Indonesia Banknotes From Early Issues to Modern Notes

Indonesia has a rich history of banknotes, and understanding the evolution of these notes can be fascinating. The first banknotes issued in Indonesia were in 1946, during the Indonesian National Revolution.

These early issues were designed to meet the country's financial needs during a time of great turmoil. They featured a portrait of the country's national hero, Sukarno.

The first banknotes were printed by the Dutch government, who were still in control of the country at the time. The notes were denominated in Dutch guilders and were not very secure, making them vulnerable to counterfeiting.

In 1949, the Indonesian government took control of the country's finances and introduced its own currency, the rupiah. This marked the beginning of a new era for Indonesia's banknotes.

The early issues of Indonesia banknotes are a fascinating topic. The first ever notes issued by Bank Indonesia were in 1953, featuring the new name of the nationalized De Javasche Bank.

These notes were prepared in 1952, in denominations of Rp5, Rp10, Rp25, Rp50, Rp100, Rp500, and Rp1,000, signed by Indra Kasoema as Director, and Sjafruddin Prawiranegara as Governor. The notes began circulating from July 1953 to November 1954 depending on denomination.

Here are some key characteristics of these early Bank Indonesia notes:

Some of the older notes, dated '1946', continued to be legal tender right up to the 'new rupiah' of 1965, although some were withdrawn due to counterfeiting or lack of authority for their issue.

The Independence Period was a pivotal time for Indonesia, marked by significant events that shaped the country's financial landscape. On December 19, 1948, the Dutch seized Yogyakarta, effectively taking control of the Republic's central bank and its operations.

The Dutch planned to revalue the national rupiah notes, but this plan didn't come to fruition in Java. Instead, they printed new rupiah notes, known as "rupiah baru", with various denominations.

In areas where the national currency couldn't reach, regional commanders were instructed to issue their own currency to discourage the circulation of Dutch money.

These regional currencies were meant to be unified after Indonesia gained full independence.

The republican authorities allowed regional commanders to issue their own currency to address financial needs in areas where the national currency wasn't accessible.

A notable example is the Rp25 note of Banten Residency, issued on December 15, 1947.

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The first ever notes issued by Bank Indonesia were prepared in 1952, featuring the new name of the nationalised De Javasche Bank. These notes were dated 1952, in denominations of Rp5, Rp10, Rp25, Rp50, Rp100, Rp500, and Rp1,000.

The notes began circulating from July 1953 to November 1954, depending on the denomination. Here's a breakdown of the notes:

These notes were signed by Indra Kasoema as Director, and Sjafruddin Prawiranegara as Governor.

The De Javasche Bank notes were the first to be issued for the post-independence rupiah in Indonesia. They were a result of the peace settlement with the Dutch in 1949, which kept De Javasche Bank as the central bank in Indonesia.

The existing De Javasche Bank money dated 1946 was revised in color, with the 5 gulden note changing from purple to red and green, the 10 gulden from green to purple, and 25 gulden from red to green. In addition, new notes were added, including 50 gulden, 100 gulden, 500 gulden, and 1,000 gulden notes, all still dated 1946.

The De Javasche Bank notes were printed by Johan Enschede en Zonen based in the Netherlands. Some notable features of these notes include the use of various colors, such as green and red for the 5 gulden note, and purple for the 10 gulden note.

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The Gulden/Roepiah notes were introduced in 1950 as the new currency for Indonesia, replacing the old Dutch currency.

These notes were issued in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 1000 Roepiah.

The Gulden was the currency of the Dutch East Indies before Indonesia gained independence in 1945.

The Roepiah was introduced as the new currency unit, replacing the Gulden.

The Gulden/Roepiah notes were printed with various security features to prevent counterfeiting.

The notes featured a portrait of Queen Wilhelmina on the front and a landscape scene on the back.

The Gulden/Roepiah notes were withdrawn from circulation in 1952.

De Javasche Banknotes were issued by De Javasche Bank, the central bank in Indonesia, after the peace settlement with the Dutch in 1949. The first notes were revised from the existing De Javasche Bank money dated 1946, with some notes changing colors and new denominations being added.

The 5 gulden note changed from purple to red and green, the 10 gulden from green to purple, and the 25 gulden from red to green. New denominations of 50 gulden, 100 gulden, 500 gulden, and 1,000 gulden notes were also added, still dated 1946.

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These notes were printed by Johan Enschede en Zonen in the Netherlands. The 50 gulden note featured a sailboat, while the 100 gulden note depicted a paddy field.

Here's a list of the De Javasche Banknotes issued in 1950, along with their dimensions, main colors, and descriptions:

The 1 gulden note was added to the existing low-denomination notes, which were all printed by Security Banknote Printing Company in the USA.

