The first banknotes used in the archipelago that would become Indonesia were those issued by the United East India Company, credit letters of the rijksdaalder dating between 1783 and 1811. Netherlands Indies gulden government credit paper followed in 1815, and from 1827 to 1842Cuhaj, 2010, p. 877. and again from 1866 to 1948Cuhaj, 2010, pp. 878–886. gulden notes of De Javasche Bank. Lower denominations (below 5 gulden) were issued by the government in 1919–1920 and in 1939–1940 due to wartime metal shortages, but otherwise day-to-day transactions were conducted using coinage.
Gulden notes were issued by "The Japanese Government" during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies from 1942, becoming "roepiah" in 1943.
The first truly Indonesian rupiah notes, however, were issued in 1946, during the war of independence with the Dutch, following the unilateral proclamation of independence by the Indonesians at the end of World War II on 17 August 1945. This money is known as Oeang Republik Indonesia (ORI; oeang being the old spelling of uang ("money")).
Following the negotiated peace treaty in The Hague of 1949, the ORI was withdrawn, and replaced by an internationally recognised Indonesian rupiah.
The Indonesian rupiah has been subject to numerous devaluations, and in 1965 the existing paper was withdrawn and replaced by a new rupiah at the rate of 1,000 to 1.
Independence period (1945–1950) First series (17 October 1945) The first 'Indonesian rupiah' bank notes bore the date of the rupiah's proclamation, 17 October 1945, under the authority of the newly-formed republic, and were put in circulation in Java starting from 10 October 1946. The notes were in denominations of 1 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 50 cents, Rp1, Rp5, Rp10, and Rp100.Cuhaj, 2010, p. 697. 1945 Republik Indonesia series Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description Date of RemarksObverseReverseObverseReverseWatermarkSerialPrintingIssueWithdrawal Rp0.01 97 × 45 mm Green Keris Counterfeit warning None None 1946 10 October 1946 1 May 1950 Violet underprint Green underprint Rp0.05 100 × 49 mm Violet Various leaves Counterfeit warning with wings Buffalo underprint (strong) Dark blue Buffalo underprint (faint) Rp0.10 105 × 51 mm Black Keris and machete underprint Counterfeit warning Narrow borders Brown Wide borders Rp (0.50) 119 × 58 mm Green Horned motif Counterfeit warning Six numbers two letters [01234]nnnnn [LMNPRST] [PRTUVWX] Pink underprint Orange underprint Rp1 138 × 65 mm Blue Sukarno, volcano Volcano, counterfeit warning Some without serial, some with six-digit, two-letter serial (1st letter is check code), some with simple two letter code Rp5 148 × 71 mm Green Rice stalks, Sukarno Rice stalks, counterfeit warning Six numbers, two letters, first letter is check code; two different serial printing styles Rp10 160 × 77 mm Blue Sukarno, volcano Counterfeit warning Six numbers, two letters, or six numbers, three letters. First letter is check code. Several serial printing styles Rp100 174 × 86 mm Blue/green Sukarno, keris, horned '100' Counterfeit warning, horned '100' Five numbers, two letters, first letter is check code.
Second series (1 January 1947) The second series of money now emanated from 'Djokjakarta', the Republic's base following the 'Police Action' of 21 July 1947, which had confined the Republicans to Yogyakarta and Central Java. The notes were dated 1 January 1947, in denominations of Rp5, Rp10, Rp25, and Rp100.Cuhaj, 2010, p. 699.
+ 1947 First Issue (1 January 1947) Note ValueRp5Rp10Rp25Rp100
Third series (26 July 1947) The next new issue was dated 26 July 1947, and consisted of Rp, Rp, Rp25, Rp50, Rp100, and Rp250 notes.Cuhaj, 2010, pp. 699–700.
Fourth series (23 August 1948) New notes were issued by the national government in 1948, in the bizarre denominations of Rp40, Rp75, Rp100, and Rp400, plus an unissued Rp600 note.Cuhaj, 2010, pp. 700–701.
