Bank Negara Malaysia
Two polymer banknotes: 5 Ringgit circulation and 50 Commemorative Ringgit
5 Ringgit · 2004
Lima Ringgit · Tuanku Abdul Rahman · Petronas Towers
Historical and Issue Context
The Fourth Series in polymer:Bank Negara Malaysia introduced this polymer variant of the 5 Ringgit note in 2004, as part of the gradual migration of its Fourth Series of banknotes to the new plastic substrate.
Guardian® technology:printed by Melbourne-based Note Printing Australia (NPA) on Guardian® substrate developed by Securency (now CCL Secure), with the security windows and transparent registration characteristic of this technology.
Key Details Visible on the Banknote
- Obverse:portrait of Tuanku Abdul Rahman, first Yang di-Pertuan Agong (head of state) of Malaysia.
- Reverse:the Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and a map with Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.4
- Transparent window:translucent cutout with a shadow image of the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya.5
- Microprinting:tiny security text distributed across different areas of the banknote.
- Color:green tones predominate, with a multicolored background underprint.
50 Ringgit · 1998
Lima Puluh Ringgit · XVI Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur 1998
Historical and Issue Context
Malaysia's first polymer:Bank Negara Malaysia issued this commemorative 50 Ringgit banknote in 1998 to celebrate the 16th Commonwealth Games, held that year in Kuala Lumpur —, the first polymer banknote put into circulation in the country.
Printed by Note Printing Australia:Melbourne-based NPA printed this banknote on Guardian® substrate (developed by Securency, now CCL Secure) with a double security window, one of the most elaborate security combinations of the time for a banknote in circulation.
Key Details Visible on the Banknote
- Obverse:portrait of Tuanku Abdul Rahman, a central Kuala Lumpur skyline with the Petronas Towers and KL Tower, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in the background.
- Reverse:the Bukit Jalil National Stadium (Stadium Utama Bukit Jalil) next to the official logo of the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games ‘98 (XVI edition).12
- Window with gold OVD:transparent window at left with a gold-colored optically variable device (OVD) displaying the Agong's portrait.
- Second window:transparent butterfly-wing-shaped cutout alongside highly complex multicolored translucent motifs.
- Color:multicolored underprint in yellow, blue, and purple.
Notes
1. Numista. “5 Ringgit — Malaysia”, note #203048.en.numista.com: polymer variant of the Third Series, in circulation since 1999.
2. Numista, note #203048: banknote signed by Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia.
3. LA Currency. “MYR — Malaysian Ringgit.”lacurrency.com: dimensions of 135 × 65 mm for the 5 Ringgit banknote.
4. Numista, note #203048: reverse with Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the Petronas Twin Towers and a geographical map depicting Putrajaya and Cyberjaya (Multimedia Super Corridor).
5. Numista, note #203048: watermark with transparent window and shadow image of the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya.
6. Malaysian Banknotes Blog. “Kuala Lumpur 98 XVI Commonwealth Games — Commemorative Polymer Note.”malaysianbanknotes.blogspot.com: “It was the first polymer banknote issued in Malaysia.”
7. Carousell Malaysia, sale listing of the commemorative RM50 banknote: “Printer: Note Printing Australia.”
8. Bank Negara Malaysia. “Kuala Lumpur 98 — XVI Commonwealth Games RM50 Commemorative Polymer Banknote.”bnm.gov.my: issued on June 1, 1998.
9. Banknote World. “Malaysia 50 Ringgit Banknote, 1998, P-45.”banknoteworld.com: banknote signed by Ahmad bin Mohd Don.
10. Banknote World, id.: dimensions of 152 × 76 mm.
11. Bank Negara Malaysia,bnm.gov.my, id.: issue limited to 500,000 sets, sold at RM80 each in all commercial banks from 1 June 1998.
12. Bank Negara Malaysia,bnm.gov.my, id.: reverse with the Bukit Jalil National Stadium and the logo of the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games ‘98 (XVI edition).