In Indonesia, banknotes have undergone significant redesigns over the years. One notable redesign was the new design for government banknotes issued in 1960-1961, featuring agricultural workers on the obverse and its results on the reverse.

The new notes were printed by Pertjetakan Kebajoran and had a distinctive green and yellow color for the Rp1 note. The Rp1 note measured 120 × 60 mm and had a 3-letter, 6-number serial number.

The Rp2½ note, on the other hand, had a blue color and featured corn farmers on the obverse. These notes were signed by Finance Minister Ir. Djuanda Kartawidjaja in 1960 and by Finance Minister Raden Murobikandi Notohamiprojo in 1961.

A later redesign in 1978 updated the Rp100 and Rp500 notes, completing the third series of notes issued since the 1965 devaluation.

The Federal Notes of 1950 were a short-lived but interesting development in the history of Indonesian currency. They were printed by Thomas De La Rue and dated 1 January 1950.

The RIS government passed legislation on 2 June 1950 to issue new treasury notes, which came in denominations of Rp5 and Rp10. The notes were printed in red and purple, respectively.

One of the notable features of these notes is their unique serial numbers, which started with a letter "D" or "E" followed by six numbers. For example, the Rp5 note had serial numbers starting with "D" over a number between 1 and 10, while the Rp10 note had serial numbers starting with "E" over a number between 1 and 19.

The dimensions of the notes are also worth mentioning: the Rp5 note measured 136 × 64 mm, while the Rp10 note had the same dimensions.

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In 1951, the Emergency Act led to the nationalisation of De Javasche Bank. This move paved the way for the government to issue its own currency.

The government took a significant step by issuing notes valued at Rp1 and Rp2½. These denominations were introduced through the Currency Act of 1953.

The first series of Republik Indonesia notes, printed by Security Banknote Printing Company (USA), featured a unique design. These notes were printed in 1951 and 1953.

Here are the key features of the Republik Indonesia notes:

The notes were signed by Sjafruddin Prawiranegara in 1951 and Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo in 1953.

In 1954, the Indonesian government redesigned its Rp1 and Rp2½ notes. These notes were re-dated with the new Minister of Finance's signature in 1956.

The redesigned notes featured a Javanese girl on the Rp1 note. The image is to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre.

The Rp1 note had a blue main colour and dimensions of 130 × 60 mm. It also had a 3-letter, 6-number serial number.

The Rp2½ note had a red and green main colour. It featured a Rotinese man on the obverse.

Here's a comparison of the notes:

The redesigned notes were issued in 1954, but the Rp1 note was withdrawn in 1960.

In 1960, the government of Indonesia introduced a new design for government banknotes, featuring an agriculture theme. This redesign was a significant change for the country's currency.

The new design included notes with values of Rp1 and Rp2½, both of which were printed by Pertjetakan Kebajoran. The notes were issued in 1960 and 1961, with different signatures from the Finance Minister.

Here's a breakdown of the new design for the Rp1 and Rp2½ notes:

The redesign of the Rp1 and Rp2½ notes was a significant step in the government's efforts to reform the country's currency. The new design was meant to reflect the country's agricultural industry.

The first Indonesian-designed notes were issued in 1959, marking a significant milestone in the country's currency history. These notes were part of the "handicrafts" series, which featured unique designs and themes.

The notes were printed by Pertjetakan Kebajoran, the state printer, and were worth Rp5 through Rp100. The "handicrafts" series was a departure from the previous designs, which were often influenced by foreign countries.

The first notes in the series were issued in 1960, with the Rp5 note featuring an Epiphyllum oxypetalum flower and four magpie-robins. The Rp10 note, issued on January 2, 1960, featured Hoya flowers and four cockatoos.

Here's a breakdown of the denominations in the "flowers and birds" series:

The "flowers and birds" series was a significant departure from the previous designs, featuring unique and colorful themes.

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Indonesia issued a polymer Rp50,000 rupiah note in 1993 to celebrate "25 Years of Development" under the New Order. This note was the first of its kind in Indonesia and featured a hologram of President Suharto.

The note was printed by Note Printing Australia and had a unique design, with President Suharto on the front and Soekarno-Hatta airport on the back. A plane taking off from the airport symbolized Indonesia's growth.

Only five million of these notes were printed and were packed in a presentation pack explaining the 25-year growth plan since 1969. The notes were priced at Rp100,000 upon release, which was double the face value of Rp50,000.

In 1965, the first redenomination of the currency occurred, with a new currency unit called the "Malagasy franc" being introduced.

The Malagasy franc replaced the previous currency unit, the "franc of Madagascar", at a rate of 1 Malagasy franc to 100 francs of Madagascar.

The redenomination was necessary due to high inflation rates in the country, which had caused the value of the franc to plummet.

This change allowed the government to issue new currency notes and coins with the new denomination, making it easier for people to conduct transactions.