On 19 December 1948, the Dutch seized Yogyakarta, reverting the head office of the then-Republic's central bank Bank Negara Indonesia back to De Javasche Bank, with DJB offices also reopened in Surakarta and Kediri.BI.go.id
It was planned in 1949 to revalue the national rupiah notes of the republic (which were at this time circulating in Java). To do this, "rupiah baru" ('new rupiah') notes were printed. This revaluation did not take place in Java, but some were issued in Aceh instead. The denominations printed were Rp0.10 sen (blue or red), Rp (green or red), Rp1 (purple or green), Rp10 (black or brown), Rp25, and Rp100.Cuhaj, 2010, p. 701.
Regional issues (ORIDA) In addition to the 'national' (but restricted in practice to the central republican enclave in Java) notes, the republican authorities, instructed regional commanders in areas that the national money couldn't reach to issue their own currency in order to discourage the circulation of Dutch money. These money were to be unified after full independence.
Rp25 note of Banten Residency, 15 December 1947
Sumatra Rp10 note of "Sumatra Province" (dated 1 January 1948)
Rp500 note of Bengkulu Residency (dated 1 June 1947)
Rp1,000 note of Bengkulu Residency (dated 1 June 1947)
Old Order (1950–1966) Gulden/roepiah notes (1950–1952) Low denomination notes The Dutch treasury had in 1947 issued Indonesian language Rp0.10 and Rp0.25 notes. Due to the initial lack of coinage and due to their relatively republic-friendly design, the Indonesian government saw it as expedient to continue to print these notes, and authorised their issue until such time as coinage had been minted, and in sufficient quantity to replace them. Dutch 'Indonesia' notes of 1947, printed by G. Kolff & Co. Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description Date ofObverseReverseObverseReverseSerialSignaturenoteWithdrawal date Rp0.10 100 × 60 mm Green / Red Floral border Counterfeit warning in Indonesian and Dutch None J.E. van Hoogstraten (Chairman of the Court of Audit), W.A. Alons (Director of Finance) 1 December 1947 1 January 1957 Rp0.25 Brown / Blue Central floral design
De Javasche Bank notes The peace settlement with the Dutch, negotiated in The Hague in November 1949, had kept De Javasche Bank as the central bank in Indonesia, hence the first notes that were issued for the post-independence rupiah bore its imprint. It was decided that the existing De Javasche Bank money dated 1946 would simply be revised in colour, with the 5 gulden note changing from purple to red and green, the 10 gulden from green to purple, and 25 gulden from red to green. In addition, 50 gulden, 100 gulden, 500 gulden, and 1,000 gulden notes were added, still dated 1946.
Because there were existing Rp0.10 and Rp0.25 notes (which remained as legal tender and continued to be printed), a gap existed between the Rp0.25 Indonesia and 5 gulden De Javasche Bank notes. This was filled with Rp, Rp1, and Rp notes, all dated 1948.Cuhaj, 2010, pp. 885–886. The notes in wording were similar to the notes of 5 gulden and up, but the Indonesian text ('roepiah') placed above Dutch ('gulden').
