Kuala Lumpur's Money Museum

It has been said that the love of money is the root of all evil. Whether you like it or not, money makes the world go round. In Kuala Lumpur's Money Museum, you can take a historical trip to see the evolution of money in the country.

Housed in the premises of the Bank Negara Malaysia (or Central Bank of Malaysia) on Jalan Dato Onn, the museum serves as a repository for the country's numismatic heritage. Though compact in size, the layout of the interior of the museum has been planned meticulously to introduce the history and development of money in the country in a chronological flow.

The entrance of the Primitive Gallery, the first section, is adorned with an intricately carved archway. Arabesque carvings featuring stylized flowers, tendrils, and interlocking vines dominate the pier and frieze of the archway, which are complemented by delicate relief work on panels depicting leaf motifs. This beautiful piece of art dates back to more than a hundred years, and is a testimony to the skill of Muslim carvers. It was acquired by Bank Negara Malaysia at the Islamic Civilization Exhibition held in the Islamic Centre, Kuala Lumpur in 1986

Dignified elegance prevails throughout the interior of the museum through the liberal use of local hardwood such as nytoh and ramin. The rich ruddy hue and powerful luster of nyatoh delicately balances the creamy yellow of ramin to create an opulent ambiance. High on the walls above the display cases are framed bamboo-plaited panels featuring intricate geometric designs. Both fauna-based and plant-based motifs such as fish-scales and ladu flower form the source of inspiration for the designs. These decorative panels were commissioned by the bank to showcase the cultural richness of the Malays.

There are more than 2,000 items on permanent display that traces the evolution of money in the country. Among them are artifacts, coins, currency notes, tokens, coupons and medals. In the early days of trade, people in the Malay Peninsula exchanged goods for goods; later, a medium of exchange developed. During the period of the Han Dynasty (206BC-221AD), merchants from China and India introduced copper coins to the local populace who had hitherto been using cowrie shells imported from the Maldives and North Borneo as money.

In the Primitive Gallery, there are displays of these cowrie shells as well as Han Dynasty copper coins. Other exhibits include early forms of money used in Sarawak and Borneo such as beads made of glass, cornelian and onyx, brass kettle and brass cannon. Tiny tin replicas of animals such as crocodile, fish, grasshopper and elephant which circulated in Selangor, Perak and Negri Sembilan used from the 16th century to the early 18th century are also displayed.

Gallery E houses pre-colonial and colonial money. From Kedah, there is cockerel money made of tin, while Terengganu's legacy is the money tree of the sun-ray shape. Kelantan is famous for its tin coin-tree which was first used during the 16th century. The coins were broken off from their branches to be used as payment. From 1400 to 1780, the coin-tree circulated alongside gold coins called Kupang of which there were three types: Kijang coins, Dinar Matahari (or Sun) coins and coins with Arabic inscriptions on both sides.

Also, remember to check out the Jokoh of Terengganu which were issued in 1877 by Chinese headmen under permission from the Sultan for use in gambling dens. Each Jokoh was valued at 2 1/2 times of the Spanish dollar. In fact, as early as 1760, Siamese and Chinese gambling tokens were already in circulation in the northern States of the Malay peninsula. Who says that life was dull in the olden days? In Johor, during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah (1597-1615), katun or tin cash was widely used in markets They were minted in various shapes such as round, hexagonal and octagonal.

The kingdom of Malacca saw the introduction of coins during the reign of Sultan Muzaffar Shah. On display in the gallery are the market cash coins which were stamped with the sultan's name on one side and his Islamic title on the other. Relics of the Portuguese era in Malacca have also found their way to the money museum. They include the Bastardo tin coin, Catholico gold coin, and the Soldos and Dinheiros coins which are an alloy of tin and lead. The fall of Malacca to the Dutch in 1641 saw the appearance of 1/2 Stiver coins, 1/4 Stiver coins, Bonks, Ducatoons, Guilders, Java Rupees and Copper Doits.

The Money Museum has also acquired a collection of Straits Settlements coins issued between 1871 and 1935, which spanned the reigns of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V. Straits Settlements currency notes that are much sought after by collectors are also displayed in Gallery E. They were first issued in 1898. According to an officer of the museum, the items on display are badly crumpled as they are bad in size and people had to fold them before putting them in their pockets.

Inside Gallery F are collections of private banknotes and private currency tokens. These banknotes issued by the British and Indian colonial banks played an important to expedite trade and commerce. World War II led to the Japanese's Occupation of Malaya in 1942, and the issuance of Japanese notes in abundance that caused severe inflation. They were called "Banana Money" because the RM10 note depicted a banana tree.

As visitors complete a loop back to the entrance, a minting machine greets them. For one ringgit (for adults) and fifty sen (students), visitors can have a hands-on experience in mint coin blanks from aluminum to commemorate their visit to the museum. There is also a sales counter where visitors can buy minted tokens, publications, badges and souvenirs.

On the mezzanine floor, among the attention grabbers are the commemorative coins issued by Bank Negara for the World Wildlife Conservation, Pacific Area Travel Association, Ninth South East Asian Games and other. Also displayed are banknotes of various countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas and Middle East. There are new additions when new notes are issued.

Complete your tour by popping over to the Art Gallery, housed in The Annexe. More than 1,400 pieces of art works, ranging from paintings, prints, sketches, sculptures and sketches are on display.

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 9am-4:30pm
Saturday: 9am-12 noon
Sundays & Public Holidays: Closed

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