Japanese Government Currency & Banknote Values

The Greysheet Catalog (GSID) of the Japanese Government series of Oceania in the World Currency contains 11 distinct entries with CPG® values between $1.00 and $50.00.

These four notes, officially “Foreign Denomination Military Certificates,” were issued by Japanese forces soon after they invaded New Britain on 23 January 1942, and New Guinea on 8 March, and were declared the sole legal tender in the British South Pacific territories (Gilbert Islands, New Britain, New Guinea, and Solomon Islands) on 14 March 1943. These notes bear the imprint of the Greater Japan Imperial Government in Japanese text at lower center front. All of these notes have series letters starting with the letter O. These notes are often collectively referred to as “JIM” for Japanese Invasion Money.

1/4-shilling notes have been reported but are fakes. Souvenir copies of the official notes were printed in Australia during World War II with red REPLICA overprinted on the back, so be on the lookout for evidence of erasures.