The new currency notes featured a portrait of Philibert Tsiranana, the president of Madagascar at the time.

The redenomination marked a significant change in the country's economy and helped to stabilize the currency.

The Suharto 25 Years of Development Commemorative Note was a special issue in Indonesia, released in 1993 to celebrate 25 years of development under the New Order. It was the first polymer note in Indonesia, worth approximately US$24.15 at the time of its release.

The note featured a hologram of then-President Suharto and the phrase "Penerbitan Khusus" (Special Issue). Only five million notes were printed and each was packed in a presentation pack explaining the 25-year growth plan since 1969.

These notes were priced at Rp100,000 upon release, which was double the face value of Rp50,000. However, it's believed that due to poor sales, some of the polymer notes were issued as regularly circulating money.

Here are the key specifications of the Suharto 25 Years of Development Commemorative Note:

The note was printed by Note Printing Australia and featured a Suharto hologram and Bank Indonesia watermark. It was valid until 21 August 2000, when it was withdrawn from circulation.

The 75th Anniversary of Independence Rp75,000 note was a limited edition commemorative banknote released by Bank Indonesia in 2020. It was valued at Rp75,000, which was equivalent to about $5 at the time of its release.

The note was designed to commemorate Indonesia's 75th anniversary of independence and was printed in a total of 75 million copies. It was made available to Indonesian citizens over the age of 17, who could purchase a maximum of one banknote by registering online and collecting it at one of the 45 regional Bank Indonesia branches.

The design of the note featured a unique image of children wearing various traditional clothing in Indonesia, with a picture of the Telkom-4 (aka Merah Putih) satellite above Indonesia. The note's serial number was a combination of three letters and six numbers.

Here are the specifications of the Rp75,000 note:

The note's design and unique features made it a sought-after collector's item, with some selling for up to Rp8.8 million, more than 117 times its face value.

The 1979/1980/1982 series of banknotes was a major redesign for Indonesia's currency. The first note to be replaced was the Rp10,000, which was worth approximately US$16 at the time.

These redesigned notes were printed by Perum Peruri and featured various denominations, including Rp500, Rp1,000, Rp5,000, and Rp10,000. Each note had its own unique dimensions, ranging from 140 × 68 mm to 158 × 80 mm.

The main colors of these notes were green, blue, brown, and purple, which likely made them easier to distinguish from one another. The Rp500 note, for example, was green and featured a titan arum on the obverse.

Here's a breakdown of the key features of each denomination:

The issue dates for these notes varied, with the Rp10,000 note being issued as early as 1979.

In 1998, Bank Indonesia redesigned the Rp10,000 and Rp20,000 notes with added security features, including a latent image that shows the text "BI" when viewed at a certain angle.

The new Rp10,000 note was introduced on January 23, 1998, and features Tjut Njak Dhien on the obverse and Lake Segara Anak on the reverse.

The Rp20,000 note was introduced on February 19, 1998, and features Ki Hadjar Dewantara and Ganesha on the obverse and a teacher and children in a classroom on the reverse.

Mirza Adityaswara's prediction of an increase in demand for cash led to the introduction of a new polymer Rp100,000 note on November 1, 1999.

Here's a brief overview of the 1998/1999 series notes:

The use of polymer banknotes in Indonesia has been a modern issue, with the first polymer banknote being introduced in 2017.

These banknotes are designed to be more secure and durable than traditional paper banknotes, with a lifespan of up to four times longer.

The Bank of Indonesia has also implemented various security features to prevent counterfeiting, such as watermarks, holograms, and microprinting.

The Second Animals series of Bank Indonesia banknotes was printed in 1957, but it wasn't until 1958 that the first notes were brought into circulation.

The series included denominations of Rp5, Rp10, Rp25, Rp50, Rp100, Rp500, Rp1,000, and Rp5,000.

The Rp100 and Rp1,000 notes were the first to be released in 1958 due to counterfeiting issues with the 1952 series.

The remaining high denomination notes, including the Rp500, were released in 1959.

Loekman Hakim, the new governor of Bank Indonesia, commissioned a new Rp2,500 note in addition to the original eight designs.

A devaluation in August 1959 resulted in the Rp500 and Rp1,000 notes being devalued to Rp50 and Rp100, respectively.

The Rp10 and Rp25 notes were only circulated for three days, making them extremely rare today.

Low denomination notes were a convenient solution for the Indonesian government in 1947. They issued Rp0.10 and Rp0.25 notes in the Indonesian language to fill the initial lack of coinage.

The Rp0.10 note had a green and red design, measuring 100 × 60 mm, and featured a floral border. It included a counterfeit warning in both Indonesian and Dutch.

The Rp0.25 note had a brown and blue design with a central floral design. Both notes were printed by G. Kolff & Co.

