Overview
The Currency Interchangeability Agreement (the Agreement) was established in 1967 to promote monetary cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
Under the Agreement:
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The Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB) and MAS accept from banks the currency notes and coins issued by the other, and exchange them at par and without charge, into their own currency.
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Banks in both countries also accept for deposit, from the public and businesses, currency issued by the other country at par and without charge. Businesses and members of the public should not be concerned about accepting payments in Brunei currency.
The Agreement reflects the continuing, strong bilateral relationship between the two countries, and financial cooperation between BDCB and MAS.
Refer to the following to find out:
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The historical background to the Agreement (2.81 MB) and its relevance to both Brunei Darussalam and Singapore (see pages 73 to 76, Box C).
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Information about Brunei Darussalam's currency notes and coins .
50th Anniversary
To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Agreement, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, jointly launched a set of two $50 commemorative polymer notes at a ceremony held at the Singapore Istana on 5 July 2017. The set comprised of one Brunei Darussalam $50 note and one Singapore $50 note.
In celebration of this milestone, one million pieces of Brunei Darussalam $50 and two million pieces of Singapore $50 commemorative notes were made available for public exchange at face value.
Banks in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore also co-distributed a set of two commemorative notes – one Brunei Darussalam $50 note and one Singapore $50 note. In addition, 5 types of limited edition numismatic note sets were available for purchase:
- Identical Numbered Notes Set.
- Singapore 3-in-1 Uncut Sheet.
- Brunei 3-in-1.
- Brunei 8-in-1.
- Brunei 40-in-1 Uncut Sheet.
Refer to the table to find out the details about the Singapore sets.
| Type | Description | Quantity (Pcs/Sets) | Issue Price (S$) |
| Identical Numbered Notes Set |
Contains one Brunei Darussalam $50 commemorative note and one Singapore $50 commemorative note.
|
5,000 | 300.00 |
| Singapore 3-in-1 Uncut Sheet | An uncut sheet of three Singapore $50 commemorative notes. | 3,000 | 400.00 |
Watch the video to find out more about the 50th anniversary commemorative and numismatic notes.
About the Design of the 50th Anniversary $50 Commemorative Notes
The Brunei Darussalam and Singapore commemorative notes were jointly designed by Mr Abdul Ajihis Haji Terawih, Mr Eng Siak Loy and Mr Weng Ziyan.
Key Features
The Brunei Darussalam and Singapore commemorative notes are predominantly gold in colour and measure 158mm by 75mm. The notes feature the same design elements and layout.
The front of the note depicts the 50th anniversary logo of the Agreement and features:
- The Simpur, a prominent flower found in Brunei Darussalam.
- The Vanda Miss Joaquim, Singapore’s national flower.
Both flowers are in full bloom to symbolise the flourishing friendship between the two countries.
The back of the notes reflects the close ties between both countries in various areas, such as defence, education and tourism.
The back of the notes reflects the close ties between both countries in various areas, such as defence, education and tourism.
Singapore $50 Commemorative Note
Brunei Darussalam $50 Commemorative Note
Security Features
Both the Brunei Darussalam and Singapore commemorative notes contain an innovative optical security feature that depicts Brunei Darussalam’s Istana Nurul Iman and Singapore’s Istana. The feature uses nanoparticles to create special diffractive and colour-shifting optical effects which are visible to the unaided eye but extremely difficult for counterfeiters to replicate.
This security feature won the Best Applied Security Product award category at the Excellence in Holography Awards 2017. It also received a Commendation Award in the Innovation in Holographic Technology category.
40th Anniversary
To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Agreement, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, jointly launched a set of two $20 commemorative polymer notes at a ceremony held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on 27 June 2007. The set comprised of one Brunei Darussalam $20 note and one Singapore $20 note.
Three million pieces of Singapore $20 commemorative notes were introduced into circulation through the banks. A limited-edition numismatic note set, consisting of two notes, one Singapore $20 note and one Brunei Darussalam $20 note with matching serial numbers, was also available for purchase.
Refer to the table to find out the details about the set.
| Type | Description | Issue Quantity (Pcs/Sets) | Issue Price (S$) |
| $20 (2-in-1 Note Set) |
Contains the following polymer commemorative notes:
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10,000 | 88.00 |
About the Design of the 40th Anniversary $20 Commemorative Note
The Brunei Darussalam and Singapore commemorative notes are predominantly orange in colour and measure 149mm by 72mm.
Key Features
The front of the note features:
- A portrait of Singapore’s first President, the late Encik Yusof Ishak.
- A stalk of the “Dendrobium Puan Noor Aishah” orchid (named after the wife of the late President Encik Yusof Ishak) beside the portrait.
- A row of motifs of the Oncidium Goldiana orchid, a renowned Singapore heritage orchid species.
The back of the note depicts:
- Distinctive national landmarks of Singapore’s Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay and buildings along our city waterfront.
- Brunei’s Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque with the Royal Barge and the water village.
Singapore $20 commemorative note
