The Malaysiana Collection

26/08/2026

08/08/2026

The Malaysiana Collection is pleased to present the catalogue write-up of The Private Banks of Singapore auction held on 25 June 1994, featuring a unique collection of privately issued banknotes for Singapore:

'Banknotes are a window to history'. This is particularly relevant to the banknotes of Singapore issued during the 19th century. In few other countries can be seen such a range of colour and design in the variety of issuing banks and in such a tangible format.

The collection listed here is unique. All private banknotes from Singapore during the 19th century are extremely rare and to find any example in any condition is unusual. To build a collection of forty-four different examples, some of which are in an excellent state of preservation is truly remarkable, doubly so when considering many of the examples listed here are believed to be unique.

The collection also represents many years of patient searching. The current owner feels the time has come when the realistic expectation of adding further rarities is becoming increasingly remote and the time is right to allow others the pleasure of collecting notes from this popular area.

It is most unlikely a similar collection will come again to the market. The notes listed here range from the colourful complexities of the Asiatic Banking Corporation issues, to the stark simplicity of the historical Chartered Bank Post Bills, from the extensive selection of the Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London and China to the exotic appeal of the North Western Bank of India and the Union Bank of Calcutta, names and designs that conjure up the magic of Singapore. There are few better illustrations of the rich commercial history of the area in the latter half of the 19th century than through its issuing banks.

Note: Before the colonial Government formed the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Straits Settlements in 1897 to centralize control, major mercantile and chartered banks issued private and semi-private banknotes in 19th and early 20th century Singapore. These corporate notes circulated widely among local trading communities before the introduction of the Straits Settlements dollar.

The private banks of Singapore notes featured in this catalogue consist of the following:
• Asiatic Banking Corporation
• Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China
• Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London and China
• Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
• New Oriental Bank Corporation
• North Western Bank of India
• Oriental Banking Corporation
• Union Bank of Calcutta
• Constantinople Estate

Spink Auctions

Spink China 斯賓克中國

05/08/2026

01/08/2026

The Malaysiana Collection is pleased to share the complete digital auction catalogues of The Frank Goon Reference Collection of British Malayan Banknotes, courtesy of Noonans Auctions.

Part I:https://www.noonans.co.uk/media/auction_catalogues/Banknotes%20Goon%2025%20Mar%2023.pdf

Part II:https://www.noonans.co.uk/media/auction_catalogues/Banknotes%20Frank%20Goon%2023%20Mar%2024.pdf

Part III:https://www.noonans.co.uk/media/auction_catalogues/Banknotes%20Frank%20Goon%2022%20Mar%2025.pdf

These exceptional catalogues showcase the legendary numismatic collection of Frank Goon and contains a spectacular range of notes from the Straits Settlements, Malaya, British North Borneo, Sarawak, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

20/06/2026

The Malaysiana Collection is pleased to feature an extremely rare 1901C British Trade Dollar $1 Gold Restrike NGC PF63 (Calcutta mint, cf. KM-T5 (business strike), Prid-Unl (cf. Prid-12 for business strike).

These British Trade Dollar gold restrikes rarely appear in the open market, perhaps once in a decade or two, as only a handful are known to exist and collected exclusively by the most elite of collectors.

In explaining the production of such off-metal strikes in gold, Fred Pridmore noted that “gold proofs were specially struck at the request of a private individual, who supplied the necessary bullion and paid the prescribed minting charges.” It is therefore surmised that only VIPs of significant authority, wealth and influence is in a position to undertake such a prodigious made-to-order arrangement with the mint back then.

This particular example, being the single finest graded Top Pop on the NGC Census, is pedigreed to the Chang Foundation Collection (Champion Hong Kong Auction, April 2009, Lot 232) and more recently the Peh Family Collection (Heritage Auctions, June 2026, Lot 34105) where it was sold for US$220,000. While one may consider this a princely sum beyond the means of most collectors, it is also worth noting that this is indeed an opportunity of a lifetime for the collector to acquire a highly prized rarity of regal stature as it was made only for the select few to collect - then and now.

NGC - Numismatic Guaranty Company

Champion Auction

Heritage Auctions Coins

30/05/2026

Featured here is the 1944 Japanese Invasion Malaya $100 Vertical MT Ink Smear Error PMG 64 (Pick # M8a KNB8a). What's interesting and extraordinary about this JIM error note is it is found on the elusive 'two ropes' variety, which in itself is a rarely encountered variety. A possibly unique discovery error note for the JIM Malaya $100 'two ropes' variety.

From The Malaysiana Collection: http://malaysianacollection.blogspot.com

PMG - Paper Money Guaranty

09/05/2026

The Malaysiana Collection is pleased to showcase the reference Top Pop collection of Japanese Invasion Malaya $100 varieties (Pick # M8a to Pick # M8x).

These elite connoisseur notes have been assembled over a span of 20 years through patience, perseverance and endurance. They were meticulously selected for their exceptional technical quality and remarkable state of preservation and originality. Unrivalled and unsurpassed at this ultimate apex grade. Coveted by the most astute Top Pop collectors of Japanese Invasion Money (JIM).

1. Japanese Invasion Malaya $100 Vertical MT Pick # M8a KNB8a PMG 66 EPQ: Finest Graded Top Pop

2. Japanese Invasion Malaya $100 Vertical MT Printing Error Pick # M8a KNB8a PMG 65 EPQ: Finest Graded Error Top Pop

3. Japanese Invasion Malaya $100 Sloping MT Pick # M8b KNB8b PMG 68 EPQ: Single Finest Graded Top Pop

4. Japanese Invasion Malaya $100 Remainder Pick # M8r KNB8 PMG 63 EPQ: Single Finest Graded EPQ Top Pop

5. Japanese Invasion Malaya $100 MT Specimen Pick # M8s KNB8S PMG 66 EPQ: Single Finest Graded Top Pop

6. Japanese Invasion Malaya $100 MT - Deep Purple Pick # M8x SB2178b PMG 66 EPQ: Single Finest Graded Top Pop

From The Malaysiana Collection: http://malaysianacollection.blogspot.com

PMG - Paper Money Guaranty

03/04/2026

Thanks to JIM Society - Japanese Invasion Money Society for the interesting story and feature! 🤗

27/03/2026

Here’s my favourite recommendation on numismatic reference books for collectors of British Malaya, Japanese Invasion Malaya and Malaysia banknotes and coins:

1. Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coin & Paper Money by Steven Tan

2. Malaysia, Brunei & Singapore Banknotes & Coins by K.N. Boon

3. Paper Currencies of the Straits Settlements, Malaya, British North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei by Dr. Chan Chin Cheung

4. The Frank Goon Collection of Banknotes of British Malaya by Frank Goon

5. The Japanese Occupation of Malaya (Singapore) and Its Currency by Wong Hon Sum

Visit The Malaysiana Collection on Facebook (https://facebook.com/themalaysianacollection) and on Blogger (https://malaysianacollection.blogspot.com)

22/03/2026

Featured here are the finest uncirculated original counterfeit / replica Japanese Invasion Money from Malaya and Oceania.

Finding and collecting these original counterfeits / replicas today have become increasingly challenging due to the limited quantities produced and scarcity of surviving examples available in the collectors' market.

Do you have an interesting counterfeit / replica Japanese Invasion Money to share?

From The Malaysiana Collection: http://malaysianacollection.blogspot.my