Statute Details
- Title: Denominations and Characteristics of Coins
- Act Code: CA1967-S48-2010
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Currency Act (Chapter 69)
- Key Enabling Provision: Section 17(5) of the Currency Act
- Instrument Number: No. S 48
- Commencement / Effective Date (as notified): 1 February 2010
- Enacting Formula / Form: “Pursuant to section 17(5) of the Currency Act, it is hereby notified for general information…”
- Primary Content: The Schedule sets out the denominations and characteristics of coins to be issued
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal)
What Is This Legislation About?
The “Denominations and Characteristics of Coins” instrument is a Singapore subsidiary legal notification made under the Currency Act. In plain language, it tells the public—and relevant market participants—what coin denominations the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will issue, and what physical or identifying characteristics those coins have.
Although the extract provided is short, its legal function is clear: it is not a broad regulatory code governing the entire currency system. Instead, it is a targeted instrument that specifies the “what” (denominations) and the “how to recognise” (characteristics) of particular coins. This matters because coins are legal tender instruments used in everyday transactions, and their design and identification features must be consistent, verifiable, and resistant to counterfeiting.
In practice, such instruments support the integrity of Singapore’s coinage by ensuring that, when MAS issues new coins (or changes coin specifications), the official denominations and characteristics are formally notified under the Currency Act’s authority. The Schedule is the operative part: it is where the detailed specifications are set out.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Notification under section 17(5) of the Currency Act
The instrument is expressly made “pursuant to section 17(5) of the Currency Act.” This is the legal hook that authorises MAS (through the subsidiary legislation process) to define the denominations and characteristics of coins. The phrase “hereby notified for general information” indicates that the instrument’s purpose is to publish official specifications to the public, rather than to impose complex regulatory obligations on private parties.
2. The Schedule: denominations and characteristics of coins
The extract states that the denominations and characteristics of the coins to be issued on 1 February 2010 are “as shown in the Schedule.” In a lawyer’s terms, the Schedule is where the operative details live. Typically, such schedules specify one or more of the following (depending on the coin series): the face value (denomination), physical attributes (such as size, weight, metal composition or plating, colour, edge design), and design features (such as inscriptions, symbols, and other identifying marks).
3. MAS issuance date and legal certainty
The instrument ties the specifications to a specific issuance date: 1st February 2010. This is legally significant because it provides a clear reference point for when the specified coins are intended to enter circulation. For practitioners, this reduces ambiguity in disputes involving coin recognition, acceptance, or alleged non-conformity with official specifications.
4. General information and public notice
The instrument’s wording—“for general information”—signals that it is designed to be publicly accessible and authoritative. This can be important in enforcement contexts (for example, where the authenticity or conformity of coins is questioned) and in commercial contexts (for example, where vending machines, cash-handling systems, and payment processors need to calibrate for coin characteristics).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Based on the extract and the portal display, the instrument is structured as a short subsidiary legal notification with an Enacting Formula and a Schedule. The legal architecture is therefore straightforward:
(a) Enacting formula — sets out the statutory basis (section 17(5) of the Currency Act) and the purpose (notification for general information).
(b) The Schedule — contains the substantive specifications. This is the part that practitioners would need to consult to identify the exact denominations and the precise characteristics of the coins to be issued on the stated date.
There are also administrative elements visible in the portal interface (status, timeline, versions, and amendment annotations). These are not “substantive” provisions, but they are crucial for legal practice: they help confirm whether the lawyer is looking at the correct version as at a particular date (here, the portal indicates “current version as at 27 March 2026”).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the instrument is framed as a public notification, it effectively applies to anyone who interacts with Singapore coinage—directly or indirectly. This includes MAS (as the issuer), financial institutions, cash-handling businesses, retailers, and operators of coin-operated systems (such as vending machines, parking meters, and ticketing machines) that must recognise and accept coins based on official characteristics.
In addition, the instrument can be relevant to parties involved in disputes about coin authenticity or conformity. While the extract does not itself create offences or enforcement mechanisms, the official specifications it publishes can be used as reference points in investigations and proceedings concerning counterfeiting, tampering, or misrepresentation of coinage.
Practically, the instrument’s “application” is therefore best understood as functional: it governs the official specifications of coins that are intended to be issued and circulated, and it informs how those coins should be identified and treated in commerce.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
1. It underpins the integrity and recognisability of legal tender
Coins are a core component of everyday commerce. If coin denominations and characteristics were not formally specified and publicly notified, there would be greater risk of inconsistent acceptance standards, confusion among businesses, and increased opportunities for counterfeit or altered coins to pass as genuine. By setting out official specifications in a Schedule, the instrument supports the reliability of Singapore’s coinage.
2. It provides a legal reference point for authenticity and compliance
In disputes—whether between businesses and consumers, or in regulatory or enforcement contexts—parties often need an authoritative benchmark. This instrument provides that benchmark by stating the denominations and characteristics of coins to be issued on a particular date. Even though the extract does not list the details, the Schedule is designed to be the definitive source.
3. It supports operational readiness for cash-processing systems
From a practitioner’s perspective, the impact is not merely theoretical. Cash-handling systems rely on technical parameters (for example, dimensions, weight, and visual features) to validate coins. When MAS issues new coin designs or updates specifications, businesses need to update their equipment and procedures. A formal subsidiary instrument ensures that these updates can be tied to an official, legally recognised specification.
4. It demonstrates the legislative mechanism for currency changes
The instrument illustrates how Singapore uses the Currency Act framework to manage currency issuance. By relying on section 17(5), the legal system can quickly and precisely notify the public about coin specifications without requiring a full amendment to the Currency Act itself. This is a common legislative technique for technical subjects where the details may change over time.
Related Legislation
- Currency Act (Chapter 69) — the enabling statute, including section 17(5) (as referenced in the instrument)
- Timeline / Legislation history for SL 48/2010 — useful for confirming the correct version and any subsequent amendments or replacements (as indicated by the portal’s “Timeline” and “Versions” features)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Denominations and Characteristics of Coins for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.