
The Malaysian ringgit, or MYR, is the official currency of Malaysia. It's a widely accepted and used currency in the country.
The ringgit is divided into 100 sen, which is the smallest unit of currency in Malaysia. This is a useful fact to know when making transactions or exchanging currency.
Malaysia's currency symbol has undergone changes over the years, with the current symbol being RM. This change was made in 1975 to simplify the currency's representation.
The ringgit is a relatively stable currency, with a floating exchange rate system in place. This means that its value can fluctuate based on market forces.
History of Malaysian Currency
The Malaysian Ringgit was introduced in 1967 as the official currency of Malaysia, replacing the British Borneo. The first coins were introduced on June 12th of that year in five denominations: 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 sen.
The name "Ringgit" is derived from the Malay word for "jagged", which refers to the serrated edges of Spanish dollars that were once in circulation. This is a nod to the colonial past of Malaysia.
The Malaysian Ringgit was initially called the Malaysian Dollar, but it wasn't until 1975 that it officially became known as the Ringgit. It's divided into 100 sen, the subunit of the Ringgit.
History of
The Malaysian Ringgit has a rich history that dates back to 1967 when it was introduced as the official currency of Malaysia, replacing the British Borneo. The first coins were introduced in five denominations: 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 sen, bearing the portrait of Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the first ruler of independent Malaya.
In 1975, the official name of the currency was changed from Malaysian Dollar to Ringgit, derived from the Malay word "jagged", referring to the serrated edges of Spanish dollars. The Ringgit is divided into 100 sen, its subunit.
The Malaysian Ringgit has undergone significant changes over the years, with its market value declining from US$2.80 to US$2.40 in its initial years. In 1998, the currency was pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 3.80 MYR, which remained constant until 2005.
Here's a brief overview of the exchange rates of the Malaysian Ringgit against major currencies:
The Malaysian Ringgit's exchange rate has fluctuated over the years, influenced by emerging political trends and energy prices. Despite this, the currency has maintained a strong market value, with a free-floating rate that allows for easy exchange.
Commemorative Banknotes
Commemorative banknotes were released in Malaysia in 2017, featuring unique designs and sizes.
The 600 ringgit note is the largest legal tender banknote in terms of size, measuring 370mm by 220mm. This makes it a significant addition to the country's currency collection.
The 60 ringgit note was sold at a premium, with a print run of 60,000, while the 3-in-1 60 ringgit and 600 ringgit notes were each printed in a run of 6,000.
Here's a summary of some commemorative banknotes:
These commemorative banknotes showcase the unique designs and sizes that have been released in Malaysia over the years.
What Is the?
The Malaysian ringgit is the official currency of Malaysia, introduced in 1967 by the Bank Negara Malaysia. It replaced the British Borneo, which was the then-official currency of Malaysia.
The ringgit is divided into 100 sen, its subunit. The term ringgit is derived from the Malay word for "jagged", referring to the serrated edges of Spanish dollars.
The Malaysian ringgit was initially called the Malaysian dollar until 1975, when it was officially named the ringgit. The currency code is MYR.
The ringgit is available in various denominations, including RM1, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50, and RM100. The higher denominations of 500 and 1,000 were demonetized in the 1990s to prevent money laundering.
Here are the denominations of the ringgit and sen coins:
- Ringgit: RM1, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50, RM100
- Sen coins: 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen
The ringgit's value has fluctuated over the years due to emerging political trends and energy prices. In 1998, the currency was pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 3.80 MYR.
Currency Design and Production
The Malaysian ringgit is a beautiful currency, and its design reflects the country's rich culture and history. The ringgit comes in various denominations, including RM1, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50, and RM100, each featuring unique images and symbols.
The Central Bank of Malaysia has made efforts to prevent money laundering by demonetizing higher denominations, such as RM500 and RM1000, which were previously in circulation. This move has helped to reduce financial crime and anti-terrorism activities in the country.
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The sen coin, which makes up one Malaysian ringgit, comes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 50 sen. Each coin has a distinct design, featuring imagery related to traditional handicrafts, such as Destar Siga fabric weaving and Orang Asli art.
Here's a breakdown of the third series of Malaysian coins, which were introduced in 2011:
The Malaysian government has also released commemorative banknotes, including the RM600 note, which is the largest legal tender banknote in the world, measuring 370mm by 220mm. These notes are a unique feature of the Malaysian currency and reflect the country's rich history and culture.
Coinage
The Malaysian ringgit is divided into 100 units called sen, which can be confusing for tourists and locals alike. The Central Bank of Malaysia has implemented a rounding mechanism, where prices are rounded to the nearest 5 sen.
In practice, this means that individual items and services can still be priced in multiples of 1 sen, but the total bill is rounded to the nearest 5 sen. For example, purchasing two items priced RM4.88 and RM3.14, totalling RM8.02, would then be rounded to RM8.00.
Existing 1 sen coins in circulation remain legal tender for payments up to RM2.00. The 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, and 50 sen coins are the most commonly used denominations in Malaysia.
The third series of coins, introduced in 2011, features a theme called "Distinctively Malaysia" and is inspired by motifs of flora and fauna drawn from various cultures in Malaysia. The coins are minted at the Bank Negara Mint in Shah Alam and feature different motifs for each denomination.
Here's a breakdown of the third series of coins:
The 50 sen coin is more distinctive than the other denominations, with a round shape and nine indentations. The obverse does not feature the five horizontal lines, but instead a latent image security feature.
Banknotes
The Malaysian ringgit comes in various denominations, each with its unique design and theme. The highest denomination of the ringgit is RM100, which features images of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Malaysia: Kinabalu Park in Sabah and Gunung Api Valley.
You can divide the Malaysian ringgit into 100 units called sen. The sen coins come in denominations of 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, and 50 sen. The 5 sen coins pay tribute to Destar Siga, a native form of fabric weaving.
The most current series of Malaysian ringgit and sen coins have "Distinctively Malaysia" as their theme, which embodies the culture and beauty of the country with depictions of famous scenery, wildlife, and traditions. All ringgits feature a portrait of Malaysia's first prime minister, Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
The ringgit can be written as RM followed by the number, with no space after the RM symbol. For example, RM100 represents 100 ringgit. You might see the ringgit referred to as RM rather than MYR, but they both mean the same thing.
Here are the denominations of the Malaysian ringgit and sen coins:
- Ringgit denominations: RM1, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50, RM100
- Sen coin denominations: 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen
The nicknames for the Malaysian ringgit are JIAO, MAO, FEN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it MYR or RM?
The Malaysian ringgit is abbreviated as both MYR and RM, with MYR being the international currency code and RM being the local abbreviation.
What is the symbol of Malaysian currency?
The Malaysian Ringgit uses the symbol "RM" (Ringgit Malaysia) since 1993. This replaced the dollar sign "$" or "M$" previously used.
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