WWII Philippines Japanese Invasion Money
'Mickey Mouse Money' - 'JIM Notes'

What You See Is What You Get

Banknote Lot Y0660490 – Occupied Philippines Japanese military scrip 1942 to 1945. In this lot you get:

• (1x) 1942-45 1 Centavo, number in guilloche. Rarer fractional block letters.
• (1x) 1942-45 5 Centavos, number in guilloche. 2 block letters.
• (1x) 1942-45 10 Centavos, number in guilloche. Rarer fractional block letters.
• (1x) 1942-45 50 Centavos, banana note w/number in guilloche. 2 block letters.
• (1x) Series 1943 1 Peso, Rizal Monument
• (1x) Series 1943 5 Pesos, Rizal Monument
• (1x) Series 1942 10 Pesos, Rizal Monument
• (1x) Series 1943 100 Pesos, Rizal Monument

Military scrip and de facto currency issued by the Imperial Japanese Government for the occupied U.S. Commonwealth of the Philippines. Notes are in circulated (used) condition. Light dirt, stains, edge wear, small nicks and scuffs. Paper solid, no splits or seps; usual counter stamps, folds and creases. Details clear. Colors good. Much crispness remains. Rates an old-school VG+/F. Map of anti-Japanese guerilla operational areas provided for information only and is not included; is reproduced from "Reports of General MacArthur" published by the Department of the Army. See scans.

Called “Mickey Mouse Money” by Filipinos during the Second World War, and later, "JIM" notes (Japanese Invasion Money) by collectors, these authentic artifacts document turbulent times. What you see is what you get. Makes a nice gift for the Old Cold Warrior, student, educator, or history buff in your life!

Please see my other items for more German, Japanese and other historical curios.

Q: What am I buying, and why would I want it?

A: This is a selection of notes issued by Japan between 1942 and 1945 for the occupied Philippines in World War Two.  

In January 1942 Imperial Japan occupied the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Martial law was declared and a 1:1 exchange rate between the Japanese military scrip peso and the existing Commonwealth Peso (₱) was set. Similar to the RKK notes their German Axis allies carried in their invasion of Poland, Japanese troops had arrived with millions in scrip conveniently printed well in advance of the war. Known as 'Southern Development Bank' (SDB) notes, Filipinos soon nicknamed the occupation currency "mickey mouse money" - play money. However, refusal to accept this play money carried the death penalty.

The first series of occupation peso notes had a generic banana plantation scene for their vignette. In 1943 a second series featuring Manila's monument to the Philippine patriot, Jose Rizal, was introduced. The redesign was undertaken in furtherance of Japanese propaganda promoting pan-Asian nationalism and economic integration, under their leadership. They branded this imperial experiment 'The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere' and gave it a suitably militant motto, "Asia for the Asians!"

Immediately upon Liberation the Japanese scrip was declared worthless. Hoards of the notes were found in bank vaults across the islands. Much of the booty that wasn't burned, buried or dumped, was (oddly,) given to the Red Cross which passed them along as souvenirs. At “liberation parties” across the archipelago great piles of the things were tossed out over the happy crowds like confetti. Those examples are usually identifiable by having a pair of punch holes in them. Buyer Beware: Counterfeits (also quite oddly,) exist.

You will hold history in your hands.