Getting To Know 8 Indonesian Currency Before Rupiah From Metal To RIS

Illustration of rupiah currency (Photo: Pixabay/EmAji)

YOGYAKARTA The rupiah money used by Indonesians for transactions has gone through many changes. Before Indonesia's independence, the currency used for buying and selling activities in the Dutch East Indies was guilders. So, what are Indonesia's currencies before the rupiah? Check out the full information below.

Summarized from various sources, Monday, June 12, 2023, here are several Indonesian currencies before the rupiah you need to know.

This currency was used when Indonesia was still named Nusantara with many kingdoms in it.

During the Hindu Buddhist kingdom, buying and selling activities used coins made of gold and silver.

Quoted from the IDX Channel page, the coin has a varying shape, there is a round, square, half-circle, a quarter-circle, triangle, and some are even only metal pieces.

Dirham is a currency used in the United Arab Emirates. However, did you know that Indonesia had also used this currency in the past?

The dirham currency was used by the Pasai Ocean Kingdom which controlled the archipelago in 1297'1326. This currency is made of gold and contains the name Sultan and the title Malik as-Zahir or Malik at-Tahir. This money is the same size as kupang money. At that time, this dirham currency was better known as 'Mas'.

The cent and Gulden currency is a transaction tool issued by De Javasche Bank, a leading bank formed by the Dutch East Indies government on January 24, 1828. Both currencies are used specifically only in the Dutch East Indies region.

The Dutch East Indies rupiah was a currency issued by the Japanese occupation government between 1944 and 1945. This currency was divided into 100 cents and replaced the Dutch East Indies guilders with equal values.

Quoted from the Bank Indonesia Museum, during that period, the Japanese Population Government also issued and circulated three banknotes called invasion money, including:

NICA money or red money is a currency circulated by the Dutch government through NICA (Netherlands Indies Civil Administration). The issuance of NICA money is intended as a substitute for Japanese money whose value has fallen considerably.

Oeang Republik Indonesia atau ORI adalah mata uang pertama yang dimiliki Republik Indonesia setelah kebebasan.

The currency was issued to block the circulation of NICA money and as a substitute for Japanese money.

Adapted from the official website of Bank Indonesia, ORI was first circulated in October 1946. At that time, ORI was circulated geily because the security situation was uncertain. Even so, the presence of ORI can generate a sense of solidarity and nationalism of the Indonesian people.

Oeang of the Republic of Indonesia Daerah (ORIDA) is a currency issued by the regions and circulated in 1947 1950.

This money was issued to address cash shortages due to communication cuts between the center and the regions after the Dutch Military Aggression. At that time, the central government gave a mandate to regional leaders to issue local, ORI-Regional currencies, which are temporarily applicable in their respective regions. Since 1947, the ORI-Regional or ORIDA has been published, among others in Sumatra, Banten, Tapanuli, and Banda Aceh Provinces.

Still from the official website of Bank Indonesia, the Round Table Conference in December 1949, agreed to form the Republic of Indonesia (RIS). On May 1, 1950, the RIS Government withdrew ORI and ORIDA from circulation, replacing it with RIS currency or federal money which had been in effect since January 1, 1950.

In March 1950, Finance Minister Sjafruddin Prawiranegara issued a financial restructuring policy known as Gunting Sjafruddin by cutting De Javasche Bank and Dutch East Indies bank bills above f2.50. The left-hand shear sheet remains valid as money with half the value. Meanwhile, the right can be exchanged for a 1950 RI Bonds loan letter. In August 1950, the form of the State of Indonesia returned to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and RIS money no longer applies.

This is information about 8 Indonesian currencies before Rupiah. Hopefully this article can add insight to the loyal readers of VOI.ID.