100 Dollars "Banana Money" Japanese Government

100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government) - obverse100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government) - reverse

© Mohiul Abedin

Features

Issuer Malaya (Malaysia)
Period Japanese occupation (1941-1945)
Type Standard banknote
Year 1944
Value 100 Dollars
Currency Dollar (1939-1953)
Size 170 × 82 mm
Shape Rectangular
Demonetized 7 September 1945
Number
N#
209842
References P# M8
Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Paper Money. Modern issues 1961-present (25th edition). Krause Publications, Iola, Wisconsin, United States.
And 2 more volumes.

Obverse

View of Palm Trees and traditional Malay houses by the river

Lettering:
THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT
PROMISES TO PAY THE BEARER
ON DEMAND
ONE HUNDRED
DOLLARS

府政國帝本日大

Reverse

Man and water buffaloes in a stream

Lettering: 100

Comments

After Japanese forces occupied Malaya early in 1942, they introduced new currency notes. Because the $10 note carried a picture of a banana plant, the wartime currency was referred to as banana money. For the first two years of the occupation, the Japanese maintained monetary discipline and kept circulation of this currency under control. However, with the country’s trading economy at a standstill, there was little to tax and, in order to fund the civil administration and purchase supplies for the military, the Japanese began printing more and more money. In December 1940, the active circulation of currency in Malaya was 120 million dollars. By the middle of 1945, the Japanese may have printed 4,000 million dollars, and the active circulation was 30 times greater than before the war. The predictable result was hyperinflation.

See also

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Date VG F VF XF AU UNC Frequency
ND (1944)  $ 14 29% M8a: M with vertical upstroke and downstroke. Watermark. paper.
ND (1944)  $ 0.63 $ 5.00 $ 5.00 $ 5.90 $ 5.90 66% M8b: M with sloping upstroke and downstroke. Paper with silk threads, without watermark.
ND (1944)  8% M8c: Block letters only. Watermark. woven paper.

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this banknote. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.

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Numista Rarity index: 31 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Past sales

Pictures Sale Date Version Grade Sold price
Picture 1 of a sold 100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government)Picture 1 of a sold 100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government)
Katz
Auction 59
Lot 168
Internet Archive
23 Apr 2022 Undetermined AU USD 14.14
(EUR 13.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold 100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government)Picture 1 of a sold 100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government)
Katz
Auction 87
Lot 119
Internet Archive
21 Jun 2023 Undetermined XF USD 33.71
(EUR 31.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold 100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government)Picture 1 of a sold 100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government)
Katz
Auction 62
Lot 726
Internet Archive
21 Jun 2022 Undetermined XF USD 21.75
(EUR 20.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold 100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government)Picture 1 of a sold 100 Dollars "Banana Money" (Japanese Government)
Katz
Auction 71
Lot 3648
Internet Archive
30 Nov 2022 Undetermined USD 14.14
(EUR 13.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
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