Japanese government–issued rupee in Burma

The Japanese government-issued rupee in Burma was a Japanese invasion money issued by the Japanese Military Authority, as a replacement for local currency during the Japanese occupation of Burma in the Second World War.

Japanese government–issued rupee in Burma
BUR-16-Japanese occupation Burma-10 rupees (1942-44).jpg
Rs. 10/- Japanese occupation note obverse (1942-44)
Unit
Pluralrupees
SymbolRe/Rs‎
Denominations
Subunit
 1⁄100Cent
Plural
 Centcents
Banknotes1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, Re. 1⁄4, Re. 1⁄2, Re. 1/-, Rs. 5/-, Rs. 10/-, Rs. 100/-
Demographics
User(s)Myanmar Japanese-occupied Burma
Issuance
Central bankEmpire of Japan
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

The Japanese invaded Burma in January 1942. They conquered Mandalay on 21 May 1942, forcing the British to retreat into India. The Japanese held Burma until the second Allied campaign of 1944, although an official surrender did not take place until August 1945. In 1942, the Japanese issued paper sculpture currency of 1, 5, and 10 cents and Re. 1⁄4, Re. 1⁄2, Re. 1/-, Rs. 5/-, and Rs. 10/-. Like most Japanese colonial currency from this period, a letter code was used on the notes. The first or top letter “B” indicates the note was printed and issued for Burma. The second letter or letters indicate the block (or printing batch) of the note, there are single letter blocks and double letter blocks for Burma, with the latter two letter blocks being identified by a hyphen separating the letter "B" from the block letters.

In 1943, the Japanese commuted the sentence of Dr Ba Maw, an outspoken advocate for Burmese self-rule, and installed him as the head of the puppet government. From 1943 onward the Japanese issued paper sculpture currency of Re. 1/-, Rs. 5/-, and Rs. 10/- with a Rs. 100 note/- in 1944. The Japanese characters in the oblong box at the bottom of each note read “Government of Great Imperial Japan” and the contents of the seal comprise the Japanese symbol for the Minister of Finance.

When all of these notes became obsolete, punch holes were made to indicate that the note had been "cancelled" and therefore demonetised.

Prior to the Japanese invasion, Burma circulated the Indian rupee issued by the Reserve Bank of India[1] since the nationalized paper currency was introduced by the British Administration in 1897.[2]

Japanese government-issued rupee in Burma (1942–44)
1942–44 complete issue of Japanese invasion money (Burma)
Image Value Size Issue date[3] Printing blocks[3] Images[3]
1 cent 95.00 x 45.00 mm 1942 BA–BP, B/AA–B/EX
5 cents 100.00 x 48.00 mm 1942 BA–BZ, B/AB–B/BX
10 cents 106.00 x 51.00 mm 1942 BA–BZ, B/AA–B/AR
Quarter rupee 100.00 x 51.00 mm 1942 BA–BV
Half rupee 120.00 x 58.00 mm 1942 BA–BD Ananda Temple, Bagan
Re. 1/- 140.00 x 67.00 mm 1942 BA–BD Ananda Temple, Bagan
Rs. 5/- 151.00 x 71.00 mm 1942–44 BA–BB Ananda Temple, Bagan
Rs. 10/- 160.00 x 76.00 mm 1942–44 BA Ananda Temple, Bagan
Rs. 100/- 169.00 x 82.00 mm 1944 BA Ananda Temple, Bagan

For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

See also

References
  1. Cuhaj 2010, p. 174.
  2. Cuhaj 2010, p. 173.
  3. Cuhaj 2010, pp. 886–88.

Works cited
  • Cuhaj, George S., ed. (2010). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money General Issues — 1368–1960 (volume 2). Krause. ISBN 978-1-4402-1293-2.
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