Straits Settlements – 10 Cents Emergency Note

On the 5th October 1917, the Straits Government issued an official Government Gazette notice number 1313 announcing the intention of issuing the 10 cents banknote to counter the shortage of coins in the Straits Settlements.

Very large numbers of these notes were put into circulation and the value of those issued by 22 September 1920 was $1,925,484.80 equals to 19,254,848 pieces.

Date of printing can be checked on the reverse side of the note. Printed around the red seal. Day is to the left of the crown, month to the right and year at the bottom.

Due to the thick open texture paper used for printing, the notes were quickly to absorb moisture and dirt. It was then replaced by a new ten cents note.

Emergency Issue Note

Due to silver shortage, as most of the silver went to melting pot once they arrive in China coast due to the intrinsic value of the metal exceed the face value, the Government of Straits Settlements vide The Legal Tender Enactment 1913 and Amendment Enactment 1917 allowing them to issue Emergency Banknote with face values of 10 and 25 cents.

The locally issued 10 cents notes were extensively counterfeited and a great many of these forgeries circulated side by side with the genuine ones.

The Emergency Notes undoubtedly saved the situation but, even so, small change was often a great difficulty and postage stamps and tramway tickets were sometimes offered.

Issues

Exist in 2 different signature varieties.

The first issue was made on 8 October 1917 and bore the signature of the Honorary Mr. Hayes Marriot then acting Treasurer (on the note it appears as Ag Treasurer). Last known date was 1 September 1918.

The signature of the Treasurer of the Straits Settlement, Honorary Mr. A. M. Pountney, C.B.E., appears on notes starting on 2 January 1919 until 10 June 1920.

Known dates of issues:

1. 02-01-1919
2. 11-01-1919
3. 29-01-1919
4. 22-02-1919
5. 30-03-1919
6. 08-04-1919
7. 24-04-1919
8. 12-05-1919
9. 10-06-1919
10. 01-07-1919
11. 22-07-1919
12. 27-07-1919
13. 08-08-1919
14. 23-08-1919
15. 10-09-1919
16. 01-11-1919
17. 15-01-1920
18. 02-02-1920
19. 05-02-1920
20. 25-02-1920
21. 08-03-1920
22. 06-04-1920
23. 10-06-1920

* If there's any date I am missing, please leave a comment below.

Physical Observation (Obverse)

1. Green and yellow as primary colours.
2. Coat-of-arms of Straits Settlements at upper center.
3. Crude design, thick paper and discoloured.
4. Folded into 4 vertically and 1 horizontally.
5. The note was actually separated into two but was put back together, not noticeable unless closely scrutinized.

10 CENTS
سڤوله سين

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
OF THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS

Promises to pay the bearer on
demand at Singapore

TEN CENTS

Local Currency for value received

A/4 75709

A. M. Pountney
Treasurer

壹 角
சென்ட்.

In the left hand top corner appears within a black circle ’10 Cents’. In the left hand bottom corner, ’10 Cents’ in Chinese 壹 角 (Yi Jiao) and to the right of that the serial number of the note; below the main inscription and to the right the signature of the Treasurer and word ‘Treasurer’. In the right hand bottom corner ’10 Cents’ in Tamil சென்ட். and in the right hand top corner ‘Ten Cents’ in Malay - سڤوله سين

Physical Observation (Reverse)

On the back of the note is a decorative design of scroll work. In the centre a representation of a ten cent Treasury Revenue embosses stamp cancellation; all in red.

SINGAPORE
10^c
29 1 19
TEN CENTS

Issue Date: 29 January 1919 (Somehow unconfirmed)