Statute Details
- Title: Denominations and Characteristics of the Coins to Be Issued
- Full Title: No separate full title provided in the extract (Schedule instrument under the Currency Act).
- Act Code: CA1967-S507-1999
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Currency Act (Chapter 69)
- Authorising Provision: Section 17(5) of the Currency Act
- Instrument Number: No. S 507
- Gazette/Date (as shown): 19 Nov 1999
- Commencement (as stated): Coins to be issued on 5 January 2000
- Status in the extract: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Parts: N/A (Schedule-based instrument)
- Key Provisions: Enacting formula and THE SCHEDULE (denominations and characteristics)
- Related Legislation: Currency Act; “Timeline” (legislation versioning)
What Is This Legislation About?
This subsidiary legislation is a notification made under the Currency Act (Chapter 69) to inform the public—“for general information”—about the denominations and physical characteristics of certain coins to be issued in Singapore. In practical terms, it is the legal instrument that “sets the specifications” for a particular coin issue, so that the public and market participants know what coins will exist and how they are designed.
The extract indicates that the notification is made pursuant to section 17(5) of the Currency Act. That authorising provision empowers the relevant monetary authority (here, the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore) to determine coin denominations and characteristics, and to have those details notified. The instrument therefore functions as the formal public-facing legal record of those determinations.
Although the extract does not reproduce the detailed Schedule text (e.g., the list of denominations and their design features), the structure and enacting formula make clear that the Schedule is the operative part. The Schedule is where the legal specifications are recorded. For lawyers, the key point is that this is not a broad regulatory regime; it is a specification and publication instrument tied to a specific coin issue date—5 January 2000.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Enacting formula and notification purpose. The instrument begins with an enacting formula and then states, in substance, that it is “hereby notified for general information” that the denominations and characteristics of the coins to be issued on 5 January 2000 are “as shown in the Schedule.” This language is important: it signals that the legal effect is to publish the specifications determined under the Currency Act, rather than to create a new regulatory framework.
2. Authority and institutional responsibility. The notification identifies the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore as the body whose determinations are being notified. This matters for governance and legal accountability. If a dispute arises about whether a particular coin is part of the authorised issue, the legal reference point is the Schedule and the authority under the Currency Act.
3. The Schedule as the operative specification. The extract repeatedly highlights THE SCHEDULE as the central component. In coin-related instruments, the Schedule typically lists each denomination and describes characteristics such as size, composition, shape, inscriptions, and other distinguishing features. For practitioners, the Schedule is the provision that must be consulted directly when advising on: (a) whether a coin is genuine or part of the legal tender coin set; (b) how coins should be identified; and (c) whether a coin issue has been properly authorised and published.
4. Temporal linkage to the coin issue date. The notification is tied to a specific issuance date: 5 January 2000. This temporal element is legally relevant. If a coin is minted or circulated before or after that date, questions may arise about whether it falls within the notified issue. In enforcement contexts (e.g., fraud, counterfeiting, or disputes about acceptance), the date linkage can be critical to establishing what specifications were in force for that particular coin issue.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Based on the extract, the instrument is structured as a short subsidiary legislation notification with a primary operative component being THE SCHEDULE. The overall structure can be summarised as follows:
(a) Enacting formula / opening statement — identifies the legal basis (section 17(5) of the Currency Act) and states the purpose (general information).
(b) Notification statement — specifies the coin issue date (5 January 2000) and identifies the issuing authority (Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore).
(c) THE SCHEDULE — contains the detailed list of coin denominations and their characteristics. This is the key section for substantive content.
(d) Versioning and timeline metadata — the extract shows that the instrument has a timeline and “current version as at 27 Mar 2026.” While the extract does not show amendments, the platform’s versioning indicates that the instrument may have been consolidated or updated for accessibility. Practitioners should always verify the relevant version when advising, particularly if coin specifications have changed over time.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This subsidiary legislation applies primarily to parties whose activities depend on the identification and handling of Singapore coins—most directly, the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore and the operational entities involved in minting, distribution, and public information. However, the notification is “for general information,” meaning it is also relevant to the public and to private actors who need to know what coins are in circulation or are authorised for issue.
In practice, the instrument may be relevant to: financial institutions (cash handling and coin processing), retailers and merchants (acceptance and change-making), cash-in-transit and vending operators, and litigants in disputes involving coin authenticity or denomination recognition. While the extract does not set out enforcement provisions, coin specifications are often indirectly important in legal proceedings involving counterfeiting, fraud, or misrepresentation.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the instrument is brief in the extract, it is legally significant because it provides the formal, publicly accessible record of the denominations and physical characteristics of a coin issue. In currency law, clarity and traceability are essential. Without a published specification, it would be harder to determine whether a coin matches the authorised design and whether it should be treated as part of the official coin set.
From an enforcement and dispute-resolution perspective, the Schedule can serve as a technical reference. For example, if a party claims that a coin is genuine or that it corresponds to a particular denomination, the Schedule’s characteristics provide the benchmark for comparison. Similarly, in counterfeiting or fraud cases, prosecutors and investigators may rely on the official specifications to identify deviations that indicate counterfeit or unauthorised coins.
For practitioners advising clients in cash-handling industries, the instrument supports compliance and operational certainty. Even where the client’s obligations arise under other parts of the Currency Act or related regulations, coin specifications help ensure that systems for coin recognition, sorting, and acceptance are aligned with the official coin designs. The temporal element (issue date) further helps clients manage transitions between coin series and update equipment and procedures accordingly.
Related Legislation
- Currency Act (Chapter 69) — in particular, section 17(5) (authorising the notification of coin denominations and characteristics).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Denominations and Characteristics of the Coins to Be Issued for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.