Sejarah Indonesia

The Birth of Indonesia's Own Currency

Regardless of the challenging situation, Indonesia issued its own currency, which had to face competition with Japanese and NICA money.

Oleh :

Darma Ismayanto

5 November 2023

100 Rupiah from the Second Series of ORI, 1947. (Micha Rainer Pali/Historia.ID).

Darma Ismayanto
6 Nov 2023
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IN a meeting with Vice President Mohammad Hatta in September 1945, Sjafruddin Prawiranegara, a member of the Working Committee of the Central Indonesian National Committee or KNIP, proposed that the government of the Republic of Indonesia issue its own currency to replace the Japanese one. Indonesia’s own currency was important not only as legal tender but also as a symbol of an independent and sovereign state. At first, Bung Hatta was hesitant, but after a long discussion, he finally agreed. The realization, however, took quite some time due to the lack of funds and experts.