1942 Malaya 1 Cent Banknote – Japanese Invasion Money (Pick# M1b)

A rare WWII-era emergency note issued during Japan’s occupation of Malaya, featuring multilingual inscriptions and minimalist design.


Historical Context

The 1942 1 Cent note (Pick# M1b) was issued by the Japanese Military Authority during their occupation of Malaya, which included present-day Malaysia and Singapore. As part of Japan’s strategy to control Southeast Asia economically, these notes—known as Japanese Invasion Money (JIM)—were printed in large quantities to replace British colonial currency. Denominated in dollars and cents to mirror the pre-war system, they were intended for everyday use but quickly lost value due to inflation and lack of backing.

This note circulated widely from 1942 to 1945 and is among the smallest denominations of the JIM series, reflecting its use for basic transactions under occupation.


Design Features

Obverse: Printed in dark blue ink over a light green underprint, the note features the inscription “THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT” and “ONE CENT” in bold block letters. The design is simple and utilitarian, with fractional block letters (e.g., M/AA) used for serial control.

Reverse: Unprinted (uniface), typical of low-denomination emergency notes to reduce production costs.

Color Scheme: Blue on green, with no imagery or decorative elements.


Specifications & Corner Data
Feature Description
Pick Number P-M1b
Denomination 1 Cent
Issuing Authority Japanese Military Authority
Year of Issue 1942
Material Paper
Size Approx. 95 × 45 mm
Printer Likely Japanese military press
Watermark None
Security Features None
Reverse Blank
Corner Block Letters M/AA (common variant)
Languages Used English only



Collector Appeal

This note is ideal for:

WWII and Pacific War collectors
Historians of Southeast Asian occupation currencies
Educational exhibits on wartime propaganda and monetary control