Have you seen a Malaya banknote with Hang Tuah portrait on the 50 Ringgit obverse? If you have been visiting Sasana Kijang before, you might have seen the pattern notes but most people will not aware about the Hang Tuah banknote. It is placed in the Malaysia banknote section inside The Galeri Numismatik, 2nd Floor.
For your information, before Bank Negara Malaysia exist, Malaysia Central Bank is called as Central Bank of Malaya (Bank Negara Tanah Melayu). The Central Bank was officially open on 26 January 1959 with a paid up capital of $30 million by the Government of the Federation of Malaya. The 1st Central Bank of Malaya governor is an Australian, Tan Sri William Howard Wilcock. The basis and legislative recommendations for the set up of Central Bank of Malaysia (Bank Negara Malaysia) is a "Watson Caine Report" that was released in September 1956. The Bank Negara Tanah Melayu never issued any notes or coins until Malaysia was established and it changed name to Bank Negara Malaysia.
The Hang Tuah 50 Ringgit banknote is one of the pattern banknotes shown in the Bank Negara Tanah Melayu pattern notes display. There are also several other banknotes that proposed to be used in Malaya in 1962 displayed next to the banknote.
The date 1st March 1962 written in front of the banknote with two "signature", the inscription "WANG KERTAS INI SAH DIPERLAKUKAN DIDALAM NEGERI PERSEKUTUAN TANAH MELAYU, SINGAPURA, BRUNEI, SARAWAK DAN BORNEO UTARA". The denomination written as "LIMA PULOH RINGGIT". A portrait of the legendary Melakan warrior, Hang Tuah drawn in black and white with an inscription "HANG TUAH" on the bottom.
Hang Tuah lived during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah of Melaka in the 15th century. He was the most capable of all the laksamana, or sultan's admirals, and is is arguably the most well-known and illustrious warrior figure in Malaysian history and literature.
The banknote reverse show a coat of arms for the Government of the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak and North Norneo. The main design show a river but I am not sure what particular river is in the picture.
Some blogger mistakenly saying that the banknotes used in Malaya before. This banknote never printed for circulation, it is just a pattern notes or a test banknotes to show how the design will look like on the proposed banknotes. Different design and patterns will be proposed for approval of the authority.
