Japanese invasion currency : one pound note

Place Asia: Japan
Accession Number RELC01152
Collection type Technology
Object type Currency
Physical description Paper
Location Main Bld: World War 2 Gallery: Gallery 2: Aus Threat
Maker Japanese Armed Forces
Place made Japan
Date made 1941-1944
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Green and light blue lithographed banknote of one pound denomination. The face features a beach scene with palms to the right, with the words "The Japanese Government" and the one pound denomination centrally located. Coconut palms are placed to the left and right borders and a pair of block stamped serial letters (OA), in red, appear at the top of the note. The reverse is printed with a pattern featuring the value. The standard Japanese watermark of a quatrefoil kiri flower is present.

History / Summary

One pound note associated with the service of SX27241 Corporal Eric Eduard Isaachsen of Brighton, South Australia who enlisted on 24 November 1942. These notes are generally referred to as Japanese Invasion Money (JIM). JIM shilling and pound notes were issued for use in Australian mandated territories throughout British Oceania (principally Gilberts and Solomons, New Britain and Papua New Guinea). The JIM pound was issued utilising the Australian pound as the basic monetary unit, hence the rise in rumours that their production indicated Japan's intention to invade Australia. Generally, the Japanese Government authorised various printings to equate approximately with each occupied country's pre-war currency, and these printings were usually planned and published ahead of the invasions. The philosophy behind the issue was to maintain economic stability within the occupied country; and as part of Japan's stated plan for a "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere", to abolish all traces of western influence and establish Japan as the dominant economic influence. Thus, the occupation of Burma saw the issue of cents and rupee JIM; cents/guilder were produced for the Netherlands East Indies and centavos/pesos produced for use in the Philippines.