Here's a summary of the notes:

The Indonesian government continued to print these notes until sufficient coinage was minted to replace them.

Bank Indonesia has been busy launching new banknotes, and I'm excited to share the details with you. In 2020, they introduced a commemorative banknote to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Indonesia's declaration of independence, valued at Rp75,000.

This note was a limited edition, with only 75 million printed, and was available for purchase by Indonesian citizens over 17 years old. The design featured national heroes Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, along with a Jakarta MRT1000 series trainset and Youtefa Bridge.

The note was a bit of a collector's item, with prices reaching up to Rp8.8 million online. Bank Indonesia had to clarify that the note was indeed legal tender and could be used for payment transactions.

In 2022, Bank Indonesia launched seven new banknotes, including Rp100,000, Rp50,000, Rp20,000, Rp10,000, Rp5,000, Rp2000, and Rp1000. These new notes have a sharper color design, a more reliable safety element, and better material resistance.

The new notes still feature national heroes and Indonesian cultural themes, such as images of dance and natural scenery, on the back.

The 1975/1977 series of rupiah notes was a significant change for Indonesia's currency. Perum Peruri took over the responsibility for printing these notes from Pertjetakan Kebajoran in 1975.

The 1975/1977 series notes were redesigned due to counterfeiting concerns, specifically with the Sudirman notes. The Rp1,000, Rp5,000, and Rp10,000 notes were re-issued in 1976 with a 1975 date.

Here are the key features of the 1975/1977 series notes:

The Sudirman notes of Rp1,000 and above were withdrawn as legal tender on 1 September 1977.

The 1984-1988 series of Indonesian banknotes was a significant update to the country's currency. It featured new designs and security measures to prevent counterfeiting.

The Rp100 note, for example, was replaced in 1984 with a new design featuring the Goura victoria on its obverse and the Sigura-gura dam in Asahan, North Sumatera, on its reverse.

The series was printed by Perum Peruri and circulated from 1984 to 1992. Here are the key details of the notes in this series:

The series was updated on 28 December 1992 and was subsequently demonetised on 25 September 1995.

The 1992/1993/1995 series of banknotes was a major overhaul of Indonesia's currency, introducing new denominations and security features.

The series was launched on December 28, 1992, with the introduction of a new top denomination, the Rp20,000 note, which was worth approximately $10 at the time.

The notes were printed by Perum Peruri and circulated from 1992 to 1998. The series included denominations from Rp100 to Rp50,000.

Here's a breakdown of the denominations in the 1992/1993/1995 series:

The series also featured a hologram with the BI's logo on the Rp50,000 note as an added security feature.

Currency security features are essential to prevent counterfeiting, and Indonesia's banknotes have several measures in place. These include watermarks, holograms, and microprinting.

Indonesia's banknotes also feature a unique security thread that glows under ultraviolet (UV) light, making it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate. This thread is woven into the paper itself, adding an extra layer of security.

The Rupiah banknotes are designed to be durable and long-lasting, with a lifespan of up to 5 years in circulation. This is achieved through the use of high-quality paper and ink that can withstand wear and tear.

Anti-Counterfeit Warnings were a crucial aspect of Indonesian currency security. The warnings evolved over the years to reflect changing laws and regulations.

Initially, from 1945 to 1947, the warning stated that whoever imitated or counterfeited banknotes could be punished according to Articles 244, 245, and 249 of the Criminal Code.

The warning was later modified in 1947 to include penalties for those who imitated or falsified banknotes and deliberately issued, stored, or imported counterfeit banknotes to the Dutch East Indies.

In the early years of its implementation, the warning was repeated multiple times in microprint, mimicking the technique used on Dutch guilder banknotes.

The warning remained largely unchanged from 1947 to 1980, stating that whoever imitated or falsified banknotes and whoever issued or kept imitation or falsified banknotes on purpose would be prosecuted by law.

From 1982 to 1998, the warning was updated to threaten imprisonment for those who imitated, falsified banknotes, and/or deliberately stored and distributed imitation or counterfeit banknotes.

Here's a summary of the anti-counterfeit warnings used on Indonesian banknotes:

The history of Indonesian currency is a long and fascinating one. From 1945, the first banknotes were issued, featuring denominations such as 1, 5, 10 Sen, and 1/2, 1, 5, 10, 100 rupiah.

One of the earliest issues was the 13-20 series, dated 1945, which included the 1/2 rupiah note, a denomination that was later phased out. The 21-24 series, dated 1947, featured higher denominations, including 5, 10, 25, and 100 rupiah notes.

Over the years, the design and denominations of Indonesian banknotes have changed significantly. In 1961, the Irian Barat (former Netherlands New Guinea) issued its own series of banknotes, featuring 1, 2.50, 5, 10, and 100 rupiah notes.

Here's a brief overview of some notable series: