Singapore's $20 Polymer Notes

I received another 5 of the above notes from an ebay friend - I exchanged 5 of Brunei's notes. Altogether I have about 7 of these plus another 2 of the special commemorative notes. I realised too that many people know about this but don't know much about it. Even going to Monetary Authority of Singapore's website, one would have great difficulty in navigating it to find the actual information about the $20 note. So I thought I will do a service and copy MAS's entry about the $20 note. Here it is:

Singapore, 27 June 2007...Singapore and Brunei Darussalam today celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement between the two countries. To mark this significant event, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, jointly launched the $20 polymer commemorative notes issued by the two countries, in a ceremony held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. (Please refer to separate joint media release by MAS and Brunei Ministry of Finance on the ceremony and background on the Agreement).

2. Three million Singapore $20 polymer notes will be introduced into circulation gradually over a period through the banks. This one-time only issue also comes with a limited edition bearing a special over-print.

Limited Edition Note Set

3. The limited edition note set in a special folder will consist of two notes - one Singapore $20 (with a special over-print of the two countries’ state crests and text “40th Anniversary Currency Interchangeability Agreement”), and one Brunei $20 (with special over-print of the text “40th Anniversary Currency Interchangeability Agreement”). The two notes, with matching serial numbers, add up to a total face value of “$40”, marking the 40th Anniversary of the Agreement. 10,000 sets will be available at $88 (GST inclusive) per set.

4. The public can start placing orders from 28 June 2007 on a ‘first-come-first served’ basis for as long as stock lasts. Orders will close on 6 July 2007 and the note sets can be collected from 16 July 2007 onwards.

Circulation Note

5. The circulation notes will be available at banks commencing 16 July 2007.

Singapore $20 Note Design

6. The note is predominantly orange in colour. It measures 149mm by 72mm, which is between the size of the $10 and $50 notes.

7. The main design features on the front of the note are:-

Portrait of Singapore’s first President, the late Encik Yusof bin Ishak, and the text “Yusof bin Ishak, First President of Singapore” below it. As with the $10, $5 and $2 polymer notes, MAS has continued with the portrait series for the $20 polymer notes as the public is familiar with the series.

A stalk of the “Dendrobium Puan Noor Aishah” orchid (named after the wife of the late President Yusof Ishak) besides the portrait.
A row of motifs of the Oncidium Goldiana orchid, a renowned Singapore heritage orchid species.

8. The main design features on the back of the note are:-

Two interlocking “C”s (representing the two countries’ currencies) with the text “BRUNEI DARUSSALAM ∙ SINGAPORE and CURRENCY INTERCHANGEABILITY AGREEMENT 1967 - 2007”. At the intersection, the state crests of both countries and the text “Forty Years” symbolize the nexus of the agreement.

8.2 Distinctive national landmarks of Singapore’s Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay and buildings along our city waterfront, and Brunei’s Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque with the Royal Barge and the water village.
Security Features

9. The note includes security features unique to polymer technology, which are similarly found in the $2, $5 and $10 polymer notes. They are:

Two see-through windows – one on the top-left hand side and the other at the bottom-right corner.

A stylised gold Singapore Lion Symbol with a hidden image, beside the top-left hand window. An image of the Singapore Arms will appear at varying angles.
The security thread in the shape of the Singapore island.

A colour switching feature on the lower left and right edge of the note that changes from red to gold colour at varying angles.