1 Dollar 1959, Malaya and British Borneo
| in Krause book | Number: 8 |
| Years of issue: | 01.03.1959 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | The Chairman for the currency board: Mr. Henry Lee Hau Shik |
| Serie: | 1959 - 1961 Issue |
| Specimen of: | 01.03.1959 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 119 х 62 |
| Printer: | Waterlow and Sons Limited, London |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Head of tiger.
Avers:
On the left side is a junk.
It is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel/ship design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Song Dynasty (960-1129) and were used as seagoing vessels as early as the II century CE. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages. They were found, and in lesser numbers are still found, throughout South-East Asia and India, but primarily in China, perhaps most famously in Hong Kong.
The term junk may be used to cover many kinds of boat-ocean-going, cargo-carrying, pleasure boats, live-aboards. They vary greatly in size and there are significant regional variations in the type of rig, however they all employ fully battened sails.
Distinctive features of junks - sails of bamboo mats and monasteries in the form of a quadrangle, and raised bow and stern. Sails can be collapsed like blinds. Massive wheel replaces the keel.
Denomination in words is on the right side. Top right in numeral.
Revers:
Men pulling junk ashore.
On the top are five coats of arms of the Federation.
First on the left is the emblem of Brunei from 1950 to 1959.
After the ascendance of Sultan Omar Al Saifuddin in 1950, the emblem was augmented with a crescent, probably to stress the fact that Islam is the main religion in Brunei. The new emblem is seen on stamps issued in 1950. Also it appears on the collar and star of the Darjah Sri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia (the Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Brunei), founded by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III on 1 March 1954.
The Flag and Payung Ubor-Ubor (in which the latter is featured below the Flag) have been the royal insignia since the creation of the emblem. The wings symbolize protection of justice, tranquility, prosperity and peace. Below these is the crescent that is the symbol of Islam, the national religion of Brunei.
In the middle - coat of arms of Malaya Federation.
On January 31, 1948 the emblem was changed again after 1929. Malaya again became a federation under the name "Federation of Malaya". The new federation were composed of the former Federation of Malaya, and other states - Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis en Trennganu States and Straits Settlements, Penang and Malacca. Coat of arms was adopted at March 19, 1952. The shield of the coat of arms was taken from the old emblem, adopted in 1929.
Shield: On top of the red background - five national Daggers - krisses - the symbol of the Sultanate of Malacca. Symbolize five legendary warriors Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu. Lower - Red, black, white and yellow rectangles are the colors of the former federated Malay principalities: black and white - Pahang, red and yellow - Selangor, black, white and yellow - Perak, red, black and yellow - Negeri Sembelan.
Top: Crescent and the gold star with 11 Ends. Number 11 is a symbol of the Great Work (Magnum Opus) - alchemy process of obtaining the Philosopher's Stone (otherwise referred to as the elixir of philosophers), as well as the achievement of enlightened consciousness, fusion of spirit and matter. Such star can be considered as a compound of microcosm and macrocosm - human and divine.
The Crescent means Islamic religion.
Holders: Two tigers, symbol of courage and strength. Each of them is based by one paw on yellow ribbon with the motto "Unity is strength" (motto repeated twice: in English and Jawi alphabet - the Arabic script).
Rightmost is a coat of arms of Crown Colony of north Borneo, until it became Sabah, in 1963.
The sovereignty of the British North Borneo Company was abolished on 15 July 1946 and British North Borneo became a British Crown Colony. As a result the achievement as well as the badges of Labuan and the British North Borneo Colony became obsolete.
A coat of arms for the colony was adopted on 13 September 1948 and is an amalgamation of the badges of Labuan and North Borneo.
Arms: Azure in base on waves of the sea in front of a representation of mount Kinabalu (4094 m.) a sailing yacht in full sail to the sinister on the mizzen the letter “T” Sable all proper, a chief Or thereon a lion passant guardant Gules.
Crest: Upon a wreath Azure and Or, two arms embowed that on the dexter side being an arm of a native of North Bornbeo Proper, that on the sinister side being an arm vested Azure cuffed Argent, the hands grasping a staff proper thereon hoisted a flag flowing to the sinistre Or charged with a lion passant guardant Gules.
The “T” commemorates the liberation from Japanese occupation by the 9th Australian Division, which had participated in the siege of Tobruk (1941). The emblem of the 9th Australian Division was a platypus (ornitorynchus anatinus) over a boomerang.
Second on the left - the coat of arms of Sarawak.
Sarawak was founded in 1842 by a British officer, James Brooke on a territory ceded to him by the Sultan of Brunei as a reward for military aid. His son, Sir Charles Johnson Brooke (1868-1917), adopted the arms below. His son Sir Charles Vyner Brooke (1917-1946) introduced a new version of the arms with the crest replaced by a five-pointed crown, the points symbolizing the five divisions of the kingdom. Shortly before WW II the engrained was abandoned and replaced by just a cross parted per pale.
Because of the disastrous results of Japanese Occupation Sir Charles abdicated in 1946. On the 17th of May 1945 Sarawak became a British Crown Colony and a coat of arms was granted on the 10th of March 1947. These arms were based on the previous arms, but the crown was moved from a crest to the center of the shield. These arms were continued after Sarawak joined Malaysia in 1963 and were in use until 1973.
Yellow color indicates the primacy of law, an order and unity. Black color represents the natural resources, that are the foundation of development progress, according to the state's residents. Red symbolizes courage, braveness, determination and sacrifice of people, their desire to develop the country in which they reside.
Second on the right - the coat of arms of Singapore.
The first coat of arms for the City of Singapore was granted by letters patent of 9th April 1948. The reference to the municipality of Singapore as the “City of Singapore” was apparently an error made on the side of the College of Arms as Singapore only received City status in 1951. The second arms of Singapore were adopte only five months later. They show the blason of the quarter for Singapore in the arms of the Straits Settlements of 1911.
By Royal warrant of 13 September 1948 the arms of 1911 were confirmed and augmented with a crest. This last shows a tower issuant from the base proper; on the battlements thereof a lion passant guardant orlion rampant issuant Or, langued and armed Gules keeping a banner upright Argent, a pall reversed Gules, an Imperial crown Or.
At the same time a badge was adopted for the crown colony. This consisted of the blason of the banner in the crest: Argent, a pall reversed Gules, an Imperial Crown Or.
Denomination in numeral is top left.
Comments:
The Malaya and British Borneo dollar was the currency of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo, Brunei and Riau archipelago from 1953 to 1967. The currency was issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo. Prior to 1952, the board was known as the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya.
The Malaya and British Borneo dollar was used in Malaya after independence in 1957, and in Malaysia after its formation in 1963, as well as in Singapore after its independence in 1965. After 1967, the two countries and Brunei ended the common currency arrangement and began issuing their own currencies. However, the Malaya and British Borneo dollar continued to be legal tender until 16 January 1969. The currency was also being used in the Riau Archipelago in Indonesia prior to 1963.
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