Statute Details
- Title: Denominations and Characteristics of Coins
- Act Code: CA1967-S713-2004
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Currency Act (Chapter 69)
- Key Enabling Provision: Section 17(5) of the Currency Act
- Legislative Instrument Number: No. S 713
- Publication/Commencement (as shown in extract): 2 December 2004
- Commencement Date (as shown in extract): Coins to be issued on 3 December 2004
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Parts: Not specified in the extract (instrument appears to be a schedule-based notification)
- Core Structure: Enacting formula + “THE SCHEDULE” (denominations and characteristics)
What Is This Legislation About?
The “Denominations and Characteristics of Coins” instrument is a Singapore subsidiary legislative notification issued by reference to the Currency Act. In plain terms, it tells the public—and legal and commercial stakeholders—what coin denominations will be issued and what physical characteristics those coins will have. These characteristics typically relate to the coin’s design and physical specifications (such as size, composition, and other identifying features), so that the coins can be reliably recognised, authenticated, and used as legal tender within the monetary system.
The extract indicates that the notification is made “for general information” pursuant to section 17(5) of the Currency Act. That phrasing is important: the instrument is not merely an internal administrative step. It is a formal legal publication that sets out the official details of the coin series to be issued on a specified date. As a result, the instrument functions as the authoritative public record of what coins are being introduced or reintroduced, and what they look and feel like in official terms.
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the full schedule content, the legal effect is still clear from the enacting formula: the schedule contains the denomination-by-denomination specifications for coins to be issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Practitioners should treat the schedule as the operative part of the instrument, because it is where the legally relevant “denomination and characteristics” are set out.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Enabling authority and purpose (Currency Act section 17(5)). The instrument is expressly made pursuant to section 17(5) of the Currency Act. This means the legal basis for MAS to issue coins is found in the Currency Act, while the subsidiary instrument provides the specific, public-facing details for a particular issuance date. For lawyers, this is a classic structure: primary legislation confers powers; subsidiary legislation (or notifications) specifies the particulars.
2. General information notice. The instrument states that it is “hereby notified for general information.” This indicates that the publication is intended to inform the public and relevant parties of the official coin specifications. In practice, this matters for disputes involving coin recognition, vending machine acceptance, cash handling, and any compliance regimes that depend on knowing what the official coin looks like and what denomination it represents.
3. The schedule as the operative content. The extract shows that the instrument consists of an enacting formula and “THE SCHEDULE.” The schedule is where the denomination and characteristics are “as shown.” Even though the schedule text is not included in the extract, the legal drafting pattern strongly suggests that each coin denomination is listed with its corresponding physical characteristics. This is the part that will be relied upon in any technical or evidential context—e.g., whether a particular coin is genuine, whether it matches the official specifications, or whether a coin is part of the current series.
4. Specific issuance date and MAS responsibility. The instrument specifies that the denomination and characteristics relate to coins “to be issued on 3rd December 2004 by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.” This date-specific language is legally significant. It implies that the schedule is tied to a particular issuance event. If coin specifications change over time (for example, through later amendments or new coin series), the relevant instrument version and date become critical. Practitioners should therefore verify the “timeline” and “current version” status when advising on matters involving coin authenticity or historical issuance.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Based on the extract, the instrument is structured in a straightforward way:
(a) Enacting formula: It identifies the legal basis (section 17(5) of the Currency Act) and states the purpose (general information).
(b) The Schedule: This is the substantive component. It sets out the denominations and characteristics of the coins to be issued on the specified date.
(c) Publication and versioning information: The portal indicates a timeline and a “current version as at 27 March 2026.” This suggests that the instrument may have been amended, consolidated, or updated in the database, even if the original issuance date remains 3 December 2004. Practitioners should use the portal’s version controls to ensure they are reading the correct schedule content for the relevant period.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This instrument applies broadly in the sense that it concerns coins issued by MAS and therefore affects anyone who deals with cash in Singapore—members of the public, businesses, financial institutions, cash-in-transit providers, retailers, and operators of automated payment or coin-handling systems. While the extract does not specify “persons” or “obligations” in the way some regulatory statutes do, the practical reach is wide because the instrument defines the official coin specifications that others must recognise and handle correctly.
In legal terms, the instrument is most likely to be relevant to disputes and compliance questions where the official characteristics of coins are material. Examples include: whether a coin is of the correct denomination; whether a coin matches the official physical characteristics; and whether a coin-handling system (such as a vending machine or cash counting device) is calibrated to accept the correct coin series. Because the instrument is tied to a specific issuance date, its relevance may also be time-dependent in historical disputes.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
First, coin denominations and characteristics are foundational to the functioning of a currency system. Without clear, authoritative specifications, there would be increased risk of fraud, misidentification, and operational failures in cash handling. By publishing the schedule under the Currency Act’s enabling authority, the instrument provides a legally reliable reference point for the official coin series.
Second, the instrument supports enforcement and dispute resolution. In any matter involving counterfeit coins, mis-sorted cash, or disagreements about whether a coin is genuine or of a particular denomination, the schedule’s specifications can become critical evidence. Even if the instrument does not itself create offences in the extract, it supplies the technical baseline against which conduct and claims can be assessed.
Third, the time-stamped nature of the notification (coins to be issued on 3 December 2004) underscores the importance of version control. Practitioners should not assume that “current version” automatically means the same specifications as at the time of the original issuance. Where coin designs or characteristics evolve, the correct instrument version and date can determine what the parties knew, what systems were calibrated to accept, and what the official specifications were at the relevant time.
Related Legislation
- Currency Act (Chapter 69) — including section 17(5), which provides the enabling authority for notifications on coin denominations and characteristics.
- Timeline / Legislation portal references — the instrument indicates a “Timeline” and “FAQ B3” on the portal, which are useful for confirming the correct version and date.
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.