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This article would give an insight into the Singapore currency system.
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Singapore Currency

Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is the only rightful authority to issue currencies in Singapore. As of date four series of currency notes have been issued for circulation. The first one among them being the "Orchid" series, the second one being the "Bird series', the third one being the “Ship" and the fourth one being the "Portrait". Singapore issued the first polymer note of $50 denomination in 1990.
 
Orchid Series
1st Series-The Orchid Series Currency Notes (1967-1976)
The series has nine denominations. The most important aspect is the spray of orchid in the centre on the front side of each note. On the front side, all the notes have Singapore Arms, a watermark of a lion’s head and the signature of the Minister for Finance and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore. Other than $10,000 note which has two security threads, all the notes have a single thread embedded vertically across the note.
 
The Nine Denominations in the Orchid Series are:
 
Orchid Series
Front Design
Back Design
Color
Size Of Note
First Issued
$1 
Vanda Janet Kaneali
Blocks Of Flats In A Housing Estate
Dark Blue
121mm*64mm
12June 1967
$5
Vanda T.M.A
A Busy Scene On The Singapore River
Green
127mm*71mm
12June 1967
$10 
Dendrobium Marjorie Ho "Tony Pek" 
Four Clasped Hands On A Background Of A Map Of Singapore
Red 
133mm*79mm 
12June 1967
 
$25
Renanthopsis Aurora
Supreme Court Building
Brown
140mm*79mm
7August 1972
$50
Vanda Rothscildiana "Teo Choo Hong"
Singapore Seafront And Clifford Pier"
Blue
 
146mm*87mm
12June 1697
$100
Cattleya 
A Peaceful Scene Along The Singapore Waterfront
Mid Blue And Mauve
159mm*95mm
12June 1967
$500
Dendrobium Shangri La
Government Offices At St Andrew's Rd
Green
 
160mm*96 mm
7 August 1972
$1000
Dendrobium Kimiya Kondo "Chay"
Victoria Theatre & Empress Place
Mauve & Dark Grey
159 mm*95 mm
12June 1967
$10000
Aranda Majulah
The Istana
Green
203mm*133mm
29January 1973
 
 
Bird Series
The Bird Series also has nine denominations, except for the fact that $20 note was introduced to replace the $25 note of the Orchid series. The main characteristic is the bird on the left front side. The birds mentioned on the note are symbolic of strength, adaptability and independence which in turn represent the Young Republic of Singapore. On the front side, all notes have the Singapore Arms, a watermark of a lion's head and the signature and seal of Minister For Finance and Chairman Of the Board Of Commissioners Of Currency, Singapore. Other than the $1000 and $10000 notes which have two security threads, each of the other notes have a security thread embedded vertically across it.
 
 
The nine denominations of the Bird series are
 
Bird Series
Front Design
Back Design
Colour
Size Of Note
First Issued
$1
Black Naped Tern
National Day Parade
Blue
125mm*63mm
6 August 1976
$5
Red Whiskered Bulbul
Cable Cars And Aerial View Of The Harbour
Green
 
133mm*66mm
6 August 1976
$10
White Collared Kingfisher
Garden City With High Rise Public Housing In Background
Red
141mm*69mm 
6 August 1976
$20
Yellow Breasted Sunbird
Changi International Airport Complex With The Concorde In The Foreground
 
Brown
149mm*72mm
6 August 1979
$50
White Rumped Shama
School Band On parade
Blue
157mm*75mm
6 August 1976
$100
Blue Throated Bee Eater
Dancers Of Various Ethnic Groups
Blue
165mm*78mm
1 February 1977
$500
Black Naped Oriole
Oil Refinery
Green
181mm*84 mm
1 February 1977
$1000
Brahminy Kite
Container Terminal
Purple
197mm*90mm
7 August 1978
$10000
White Bellied Sea Eagle
Two Scenes of The Singapore River
Green
 
203mm*133mm
1 February 1980
 
 
 
Ship Series
The nine denominations of the Ship series are
The Ship series also has nine denominations. But in the Ship series the $20 note was discontinued and in its place a $2 note was introduced. The pictorial and aesthetic series is based on maritime vessels and the modern development of Singapore. The vignettes on the front of the Ship notes depict vessels that have plied the waters of Singapore over the centuries. The series starts with the merchant craft of bygone days, and progresses to the modern bulk carrier which is featured on the highest denomination. The series pays contribution of merchant shipping to the development of Singapore from an entrepot trading centre to the busiest port in the world.
 
Ship Series
Front Design
Centre Panel
Type Of Fish
Back Design
Colour
Size Of Note
First Issued
$1
Sha Chuan
A Chinese Crane
Cyprinus Carpio Or Chinese Carp
Sentosa Satellite Earth Station
Blue
125mm*63mm
12January 1987
$2
"Tongkang"
A rising sun to the right of main design
 
Different Ethnic 
Groups 
Participating In Chingay Procession
 
133mm*63mm 
28January 1991(Red)
16December 1991 (Purple)
$5
"Twakow"
A Chinese Lion With A Ball
Commerson's Anchovy Or Stolephorus 
Commersonii
View Of The PSA Container Terminal
Green
133mm*63mm
21August 1989
$10
Barter Trading Vessel "Palari"
A Phoenix
Round Scad Or Decapterus
View Of Public Housing
Red
141mm*69mm
1March 1988
$50
Coaster Vessel "Perak"
A Pair Of Mandarin Ducks 
Six Banded Grouper Or Epinephelus Sexfasciatus (Valenciennes)
Bird's-eye view Of Benjamin Sheares Bridge
Blue
156mm*74mm
9 March 1987
$100
Passenger Liner "Chusan"
A Chinese Crane 
Slender Shad Or Ilisha Elongata
Bird's Eye View Of Singapore Changi Airport
Brown
165mm*78mm
1 August 1985
 
$500
General Cargo Vessel "Neptune Sardonyx"
A Chinese Peony And A Butterfly
Indian Mackerel Or Rastrelliger Kanagurta
Group Of Men And Women From The Three Services Of The Armed Forces And The Civil Defense Force With The Outline Map Of Singapore In The Background
Green
175mm*83mm
1March 1988
$1000
Container Ship "Neptune Garnet" And Two Container Quay Cranes 
A Stylized Phoenix
Polka-Dot Grouper Or Cromileptes Altivelis
Bird’s-Eye View Of A Ship Repair Yard
Purple
185mm* 88mm
22October 1984
$10000
General Bulk Carrier "Neptune Canopus"
A Chinese Dragon
White Promfret Or Pampus Chinesis
1987 National Day Parade
Red
195mm*93mm
21 August 1989
 
 
 
Portrait Series
The Portrait series has to ensure equilibrium between simplicity and clarity in design and sophistication in security features. The public recognition security feature should be operative in such a way that it is easy for users to recognize and remember. With respect to this a standard designing approach was introduced.
 
Portrait Series
Colour
Size Of Note
First Issued On 
$2
Purple
126mm*63mm
9 September 1999 
12 January 2006 (Polymer)
$5
Green 
133mm*66mm
9 September 1999 (Paper)
18 May 2007 (Polymer)
 
$10
Red
141mm*69mm
9 September 1999 (Paper)
4 May 2004 (Polymer)
$50
Blue
156mm*74mm
9 September 1999
$100
Orange
162mm*77mm
9 September 1999
$1000
Purple
170mm*83mm
9 September 1999
$10000
Gold
180mm*90mm
9 September 1999
 
 


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