Singapore Banknotes: History, Notable Notes & Collecting Guide
Singapore's paper money is some of the cleanest, most confident design in world currency, running from the 1967 Orchid Series to today's polymer Portrait notes. This reference traces the Singapore dollar's history, the four themed series collectors chase, and how to start a collection.
Last updated: July 2026
The Singapore dollar has been the country's currency since 1967, and its banknotes are collected above all for design: four themed series, Orchid, Bird, Ship, and Portrait, plus modern polymer notes. Unlike the crisis-driven notes many collectors pursue, Singapore's appeal is the opposite, disciplined engraving, bold color, and quiet prestige, topped by a discontinued 10,000-dollar note that ranked among the highest-value banknotes in general circulation anywhere. This hub covers the currency's history, the notes worth knowing, and how to begin.
What is the history of the Singapore dollar?
The Singapore dollar was introduced in 1967, two years after Singapore became fully independent. From 1967 the notes were issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore, until that body merged into the Monetary Authority of Singapore, which has issued the country's currency since 2002. On the same day the dollar launched, Singapore and Brunei signed a Currency Interchangeability Agreement, and to this day the two currencies trade at par and are accepted as customary tender in each other's country.
Singapore's banknotes have appeared in four themed families, each replacing the last. The Orchid Series arrived in 1967, the Bird Series in 1976, the Ship Series in 1984, and the Portrait Series in 1999, the one still in your wallet today. Each series told a story: the national flower, native birds, the vessels that built a great port, and finally the face of the nation's first President. The higher denominations reflected Singapore's role as a financial center, including 1,000-dollar and 10,000-dollar notes that most countries never print.
What are Singapore's themed banknote series?
Four series define Singapore paper money: Orchid, Bird, Ship, and Portrait. The current Portrait Series introduced the country's polymer notes.
The Orchid Series honored Singapore's floral emblem and carried an unusual 25-dollar denomination that collectors still hunt. The Bird Series traded flowers for native and regional birds in bold, saturated color, and replaced the Orchid Series 25-dollar note with a 20-dollar denomination. The Ship Series is a favorite for its theme, tracing Singapore's maritime story from the humble bumboat and tongkang up to modern container ships, a fitting tribute for one of the world's busiest ports. The Portrait Series, launched in 1999, places Yusof bin Ishak, Singapore's first President, on every front, while each reverse celebrates a facet of national life, from education and the arts to sport and youth.
| Series or era | Years | Design theme | Why collectors seek them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orchid Series | from 1967 | Orchids, Singapore's floral emblem | The first series after independence, with an unusual 25-dollar note. |
| Bird Series | from 1976 | Native and regional birds | Bold, colorful designs; replaced the 25-dollar note with a 20-dollar denomination. |
| Ship Series | from 1984 | Vessels from bumboats to container ships | A thematic favorite tracing Singapore's port history. |
| Portrait Series | 1999 to present | President Yusof bin Ishak, with themed reverses | The current series and the widest denomination range. |
| Polymer notes | from 2004 | Portrait design on a polymer substrate | Durable modern notes; the 2, 5, and 10-dollar values went polymer. |
| Commemorative issues | 1990, 2007, 2015, 2019 | National milestones and anniversaries | Limited issues such as the SG50 set and the Bicentennial note. |
Which Singapore banknotes are most collectible?
Interest spans the whole run, but a few notes stand out. The Portrait Series brought polymer to Singapore's standard notes: the 10-dollar polymer note appeared in 2004, followed by polymer 2 and 5-dollar notes, while the top denominations stayed on paper. The 10,000-dollar note, long one of the highest-value banknotes in general circulation worldwide, was withdrawn from issue in 2014, and the 1,000-dollar note ceased issue in 2021; both remain legal tender, which makes surviving examples a genuine collecting prize.
Commemoratives are their own pursuit. Singapore has marked its milestones on money more than once: a 50-dollar note for the Silver Jubilee of independence in 1990, a 20-dollar note in 2007 for forty years of the Brunei currency agreement, a full Golden Jubilee (SG50) set in 2015, and a 20-dollar Bicentennial note in 2019. Beyond these, collectors chase first-prefix serials, replacement notes, and low or solid serial numbers, the same specialties that reward patience in any modern series.
How do you start collecting Singapore banknotes?
Pick one series or theme, start with affordable modern notes, and buy the best condition your budget allows.
Singapore rewards a focused set. Many collectors assemble a single series first, the Ship Series is a popular starting point, then branch into the older Orchid and Bird notes, including the curious Orchid Series 25-dollar note. Others collect one denomination across all four series to watch the design language evolve. Condition is decisive: the letter-grade ladder runs UNC, AU, XF, VF, F, VG, G, and independent grading by PMG or PCGS on a 1 to 70 scale settles a note's grade and authenticity. Our banknote grading guide explains those scales, and our guide on how to collect world banknotes covers storage and building a set.
Where can you buy genuine Singapore banknotes?
Buy from a source-first dealer that documents where its notes come from, so you know a note is genuine and correctly described. Planet Banknote sources direct from mints, central banks, and authorized distributors, and every note passes our Planet Banknote Verified inspection before it ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity. Rather than quote collector prices that shift with inventory, we point you to the live listings.
A practical way in: choose one clean, high-grade note from a series you like, or a certified example graded by PMG or PCGS if you want the grade and authenticity settled for you. New to the hobby? Our guide on how to collect world banknotes walks through building a set, grading, and storage.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Singapore dollar introduced?
The Singapore dollar was introduced in 1967, two years after Singapore became fully independent. From 1967 the notes were issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore, and since 2002 they have been issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. On the day the currency launched, Singapore and Brunei entered a Currency Interchangeability Agreement that still links the two dollars today.
What are the four themed series of Singapore banknotes?
Singapore has issued four series of banknotes, each with its own theme. The Orchid Series began in 1967, the Bird Series in 1976, and the Ship Series in 1984, and the Portrait Series, introduced in 1999, is the one in circulation today. The names come from the imagery on the notes: orchids, birds, ships tracing Singapore's maritime history, and the portrait of the country's first President.
Who is on Singapore's Portrait Series banknotes?
The front of every Portrait Series note carries Yusof bin Ishak, Singapore's first President. The series was introduced in 1999 and remains current. Each reverse illustrates a different aspect of national life, such as education, the arts, sport, and youth, and the lower denominations of this series are printed on polymer rather than paper.
Can Singapore and Brunei dollars be used interchangeably?
Yes. Under a Currency Interchangeability Agreement dating to 1967, the Singapore dollar and the Brunei dollar trade at par and are accepted as customary tender in each other's country. The link has also produced joint commemorative issues, such as matching 20-dollar notes marking the agreement's fortieth anniversary in 2007.
Are Singapore banknotes valuable to collectors?
It depends on the note, its series, and its condition. Common modern Portrait Series notes are inexpensive, while early Orchid and Bird issues, the unusual 25-dollar denominations, commemoratives, and the withdrawn 1,000 and 10,000-dollar notes are more sought after, especially in high grade. Rather than quote prices that change with the market, we point collectors to live listings and to certified notes graded by PMG or PCGS.
Planet Banknote is a family-owned dealership in Sarasota, Florida, founded in 2021. Every note is sourced direct from mints, central banks, and authorized distributors, inspected through our Planet Banknote Verified process, and ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity. US orders ship free via USPS Priority, and every order includes a free bonus gift.