MAS: Reproduction of Currency Images

The Licensing Scheme for Currency Reproduction was introduced with effect from 1 October 2000. With effect from 11 August 2006, the rules on reproducing the Singapore currency for advertisements and publications were relaxed.

Policy on the Reproduction of Notes and Coins

Under the Scheme, MAS grants permission to any person to do any of the following, subject to that person complying with the conditions specified in c, d and e:

to use any photograph of or any drawing or design resembling any currency note or coin or part thereof in any advertisement.
to import, manufacture, sell, circulate or otherwise distribute any specified merchandise or product containing any photograph of or any drawing or design resembling any currency note or coin or part thereof.
The use of the reproduction of any currency note or coin:
1. shall maintain, and not detract from, the dignity, integrity and image of the currency note or coin; and
2. shall not have any risk of confusion with genuine currency note or coin.
The reproduction of any currency note or coin:
1. shall not distort images of the President or any national symbol;
2. shall not show the currency note or coin in a manner that is offensive or against public interest; and
3. shall be on a material which can unambiguously and easily be distinguished from coins, paper notes or polymer notes.
The reproduction of any currency note:
1. shall, unless the reproduction is in an electronic form, be at least 150% of both the length and width of the genuine currency note when the reproduction is enlarged or be not more than 60% of both the length and width of the genuine currency note when the reproduction is reduced in size;
2. shall, when the reproduction is enlarged, reduced in size or to be viewed at an angle, be depicted proportionally;
3. may be depicted at various angles, except that, where the whole currency note is depicted flat to camera, the reproduction shall contain the word "SPECIMEN" in black and bold lettering diagonally across the reproduction and which shall not cover any part of the portrait; and
4. shall not be by way of duplex printing (that is, nothing shall appear on the reverse of the reproduction that may give the impression that it is a genuine currency note).

There is a maximum fine of $2,000 and/or a maximum jail term of three months for breaking the law.

The notice to Cap. 69 - Currency Act on Reproduction of Currency can be found here.

Example of Reproduction

Application for Currency Reproduction Permit for Merchandise

Permission to import and/or manufacture merchandise/product containing a photograph, drawing or design or part thereof used in or on any Singapore currency note or coin would still require MAS' approval.

Please click here if you are using Microsoft Outlook. Otherwise, please email your request to the following address with the subject "Application for Permit to Import and/or Manufacture Merchandise/Product containing a Photograph, Drawing or Design or part thereof used in or on any Singapore Currency Note or Coin":