-quality example of wartime "emergency" era paper money.