The Japanese Occupation of 'B' Burma
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Burma and Malaya Japanese Government notes litter the ground at Rangoon, 1945.
During World War II, Burma became a major front-line in the Southeast Asian Theatre. The British administration collapsed ahead of the advancing Japanese troops, jails and asylums were opened and Rangoon was deserted except for the many Anglo-Burmese and Indians who remained at their posts. On March 7th 1942, Rangoon fell to the forces of Imperial Japan, followed by Mandalay on May 1st. What remained of the Burmese colonial government evacuated Burma for exile in the ‘hill-station’ of Simla, India.
Soon after the conquest the Hayashi Army Group which occupied Burma issued instructions that the pre-war currency had to be withdrawn and that all necessary steps were taken to maintain the value of the newly introduced currency now known as JIM (Japanese Invasion Money). This currency was initially issued through the semi-official Japanese 'Yokohama Specie Bank', but later in April 1943 this role was assumed by the Southern Development Bank. This money was however unpopular. Apart from being the imposed issue of a new occupying power, the notes did not bear a promise to pay (as the British issued currency had, or for that matter, the JIM issues for the Netherlands Indies and Malaysia) and were not backed by any reserve. Additionally, the poor quality of the paper and printing was criticised. The depiction of the Buddhist Ananda Temple was regarded as irreverent.
Initially the Japanese-led Burma Campaign succeeded. The British were expelled from most of Burma, but soon counter-attacked using primarily troops of the British Indian Army, and by July 1945, had retaken the country.
By this point Billions of now almost worthless JIM notes had been printed. A British soldier came to Pyapon District in August 1945 and testified that having entered a bank; "I found the Treasury vault entirely full of Japanese notes; I left the doors open and invited people to help themselves. For some months afterwards there was a small local industry making children’s hats, little windmills and similar objects from the notes". (from Coins & Banknotes of Burma, Robinson and Shaw. 1980, pp.126-127).
The Money
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'1942-1944'
The Japanese text which appears in the lower border of every banknote translates as "The Government of Great Imperial Japan". The small circular seal found nearby is of the Ministry of Finance. Specimens: Notes overprinted with 見本 ('mi-hon') are specimens. Apparently - this has yet to be confirmed - but genuine specimen notes are not truly "overprinted", but have the mihon characters printed on the paper before the banknote design is added, so that they are in effect an underprint. Many genuine notes but with fake mi-hon 'overprints' have appeared in recent years. The 1, 5 and 10 Rupee notes may have been intended to carry full serial numbers. The necessary spaces for such are incorporated into the design and on the 1 in particular, the pale strip in the design at top left - created so as to make any serial number more legible - is observable. Equally however it may simply mean that the designs were adapted from earlier series (Malaya for example) and the engraver/printer didn't bother to amend the design. |
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5 Cents
Undated (known to have been issued from 1943). A curious feature of the design, is the unusual spacing of the title; the disproportionately wide gap between 'The' and 'Japanese'. Purple on green. (front) text and amount. (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Pr: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 10a) Block serial: BA-BV (left) Type 2 (SCWPM 10b) Fractional serial: B/AB-B/BX (right) Type 3 Specimen |
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10 Cents
Undated (known to have been issued from 1943) Brown on pink. (front) text and amount. (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 11a) Block serial: BA-BZ Type 2 (SCWPM 11b) Fractional serial: B/AA - B/AR Scarcer of the two types. Type 3 Specimen |
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1/4 Rupee
Undated (known to have been issued from March 1942). An unusual denomination which continued from the withdrawn silver 1/4 rupee coins of British India. Blue on tan. (front) text and amount. (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 12) Block serial: BA-BV Type 2 Specimen |
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1/2 Rupee
Undated (known to have been issued from March 1942) Green. (front) Ananda Temple in Pagan (Bagan). (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Watermark: quatrefoil kiri flower Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 13) Block serial: BA-BD Block serial BA-BC notes are scarcer (SCWPM 13a), (right). This is the best image I can find - the only image - for this type. Block serial BD is very common (SCWPM 13b), (lower right). There are two varieties with either closely spaced or wide spaced block serials. There are minor varieties with tonal and block serial printing differences, some of which may be period forgeries or indicate a different printer (due to wartime difficulties) Type 2 Specimen Type 3 Allied forgeries - identifying details unknown |
