MYR – Malaysian Ringgit

Monetary System

1 Malaysian ringgit (MYR) = 100 sen

Central Bank of Malaysia
Bank Negara Malaysia

Bank Negara Malaysia (Malaysian: Central Bank of Malaysia, BNM) was established on 26 January 1959 under the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958 (CBA 1958).For more information, visit www.bnm.gov.my.

2009 – 2021 Fourth Issues

In December 2007, Bank Negara Malaysia issued a commemorative version of a new 50-ringgit banknote, the first in the fourth series of Malaysian notes. This was followed by the regular issue of the denomination in July 2009. It wasn’t until 22 December 2011 that the bank unveiled the designs of the other denominations in the series.
According to news reports in October 2011, Bank Negara Malaysia revealed that the suppliers for the new bank notes are Crane AB of Sweden, Giesecke & Devrient GmbH of Germany, Oberthur Technologies of France, and Orell Fussli of Switzerland. However, the bank didn’t disclose which denominations each printer is supplying, nor do the notes bear printer imprints.
All denominations except for the 50-ringgit note are entirely new designs with improved security features. The 50-ringgit note is like the preceding commemorative issue, but without the 50th anniversary logo and RM 1957-2007 text on the back. Furthermore, the windowed thread is color-shifting and wider, the governor’s signature is larger, and the numeral 50 is printed in two-color fluorescent ink on the back.

Description: 1.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 120 x 65 mm

Blue. Front: Malaysian text; songket (traditional woven fabric) patterns; bunga raya (Rosa-sinensis hibiscus) flower; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; “traditional sport” represented by wau bulan (moon kite) kite flying. No security thread. Watermark (shadow image): None. Printer: (Unknown). 120 x 65 mm. Polymer.

Description: 5.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 135 x 65 mm

Description: 10.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 140 x 65 mm

Red and yellow. Front: Malaysian text; songket (traditional woven fabric) patterns; bunga raya (Rosa-sinensis hibiscus) flower; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; “flora” represented by rafflesia azlanii flowers. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM10. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman, pixelated background, and electrotype 10. Printer: (Unknown). 140 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 20.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 145 x 65 mm

Orange and brown. Front: Malaysian text; songket (traditional woven fabric) patterns; bunga raya (Rosa-sinensis hibiscus) flower; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; “marine life” represented by hawksbill and leatherback turtles. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM20. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman, pixelated background, and electrotype 20. Printer: (Unknown). 145 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 145 x 69 mm

Green and blue. Front: Malaysian text; songket (traditional woven fabric) patterns; bunga raya (Rosa-sinensis hibiscus) flower; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; “agriculture and technology” represented by oil palm trees; microbiology technology; Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj declaring independence. LEAD holographic stripe. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM50. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 50. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 145 x 69 mm. Paper.

Description: 100.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 150 x 69 mm

Purple and brown. Front: Malaysian text; songket (traditional woven fabric) patterns; bunga raya (Rosa-sinensis hibiscus) flower; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; “natural wonders” represented by Mount Kinabalu and pinnacles rock formations of Gunung Api valley within Mulu national park. Motion windowed security thread. Solid security thread with demetalized BNM RM100. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman, pixelated background, and electrotype 100. Printer: (Unknown). 150 x 69 mm. Paper.

2017 Numismatic Products

Bank Negara Malaysia issued two commemorative banknotes in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Federation of Malaya Independence Agreement.
60,000 60-ringgit notes were packaged in folders and sold for 120 ringgit each, with a limit of five per buyer.
6,000 uncut sheets of three 60-ringgit notes were also sold for 500 ringgit each, with a limit of one per buyer.
6,000 600-ringgit notes were packaged in folders and sold for 1,700 ringgit each, with a limit of one per buyer.
Banknotes with special serial numbers were sold via public auction on 10 March 2018.

Description: 60.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 162 x 84 mm

Yellow, green, and purple. Front: Malaysian text; denomination in SPARK; crescent and a 14-pointed federal star as registration device; majestic royal throne encircled by 15 Yang di-Pertuan Agong (monarch and head of state), with crescent and a 14-pointed federal star above. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; 9 rulers signing the Federation of Malaya Independence Agreement on 5 August 1957; silhouette of 1st prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj; National Palace (Monarchy); Perdana Putra (Executive); Parliament building (Legislature); Palace of Justice (Judiciary). Windowed security thread with demetalized 60 BNMRM. Watermark: Coat of arms with electrotype 60. Printer: (Orell Füssli). 162 x 84 mm. Composite (DuraSafe).