The notes were all printed by Johan Enschede en Zonen based in the Netherlands. 1950 De Javasche Bank notes, printed by Joh. Enschede en Zonen Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description date ofObverseReverseObverseReverseSerialSignatureWatermarkNoteIssue dateWithdrawal dateReplacement note Rp5 150 × 75 mm Green and red Lotus flower Counterfeit warning in Dutch, Indonesian, Javanese, and Chinese; letters DJB 6 numbers and either 2 or 3 letters H. Teunissen (Secretary), R.E. Smits (President) Checkered-pattern rhombus 1946 19 March 1950 13 December 1965 2 June 1950 Rp10 Purple Mangosteen Rp25 Green Coconut trees at sea shore 18 June 1954 Rp50 Blue Sailboat 13 August 1954 Rp100 Brown Paddy field 18 December 1953 Rp500 Red 6 numbers and 2 letters 24 August 1959 Rp1,000 Grey 5 March 1959 2 November 1954 Rp½ 124 × 64 mm Pink Moon orchid Counterfeit warning in Dutch and Indonesian; letters DJB Letter 'A' (2 sizes), or 'AA', written fractionally over 2 numbers, followed by 6 numbers None 1948 1 December 1957 Last of denomination Rp1 Blue Coconut trees Letter 'B' (3 sizes), or 'BB', written fractionally over either 1 or 2 numbers, followed by 6 numbers 3 October 1951 Rp2½ Red Jasmine Letter 'C' (2 sizes) over 1 or 2 numbers, followed by 6 numbers
Federal (Republik Indonesia Serikat) notes (1950) The RIS government passed legislation on 2 June 1950 to allow it to issue new treasury notes, which were printed by Thomas De La Rue and dated 1 January 1950 in denominations of Rp5 and Rp10. This move was not long-lasting, as the federation dissolved on 17 August 1950. 1950 'Republik Indonesia Serikat' Notes, printed by Thomas De La Rue Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description Date ofObverseReverseObverseReverseSerialSignatureIssue dateWithdrawal date Rp5 136 × 64 mm Red Sukarno Rice field "D" over number between 1 and 10, followed by six numbers Sjafruddin Prawiranegara 2 June 1950 Rp10 Purple "E" over number between 1 and 19, followed by six numbers
Nationalisation of De Javasche Bank: first Republik Indonesia banknotes (1951–1953) With the nationalisation of De Javasche Bank via the Emergency Act of 1951 which was strengthened by Currency Act of 1953, it was decreed that the government would be able to issue notes valued Rp1 and Rp2½. Thus, 'Republik Indonesia' notes dated 1951 and 1953 were issued in Rp1 and Rp2½ denominations; these were signed by Sjafruddin Prawiranegara in 1951 and Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo in 1953. Government Notes: Republik Indonesia, first series (landscapes), 1951, printed by Security Banknote Printing Company (USA) Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description date of Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Serial Signature Watermark Note Issue date Withdrawal date Replacement note Rp1 127 × 66 mm Blue Beach with palms, rice terrace Mountain 2 letters, 1 above the other, 6 numbers Sjafruddin Prawiranegara None "1951"1954 Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo "1953" Rp2½Red Beach with cliff, palms Garuda Pancasila Sjafruddin Prawiranegara "1951" Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo "1953"
First ever notes issued by Bank Indonesia (1953) Notes featuring the new name of the nationalised De Javasche Bank, Bank Indonesia, were prepared dated 1952, in denominations of Rp5, Rp10, Rp25, Rp50, Rp100, Rp500, and Rp1,000, signed by Indra Kasoema as Director, and Sjafruddin Prawiranegara as Governor. The notes began circulating from July 1953 to November 1954 depending on denomination. 1952 Bank Indonesia notes ('culture series') Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description date ofObverseReverseObverseReverseSerialPrinter's markIssue dateWithdrawal dateReplacement note Rp5 135 × 75 mm Blue Ibu Kartini Floral design, serpents 5' followed by 1, 2, or 3 letters, then 5 numbers Thomas De La Rue 2 July 1953 16 January 1961 1 September 1959 Rp10 Brown Statue of Dewi Sri Floral design, beasts 2 (Joh. Enschede) or 3 (Joh. Enschede/Perkeba) letters, then six numbers Joh. Enschede en Zonen/Pertjetakan Kebajoran 5 September 1959 Rp25 142 × 82 mm Blue Kalpataru Batik ship 18 June 1954 Rp50 Green Trees/bird Batik 2 or 3 letters then six numbers Joh. Enschede en Zonen 13 August 1954 1 August 1959 Rp100 Brown Lion statue, Diponegoro 2 stylised birds kissing 18 December 1953 15 December 1960 24 June 1958 Rp500 150 × 90 mm Red/green Hindu relief Batik 21 September 1959 6 January 1959 Rp1,000 Green/red Padmapani statue, Prambanan relief Wooden dish from Kasepuhan Palace, Cirebon two or three letters, starting W/WW, then six numbers 2 November 1954 7 August 1958 2 September 1958
Despite the new notes, which meant that paper bearing the name of DJB was no longer printed, the DJB notes dated '1946', and in fact circulating since 1950, remained legal tender right up to the 'new rupiah' of 1965 (which invalidated ALL previous money at that point), although some old DJB notes were repealed, as follows: