10 cents 1945

Common. The eBay price tracking data shows consistent sales across multiple condition grades from VG to AUNC, with the vast majority of sales occurring in the $5-$20 range for circulated examples. Even premium examples graded by PMG (64-67) typically sell for $50-$130, and UNC/AUNC ungraded notes fetch $15-$51. The frequency of sales (dozens recorded from 2009-2026) and wide range of condition grades available indicate a robust supply of these notes in the collector market. These notes were produced in substantial quantities for the brief pre-war period and many survived in collections, making them accessible to collectors at modest price points.

Issued on 1st July 1941 by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, this note represents the final months of British colonial currency in Malaya before the Japanese invasion and occupation from 1942-1945. The portrait of King George VI in military uniform reflects the wartime period in which it was issued, while the bilingual English-Jawi inscriptions demonstrate the multicultural administration of the Straits Settlements and Malay States during the late colonial era. These notes became historically significant as emergency wartime currency that would soon be rendered obsolete by Japanese military occupation notes.

The obverse features King George VI in left-facing profile within an ornate circular engraved frame, displaying formal military dress uniform with decorative collar insignia. The portrait is rendered in fine detail characteristic of Thomas De La Rue's engraving work. The design incorporates elaborate Art Deco-influenced borders with symmetrical floral motifs and geometric patterns, including star-shaped cartouches containing the denomination numeral '10'. The color scheme employs blue as the primary color with green accents and a pink/mauve underprint, creating a sophisticated polychromatic effect. Bilingual text in English and Jawi script serves administrative and linguistic purposes for the Straits Settlements and Malay States. The reverse appears to be uniface design (single-sided imagery only), which is noted in the catalog reference as characteristic of this issue.

FRONT: 'BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF CURRENCY MALAYA' (English, top); 'THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR TEN CENTS IN THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS AND MALAY STATES' (English, center); '1ST JULY 1941' (English, date line); 'CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSIONERS' with signature 'Wheinberg' (English, authorization); 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY LIMITED LONDON' (English, printer attribution); Jawi script text (Arabic script for Malay language, specific translations of state/territorial names related to the currency area); Numeral denominations '10' in multiple locations (Arabic-Hindu numerals). BACK: Predominantly blank or contains extremely faint text not legible in provided image.

Intaglio engraving, executed by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited, London, as credited on the note. The fine line work visible in the borders, portrait detail, decorative elements, and security features such as the intricate geometric patterns and complex engraved scrollwork are consistent with high-quality intaglio production. The multi-color printing technique (blue primary color with green accents and pink underprint) indicates advanced color register control typical of TDLR's premium banknote production methods of the 1940s era.

The catalog reference notes 'three portrait varieties' exist for this issue. This particular note displays the portrait of King George VI in military dress uniform. The note is dated 1ST JULY 1941 with the signature of 'Wheinberg' as Chairman of the Commissioners. No serial numbers are clearly visible in the provided images to identify additional variety characteristics. The printer attribution 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY LIMITED LONDON' confirms this as a TDLR production. AU condition grading places this note at the upper end of circulated examples, approaching but not reaching the UNC threshold.