Japanese government–issued rupee in Burma

Japanese government–issued rupee in Burma

10 Rupee Japanese occupation note obverse (1942-44)
Unit
Plural	rupees
Denominations
Subunit
1/100	Cent
Plural
Cent	cents
Banknotes	1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, ¼ Rupee, ½ Rupee, 1 Rupee, 5 Rupees, 10 Rupees, 100 Rupees
Demographics
User(s)	Japanese-occupied Burma
Issuance
Central bank	Imperial Japan

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.

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 ¼, ½, 1, 5, and 10 Rupees. 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 1, 5, and 10 Rupee with a 100 Rupee 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 "canceled" and therefore devalued.

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

Japanese government-issued rupee in Burma (1942–44)

1942–44 complete issue of Japanese invasion money (Burma)

Image	Value	Issue date	Printing blocks	Images
	1 cent	1942	BA–BP, B/AA–B/EX
	5 cents	1942	BA–BZ, B/AB–B/BX
	10 cents	1942	BA–BZ, B/AA–B/AR
	Quarter rupee	1942	BA–BV
	Half rupee	1942	BA–BD	Ananda Temple, Bagan
	1 rupee	1942	BA–BD	Ananda Temple, Bagan
	5 rupees	1942–44	BA–BB	Ananda Temple, Bagan
	10 rupees	1942–44	BA	Ananda Temple, Bagan
	100 rupees	1944	BA	Ananda Temple, Bagan

For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

See also

• Emergency circulating notes
• Japanese government-issued dollar in Malaya and Borneo
• Burma
• Japanese invasion money

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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)