Statute Details
- Title: Coins to Be Issued on 18th January 1999
- Act Code: CA1967-S588-1998
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Currency Act (Chapter 69)
- Key Authorisation Provision: Section 17(5) of the Currency Act
- Notification Date / Instrument Number: 4 December 1998 (No. S 588)
- Commencement / Effective Date of Coin Issue: 18 January 1999
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Primary Legal Mechanism: A scheduled notification specifying coin denomination and characteristics
What Is This Legislation About?
This subsidiary legislation is a formal notification issued under the Currency Act (Chapter 69) of Singapore. In plain terms, it tells the public—and relevant stakeholders—that the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore will issue coins on a specified date, 18 January 1999, and it sets out the denominations and physical/technical characteristics of those coins.
The legal significance of such instruments is that coinage is not merely a commercial or administrative decision. Coins must be defined in law so that there is certainty about what constitutes legal tender (or, at minimum, what is being issued as currency). By grounding the notification in section 17(5) of the Currency Act, the instrument ensures that the coin specifications are properly authorised and publicly available.
Although the extract provided is short, the structure is typical of coinage notifications: it contains an enacting formula and a Schedule that lists the relevant coin details. The Schedule is the operative part for practitioners because it is where the denomination and characteristics are stated.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Statutory basis and purpose of the notification. The instrument expressly states that it is made pursuant to section 17(5) of the Currency Act. Section 17(5) functions as the enabling provision that allows the Board (through the relevant legal notification mechanism) to specify the coin denominations and characteristics for a particular issue date. The notification is therefore not a standalone policy document; it is a legally authorised method of communicating the coin specifications to the public.
2. The issue date: 18 January 1999. The notification is directed to coins “to be issued on 18th January 1999”. For legal and operational purposes, the date matters because it marks when the specified coins are intended to enter circulation or become available for use. In practice, this can affect cash handling procedures, banking operations, vending and retail systems, and any contractual or operational arrangements that depend on currency availability.
3. The issuer: Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore. The instrument identifies the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore as the body issuing the coins. This is important for governance and accountability. It clarifies that the coin specifications are tied to the statutory currency authority rather than to an ad hoc administrative decision.
4. The Schedule: denomination and characteristics. The most important substantive content is stated to be “as shown in the Schedule.” The Schedule is where practitioners would look to confirm, for each coin (or coin type), the denomination and the characteristics. “Characteristics” in coinage contexts typically include physical and design attributes such as size, composition/material, weight, shape, edge features, and possibly inscriptions or other distinguishing marks. Even though the extract does not reproduce the Schedule text, the legal effect is that the Schedule defines what is being issued.
Practical note for lawyers: In disputes involving currency recognition, counterfeit allegations, or contractual issues about payment in specific denominations, the Schedule’s specifications are likely to be the authoritative reference point. If the Schedule lists, for example, the exact weight and design features of a coin, those details can be critical evidence.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a straightforward manner typical of subsidiary notifications:
(a) Title and heading: “Coins to Be Issued on 18th January 1999”.
(b) Status and versioning: The portal indicates the instrument is “Current version” as at 27 March 2026, and it directs users to consult the legislation timeline to ensure they are viewing the correct version.
(c) Enacting formula: The enacting formula sets out the legal basis—namely, that the notification is made pursuant to section 17(5) of the Currency Act.
(d) The Schedule: The operative content is contained in “THE SCHEDULE,” which sets out the denomination and characteristics of the coins to be issued on the specified date.
There are no “Parts” listed in the metadata provided, and the extract indicates the instrument is essentially a short notification with a Schedule. For legal research, that means the Schedule is the primary target for substantive review.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notification is directed at the public in the sense that it is “hereby notified for general information.” That phrasing indicates that the instrument is meant to be publicly accessible and to inform all persons who may encounter the coins—members of the public, businesses accepting cash, and institutions handling currency.
However, the legal authority underlying the notification is aimed at the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore and the currency system it administers. In practical terms, the instrument affects anyone who must recognise, handle, or verify the specified coins. This includes banks, cash-in-transit providers, retailers, vending machine operators, and any party whose systems rely on coin specifications (for example, coin validators and automated payment devices).
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the instrument is brief, it plays an important role in maintaining legal certainty in Singapore’s currency system. Coins are a form of money that must be identifiable and consistent. By specifying denominations and characteristics in a legally authorised Schedule, the notification supports uniformity and reduces ambiguity about what coins are official for the relevant issue date.
From an enforcement and dispute-resolution perspective, such notifications can be crucial. If a coin’s legitimacy is questioned—whether in the context of suspected counterfeiting, payment disputes, or regulatory compliance—authoritative legal specifications provide a benchmark. Courts, regulators, and expert witnesses can refer to the Schedule to determine whether a coin matches the legally defined characteristics.
For practitioners advising businesses, the instrument has operational implications. When new coin types are introduced, businesses may need to update cash handling procedures, coin sorting equipment, and automated systems. Lawyers advising on compliance, consumer-facing payment terms, or contractual payment mechanisms may need to understand when new coins are issued and what they are.
Finally, the instrument illustrates how Singapore uses subsidiary legislation to implement technical currency details. Rather than embedding all coin specifications in the main Currency Act, the Act delegates the technical specification task to a notification mechanism under section 17(5). This approach allows the currency authority to update coinage details efficiently while keeping the legal framework anchored in primary legislation.
Related Legislation
- Currency Act (Chapter 69) — in particular, section 17(5) (the enabling provision for coin denomination and characteristics notifications).
- Legislation Timeline / SL 588/1998 — the instrument’s versioning and historical context (as indicated in the portal timeline).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Coins to Be Issued on 18th January 1999 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.