2007 Commemorative Issues

On 21 December 2007, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, said, “We are in the process of looking for new designs and will slowly replace all the notes and coins.” The 50-ringgit denomination is the first in the fourth series of Malaysian notes, which will be replacing the existing series in stages. Existing 50-ringgit notes remain legal tender. To commemorate Malaysia’s 50th anniversary of independence, the 50th anniversary logo appears on only the first 50 million notes.

Description: 50.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 145 x 69 mm

Green and blue. Front: Malaysian text; national flower hibiscus; songket weaving patterns; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; palm oil trees; microbiology technology; Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj declaring independence; 50th anniversary logo. LEAD holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM50. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 50. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 145 x 69 mm. Paper.
This is the first note in the world to use G&D’s Animat in the holographic stripe.

2004 Issues

These notes are like the preceding issues, but the 5-ringgit is printed on polymer and the 10-ringgit has a holographic stripe on front.

Description: 5.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 135 x 65 mm

Green. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; construction sector; Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL); Petronas Twin Towers; map of Putrajaya and Cyberjaya. No security thread. Watermark (shadow image): Prime Minister’s Office building. Printer: Varieties. 135 x 65 mm. Polymer.

Description: 10.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 140 x 65 mm

Red. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; modern transportation; Malaysia Airlines jumbo jet plane; Light Rail Transit System train; Malaysia International Shipping Corporation container vessel. LEAD holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM10. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 10. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 140 x 65 mm. Paper.

1999 – 2010 Third Issues

These notes are like the preceding issues, but with shorter vertical Arabic text at left on back, and horizontal signatures on front.

Description: 1.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 120 x 65 mm

Description: 5.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 135 x 65 mm

Green. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; construction sector; Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL); Petronas Twin Towers; map of Putrajaya and Cyberjaya. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM5. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 5. Printer: Varieties. 135 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 10.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 140 x 65 mm

Red. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; modern transportation; Malaysia Airlines jumbo jet plane; Light Rail Transit System train; Malaysia International Shipping Corporation container vessel. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM10. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 10. Printer: (De La Rue). 140 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 145 x 69 mm

Green and blue. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; mining sector; oil drilling platform; wellhead control valves; oil pipes. LEAD holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM50. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 50. Printer: (De La Rue). 145 x 69 mm. Paper.

Description: 100.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 150 x 69 mm

Purple. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; manufacturing sector; car production line; Proton car engine; gear wheel and cam-patterns. LEAD holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM100. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 100. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 150 x 69 mm. Paper.

1998 Numismatic Products

This polymer 50-ringgit note was issued to commemorate the XVI Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur from 11-21 September 1998. While the note itself is legal tender, it was issued in a limited quantity of 500,000, packaged in a special folder, and sold for 80 ringgit.

Description: 50.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 152 x 76 mm

Purple. Front: Malaysian text; holographic patch; Kuala Lumpur city skyline; butterfly; Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) runways; Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Back: Malaysian text; logo of the Kuala Lumpur ‘98 XVI Commonwealth Games; National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. No security thread. Watermark (shadow image): Butterfly. Printer: (Note Printing Australia). 152 x 76 mm. Polymer.

Extras

On 6 June 2018, the Cabinet accepted Muhammad bin Ibrahim’s offer to step down as governor of Bank Negara Malaysia. Nor Shamsiah was appointed as his replacement on 22 June 2018. Expect new signature varieties soon.

Outmoded notes

1999 – 2010 Third Issues

Description: 2.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 130 x 65 mm

Purple. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; modern telecommunication network with tower and satellite. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM2. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 2. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 130 x 65 mm. Paper.

1996 – 1999 Third Issues

According to Bank Negara Malaysia, “The theme of the new series, ‘Wawasan 2020’ reflects Malaysia’s economic development and accomplishment towards achieving the status of a fully developed country.” These notes are like the following issues, but the name of the bank in vertical Arabic text at left on the back is longer, and the signatures on the front are vertical.

Description: 10.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 140 x 65 mm

Red. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; modern transportation; Malaysia Airlines jumbo jet plane; Light Rail Transit System train; Malaysia International Shipping Corporation container vessel. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM10. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 10. Printer: Varieties. 140 x 65 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 145 x 69 mm

Green and blue. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; mining sector; oil drilling platform; wellhead control valves; oil pipes. LEAD holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM50. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 50. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 145 x 69 mm. Paper.

Description: 100.00 MYR – Malaysian Ringit Size: 150 x 69 mm

Purple. Front: Malaysian text; Tuanku Abdul Rahman wearing tengkolok headgear. Back: Malaysian text; BNM logo; manufacturing sector; car production line; Proton car engine; gear wheel and cam-patterns. LEAD holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized BNM RM100. Watermark: Tuanku Abdul Rahman with electrotype 100. Printer: Varieties. 150 x 69 mm. Paper.