Japanese Invasion Money of World War II

 

Japanese Invasion Money (JIM) is the currency that was used by Japan to replace local currencies of areas they had occupied, defeated or had plans to, in World War II. JIM was officially known as Southern Development Bank Notes.

                                           

                     Japanese Invasion Money

The main purpose of introducing the new currencies was to cripple the economies of these areas as with the introduction of JIM their own currency was rendered worthless. Japanese troops strongly enforced the use of their new ''mickey mouse'' or ''banana'' money and harsh penalties, including death, were applied for people caught using non-JIM currency.

Japan's prime minister of the time, Matsuoka Yosuke and the Government had a vision of a united Asian power lead by Japan. This was to be known as the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. This concept, similar to today's European Union, would be independent of the West and be a force led by Japan for the greater prosperity of Asians.

By the end of World War II, invasion money was issued for Philippines, Burma, Malaya (Malaysia, Singapore), Dutch East Indies / Netherland East Indies (Indonesia) and Oceania (British New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Gilbert Islands and Australia).

                                                 

         Japanese Troops in World War II

Throughout WW II, JIM notes became souvenirs for returning soldiers from other nations and now form part of the private collections around the world. These form part of various museum collections also. For more-serious collectors, adding prefixes, variations, propaganda notes, flyers and coins becomes obvious.

The Philippines. The first issue in 1942 consisted of denominations of 1,5,10 and 50 centavos and 1, 5 and 10 Pesos. The next year bought ''replacement notes'' of 1, 5 and 10 Pesos while 1944 ushered in a 100 Peso note and soon after a 500 Peso note. Near the end of the war, they issued a 1,000 Peso note.

                                               

 Japanese Philippines 500 Pesos, Japanese Invasion Money
 

                                           

Japanese Philippines One Centavo WW II Occupation Note

                 

                           

    

Japanese Philippines Five Centavos WW II Occupation Note

                                             

Japanese Philippines Fifty Centavos WW II Occupation Note

     

                                       

Japanese Philippines 10 Centavos WW II Occupation Note

      

                                      

Japanese Philippines 10 Pesos WW II Occupation Note

                                           

Japanese Philippines 1000 Pesos WW II Occupation Note
  

                                             

Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei. In 1942 the Japanese issued paper scrip currency of 1, 5, 10 and 50 cents and 1, 5 and 10 dollars. The 1-, 5- and 10-dollar notes initially had serial numbers, these were later omitted. In 1944 inflation led to issuing of a 100 dollar note. In 1945, a replacement notes 100-dollar bill was issued as well as a hyper-inflation 1,000 dollar note. The 1942 series of notes, including the 50c and 1, 5, 10 and the 1944/45 100 dollar note. 

                                           

Japanese Invasion Money 1000 Dollars, Malaya

Burma. In 1942, Japanese issued paper scrip currency of 1,5 and 10 cents and quarter, half, one, five and 10 Rupees. From 1943 onwards the Japanese issued currency of 1, 5 and 10 Rupees with a 100 Rupee note in 1944.

                                           

Japanese Invasion Money, 10 Rupees, Burma

Dutch East Indies. In 1942, scrip currency of 1, 5 and 10 cents and half, one, five and ten Gulden notes were issued. They were written entirely in Dutch. Values are Een (1), Vijf (5) and Tien (10) cents and Guldens. Denominations of 100 and 1000 Roepiah were issued in 1944, with an Indonesian legend. An additional series, with denominations of half, one, five ten and hundred Roepiah, was also issued in 1944.

                                           

Photo of G. Kolff & Co, Djakarta, printers of the notes, 1943

                                           

Netherland Indies-Japanese Occupation, 10 Gulden, 1942
 

                                           

Japanese One Gulden WW II Netherland Indies Occupation Note

Oceania. Invasion money was issued for use in British New Guinea, the Solomon and Gilbert Islands and other small island outposts. In 1942 the Japanese issued a one and a half shilling notes, 10 shilling and 1-pound notes. The currency was also issued in Guam, Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, Palau and Nauru   

                                           

Oceania-Japanese Invasion Money, One Pound

Japanese Invasion Money

Philippines WW II Occupation Banknotes

Burma Japanese Occupation Banknotes

Netherland Indies Japanese Occupation Banknotes

Oceania Japanese Invasion Money