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1 Rupee Undated (known to have been issued from March 1942) Green. (front) Ananda Temple in Pagan (Bagan). (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Watermark: quatrefoil kiri flower Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 14) Block serial: BA-BD Block serial BA-BC (and closely spaced BD) notes are scarcer (SCWPM 14a). The example (upper right) has the block serial positioned noticeably higher, though this may not be common to all examples. Block serial BD (wide spaced) is very common (SCWPM 14b). There are minor varieties with tonal and block serial printing differences, some of which may be period forgeries or indicate a different printer (due to wartime difficulties). The two examples of the 'BD' 1 Rupee (right and lower-right) demonstrate this wide difference in appearance between notes. Type 2 Specimen Type 3 Allied forgeries - identifying details unknown 5 Rupees
Undated (known to have been issued from March 1942) Violet. (front) Ananda Temple in Pagan (Bagan). (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Watermark: quatrefoil kiri flower Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 15) Block serial: BA-BB Block serial BA notes are scarcer (SCWPM 15a). Example (right). Block serial BB is very common (SCWPM 15b). Example (lower-right). There are minor varieties with tonal and block serial printing differences, some of which may be period forgeries or indicate a different printer (due to wartime difficulties) Type 2 Specimen Type 3 Allied forgeries - identifying details unknown Type '4': (right) the 5 Rupees seemingly printed in the colors of the 1 Cent and 10 Rupees. Either a genuine error (possible due to the nature of the printing of the later notes); or simply an error-fake created by chemically manipulating the original coloration? 10 Rupees
Undated. Red. (front) Ananda Temple in Pagan (Bagan). (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Watermark: quatrefoil kiri flower Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 16a) Block serial: BA Block serial BA - narrow spacing, with watermark (right) Type 1b as above, but wide spacing of block serial (lower-right) (Other) (SCWPM 16b) for narrow block serial type see under 1944. Type 2 Specimen Type 3 Allied forgeries - identifying details unknown 100 Rupees
Undated. 1944? Green on violet. (front) Ananda Temple in Pagan (Bagan). (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Watermark: quatrefoil kiri flower Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 17a) Block serial: BA Block serial BA, wider, with watermark (Other) (SCWPM 17b) for narrow block serial type see under 1944. Type 2 Specimen Type 3 Allied forgeries - identifying details unknown 1944-1945 Southern Development Bank issues10 Rupees Undated. 1944-45 Red. (front) Ananda Temple in Pagan (Bagan). (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Watermark: none Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 16b) Block serial: BA Block serial BA - narrow, with silk threads in the paper (Other) (SCWPM 16a) for the wide block serial type see under 1942. Type 2 Specimen Type 3 Allied forgeries? 100 Rupees
Undated. 1944-45 Green. (front) Ananda Temple in Pagan (Bagan). (back) numerical amount and patterned borders. Watermark: none. Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 17b) Block serial: BA Block serial BA - narrow, with silk threads in the paper (Other) (SCWPM 17a) for the wide block serial type see under 1942. Type 2 Specimen Type 3 Allied forgeries? |
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State of Burma - Burma State Bank (Japanese Occupation)
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Below and right: an unused watermark design of 1944-45 intended for use on a Japanese occupation banknote, assumedly of the Burma State Bank. The figure is of a Buddhist deity.
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1 Kyat Undated. 1944 Blue. (front) Peacock (national symbol) at left. (back) Mandalay and lake scene at centre. Watermark: three Burmese characters. Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 18a) known block serials: 3; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29 Type 2 Specimens |
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5 Kyats
Undated. 1944 Red. (front) Peacock (national symbol) at left. (back) Mandalay and lake scene at centre. Watermark: three Burmese characters. Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 Specimens only (SCWPM 19) |
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10 Kyats
Undated. 1944 Green. (front) Peacock (national symbol) at left. (back) Mandalay and lake scene at centre. Watermark: three Burmese characters. Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 20a) known block serials: 0, 1, 23 Type 2 Specimens |
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100 Kyats
Undated. 1944 Orange. (front) Peacock (national symbol) at left. (back) Mandalay and lake scene at centre. Watermark: three Burmese characters. Printer: Japanese Government Type 1 (SCWPM 21a) known block serials: 1 Type 2 Specimens |
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