Mata Wang Malaysia : Malaysian Currency (18th Jan 2010)

Bank Negara Malaysia was established on January 26, 1959 under the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958. On June 12, 1967, the Malaysia dollar, issued by Bank Negara Malaysia, replaced the Malaya and British Borneo dollar at par. The new currency retained all denominations except the $10,000 denomination, and also brought over the colour schemes of the old dollar. Over the course of the following decades, changes were made on the notes and coins issued, from the introduction of the M$1 coin in 1967, the demonetization of M$500 and M$1000 notes during the 1990s.

COINS

First series (1967)

The first series of sen coins were introduced in 1967 in denominations of 1 sen, 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen, followed by the introduction of the 1 ringgit coin in 1971. The 50 sen coin is the only coin in the series to undergo the minor design modification on its edge in 1971 to include “Bank Negara Malaysia” letterings.

Second series (1989)

The second series of coins enters circulation in late-1989. Changes include the inclusion of a hibiscus, the national flower on Malaysia, on the upper half of the obverse, and the depiction of items of cultural items on the reverse. On December 7, 2005, the 1 ringgit coin was demonetized and withdrawn from circulation.

CURRENCY NOTES

First series (1967)

Bank Negara Malaysia launched its first local currency notes in 1967, in values of $1, $5, $10, $50 and $100. The $1,000 currency notes were launched in 2 September 1968. The obverse was printed with the portraits of the first DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. At the reverse was the BNM emblem with decorated geometry as the background.

Second series (1982)

On 1 September 1982, Bank Negara Malaysia launched its second series currency notes. All notes were covered with new design and featured Malaysia’s culture. Two additional new denominations (RM20 and RM500) were launched at the same time. The tiger watermark image on the old notes has been replaced byte portraits of the first DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

Third series (1996)

The third series was issued with designs in the spirit of Wawasan 2020 in denominations of RM2, RM5, RM10, RM50 and RM100. In 2000, the RM1 note was reintroduced, replacing the RM2 note and the RM1 coin. In 2004, a new RM5 polymer banknote with a distinctive transparent window was also issued.