The Brunei dollar, has been the currencies of the Sultanate of Brunei since 1967. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively B$ to distinguish it from other dollar-dominated currencies, It is divided into 100 sen (Malay) or cents (English). The Brunei dollar is managed together with the Singapore dollar at a 1:1 ratio by Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Summary info

Summary information about Brunei dollar

ISO 4217 Code:

BND

Currency sign:

B$

Country:

Brunei

Subunit:

sen

Coins:

1 sen, 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen

Banknotes:

1 Brunei dollar, 5 Brunei dollars, 10 Brunei dollars, 20 Brunei dollars, 25 Brunei dollars, 50 Brunei dollars, 100 Brunei dollars, 500 Brunei dollars, 1000 Brunei dollars, 10000 Brunei dollars

Central bank:

Brunei Currency and Monetary Board

History

Early currency in Brunei included cowrie shells. Brunei is also famous for its bronze teapots, which were used as currency in barter trade along the coast of North Borneo.

Brunei issued tin coins denominated in pitis in AH1285 (AD1868). These were followed by a one cent coin in AH1304 (AD1888). This cent was one hundredth of a Straits dollar.

As a protectorate of Britain in the early 20th century, Brunei used the Straits dollar and later the Malayan dollar and the Malaya and British Borneo dollar until 1967, when it began issuing its own currency.

The Brunei dollar replaced the Malaya and British Borneo dollar in 1967 after the formation of Malaysia and the independence of Singapore. Until June 23, 1973, the Malaysian ringgit was exchangeable at par with the Singapore dollar and Brunei dollar. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board still maintain the exchangeability of their two currencies. The dollar is accepted as „customary tender” in Singapore according to the Currency Interchangeability Agreement, although it is not legal tender there. Likewise, the Singapore dollar is customarily accepted in Brunei.

Coins

The coins of the Brunei dollar are part of the physical form of current Brunei currency, the Brunei dollar. They have changed through time along with Brunei itself. A British protectorate from 1888 until 1983, it is currently an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The decision was taken to adopt a native Bruneian currency called the Brunei dollar (or ringgit Brunei in Malay), which is divided into 100 cents (or sen in Malay). The portrait of the then Sultan, Omar Ali Saifuddin III (ruled 1950–1967) is depicted on the obverse. The reverse of these coins, and all subsequent series, was designed by Christopher Ironside OBE. The coins issued were 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 sen.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah acceded to the throne upon the abdication of his father in late 1967. The title of the Sultan is given as SULTAN HASSANAL BOLKIAH I. The same denominations as the 1967 coinage were retained and are still being struck. Commemorative coins of $1 through to $1,000 were struck in this period.

The title of the Sultan was changed to SULTAN HASSANAL BOLKIAH. In 1977, coins were struck with I and without I in the Sultan's title. Brunei became a fully independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations on January 1, 1984.

An entirely new portrait depicting the Sultan facing forward was adopted. The title of the Sultan is now given as SULTAN HAJI HASSANAL BOLKIAH.

Banknotes

In 1967, the government (Kerajaan Brunei) introduced notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 dollars. Notes for 500 and 1000 dollars followed in 1979. In 1989, the title on the paper money was changed to Negara Brunei Darussalam, the official name of the country. 10,000 dollar notes were introduced the same year. All notes bear the denomination in Malay (in both Rumi and Jawi)and in English. The English denomination appeared on the obverse below the denomination in Malay on the earlier series, but now appears on the reverse together with the Jawi.

Five series of notes have been issued. The colours of $1, $5, and $10 notes have been the same for all the series of banknotes.

• 1967 series — currency with the portrait of HM the late Sultan Sir Omar Ali Saifuddin, the 28th ruler of Brunei.
• 1972 series — This series was the same as the first series with exception that the portrait of HM Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin was replaced by the portrait of HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the 29th and current ruler of Brunei. All subsequent currency has the portrait of HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. In addition, two new higher denominations were issued in 1979.
• 1989 series — the post independence series. This series was gradually being replaced by the fourth series.
• 1996-2000 series — all notes except for the polymer issues are no longer printed.
• 2004-2007 series — Polymer banknotes were introduced in (2004) due to high cases of banknote forgery. All of them are polymer. The $100 note of this series has won a gold medal award for its security features in the 22nd National Print Award in Australia in May 2005.

BND banknotes pictures gallery

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Useful links

About Brunei Currency and Monetary Board:

Brunei Currency and Monetary Board

List of currencies:

Currencies

Security and design features of BND banknotes:

BND banknotes

BND currency on Wikipedia:

Brunei dollar

Official Website of Brunei Currency and Monetary Board:

www.mof.gov.bn

Commemorative coins:

Commemorative Coins