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10 Dollars 'Banana Money' Japanese Government
| Issuer | Japanese Government |
|---|---|
| Year | 1942-1944 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | Central vignette composed of tropical flora including coconut palms (Cocos nucifera), jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), banana plants, pineapple (Ananas comosus), and assorted tropical vegetation arranged as a decorative border and central motif. The face value "TEN DOLLARS" appears in English alongside Chinese characters, with the issuer's promise-to-pay legend running across the note. The overall layout is characteristic of Japanese occupation currency printed in a simple letterpress style with minimal security embellishment. |
|---|---|
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| Protection type | Watermark |
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| Comments |
The term "Banana Money" was coined by Malayan civilians during the Japanese occupation, a reference to the banana tree motif on the ten-dollar face — though the nickname quickly became a byword for worthlessness rather than botanical charm. The Japanese military administration printed these notes without any reserve backing, issuing them in volumes that bore no relationship to economic reality. Inflation was catastrophic and deliberate; the currency was a tool of extraction, not exchange.
After liberation in 1945, the British declared all Japanese occupation currency void without compensation. Hoards survive precisely because the notes became worthless overnight.