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5 Cents Japanese Government
| Issuer | Japanese Government (Malaya Occupation) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1942 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Cents (0.05) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Printed in maroon on pale cream paper, the obverse is framed by an intricate guilloche border with circular numeral "5" medallions in each corner. The central panel carries the inscription "THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT" above the large denomination legend "FIVE CENTS" in bold serif lettering, with block letter prefix "MT" appearing at lower left and lower right. At the base, a decorative scroll cartouche encloses the Japanese kanji legend, with a small numeral "V" at centre below the main text panel. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Printed in mauve on pale cream paper, the reverse is entirely covered by an elaborate guilloche design centred on a large floral rosette with the numeral "5" at its heart, surrounded by radiating petal-shaped lathe-work panels. The outer border repeats the denomination numeral "5" in stylised form at each corner within cloud-shaped guilloche reserves, all framed by a fine dotted rule border. |
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| Comments |
The Japanese Military Administration's small-denomination occupation notes for Malaya were printed without serial numbers — a deliberate production shortcut that made counterfeiting easier and detection harder. The 5 Cents (P#M2) was part of the first wave of occupation currency rushed into circulation immediately after the fall of Singapore in February 1942, intended to displace Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States currency as quickly as possible.
At over twelve million printed, the note was common enough, but the absence of serial numbers across the entire low-denomination series has long frustrated attempts to track surviving stocks against original print runs.