Japanese invasion money (JIM) was paper money used by the Japanese to maintain economic control in occupied areas during World War Two. Blocks or code letters (e.g. MA or M/AH) were printed on the paper money for circulation control. The first letter of the code indicates where the money was used. In this case, paper money with blocks starting with the letter ‘M’ was used in Malaya (and Singapore). JIM was issued in the currency that was already in use in the particular occupied territory. Thus, the notes issued in Malaya were denominated in dollars and cents. JIM issued in Malaya was also known as ‘banana money’, a term originated from the motif of the banana tree on the obverse of the ten dollar notes. This one dollar note features a breadfruit tree (left) and coconut tree (right) on the obverse.
