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JAPANESE INVASION MONEY - TEN CENTS NOTE

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c. 1945

Overview

Small rectangle, cream in colour with green print and text on both sides. Front surface has dark green text in the centre reading [THE/ JAPANESE GOVERNMENT/ TEN/ CENTS]. On each side of the text is text reading [M/BF] Surrounding the text is a cream border of 2mm around a green lace style background, with a filigree design on inner edges surrounding text, the number [10] in each corner, with a circle design near the lower left number ten. 22mm band with Japanese symbols on lower edge of design.
Back design has a large number [10] in the centre of rectangle, with similar green lace and filigree effect as front of note making a rectangular pattern. The number [10] is located on the corners of the pattern. On lower edge, written in faded ink, upside down is the words [A Memory of Reception Desk/ 10 A.A.C.S.]

Historical information

Following the fall of Singapore in 1942, Japan introduced new currencies to replace previously used currencies, forcing local residents to adopt the currency. Notes were issued to replace coinage when a shortage of coins occurred. Notes would be printed when needed which caused hyperinflation and depreciation in face value. Counterfeiting was also a issue as the notes had no serial number to prevent copying of the notes.
At the event of the Japanese surrender, the notes became worthless as currency, but were collected as a form of souvenir of the Japanese occupation. This note was collected by Bernard Beltz who served in the Australian navy during WWII. He was serving on HMS Bataan when it was in Japan for the surrender of Japan in 1945.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2020.30

Themes

People
Social History
War and Conflict

Material

Paper

Width

1 mm

Height or length

103 mm

Inscriptions and markings

[THE/ JAPANESE GOVERNMENT/ TEN/ CENTS].

Keywords

Year

Statement of significance

MEDIUM
Bank note was souvenir by Bernard Lewis Beltz, a member of the Australian Navy during World War II who was a stoker on HMS Bataan, a tribal class destroyer. HMS Bataan was in the Philippines in July 1945 and from there travelled to Tokyo, arriving on the 31st August 1945 to take part in the Japanese surrender ceremony which took part on 2nd September 1945.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

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