Malaya, up to 1946 was a group of British-controlled states in the Malay Peninsula which included Singapore.
Japan invaded Malaya in early December 1941. In February, 1942 Japan masterminded the take-over of Singapore Island which would lead to the biggest surrender in British history.
In late 1941 or early 1942, Japanese invasion notes were issued in the denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 50 cents and 1, 5 and 10 dollars (only the early issues of the dollar notes carried serial numbers). Additional $10 notes were printed in 1944. JIM in Malaya was often referred to as ‘Banana Money’ (duit pisang in Malay) due to the illustration of bananas on the $10 note.
Japanese Invasion Money was issued in the following denominations for Malaya: One Cent, Five Cents, Ten Cents, Fifty Cents, One Dollar, Five Dollars, Ten Dollars, One Hundred Dollars, One Thousand Dollars.
