Orchid $1 (1967)
A New Life
The flats at Tanglin Halt were among the first housing estates in Singapore. For many, the flats were more than just buildings; they were the start of a new life. As Singaporeans moved into these modest homes, we were filled with hope. The flats stood as a promise from our leaders that every family would have a place to call our own. In the corridors of these flats, echoes of laughter and chatter abound, neighbours became lifelong friends, and many of us learned a new meaning of community.
Circulation status: Discontinued
Issuing authority: BCCS
First issued: 12 June 1967
Pieces issued: 420 million
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ltd
Material: Paper
‘Singapore’ in caps
‘Singapore’ in four languages
National Coat of Arms
Denomination print: ‘$1’ & ‘ONE DOLLAR’
Size: 121mm x 64mm
Colour: Blue
Guarantee: Legal tender affirmation
First prefix: A1
Last prefix: E24
Signed by: Minister for Finance
• A1 to B11: Lim Kim San (no seal)
Watermark of lion’s head
Fluorescent ink
One solid, vertical security thread
Intaglio print
Geometric patterns
A Small note, But a Big First Step
The Orchid $1 note, released in 1967, was the lowest-value note in Singapore’s first set of banknotes after independence. Because of that, it is sometimes seen as Singapore’s very first banknote. Today, it is also one of the notes that has gone up the most in value. This isn’t surprising, since low denominations tend to appreciate more, and this note was printed almost 60 years ago. It is also the smallest note ever made in Singapore, measuring 121mm by 64mm.
(Pollen Parent)5
• Genus: Papilionanda
• Grex: Janet Kanealii
• Registrant: Hiraoke
• Originator: H.B.C. Ho (1958)
The Papilionanda ‘Janet Kanealii’ is a resilient and beautiful orchid, known for its bright colours and eye-catching flowers. It was first called Vanda ‘Janet Kanealii’, but in 2019, scientists found that it was not fully part of the Vanda group. Because of this, it was moved to a new group called Papilionanda. This change also applies to Singapore’s national flower, which should now be called Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim. However, since the name Vanda Miss Joaquim is already a big part of our history and identity, the government decided to retain the old name.
From Slums to Storeys
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) was set up in February 1960 to address Singapore’s serious housing problem. At that time, more than 400,000 people were living in slums or squatter areas without proper toilets, clean water, or electricity. In October 1960, HDB completed its first flats in Tanglin Halt, Queenstown.
The Orchid $1 note shows the old Blocks 74 to 80 Commonwealth Drive in the Tanglin Halt area. These flats were completed in 1962 and were affectionately known as the ‘10-storey flats’ (or chup lau chu 十楼五 in Hokkien, which means ’10-floor houses’). The name Tanglin Halt came from a nearby train station where trains used to halt, or stop.
In 1961, a big fire broke out in Bukit Ho Swee and destroyed a large kampong, leaving about 16,000 people homeless. After that, HDB stepped up its efforts to build flats and move people out of kampongs. In just three years, more than 20,000 new flats were built. Because the cause of the fire was never clearly confirmed, some people spread a baseless rumour that the government had set the fire on purpose to clear the area. However, there is no evidence to support this claim, as historians and investigators agree that it was a tragic accident.
Moving into HDB flats was a big change for many families, especially those who came from kampongs. For our parents and grandparents, it was often the first time they had access to running water, electricity, and proper toilets in their own homes. Life became more comfortable, cleaner, and safer. These new flats made a huge difference, helping tens of thousands of families enjoy a much better standard of living.
Market Value in 2024
Market Price: $1o0
Condition
• Ungraded
• Lightly used
• No tears, pinholes or stains
• Minor foxing
• Visible creases & folds
Context
• The information here refers specifically to the banknote featured on the top of this page.
• The same note may fetch a higher price if it is graded, in superior condition, has special serial numbers or other special prefixes, or is a specimen or error note.
• The same note may fetch a lower price if it lacks the first prefix A1 or is in poorer condition.
Attributions
1. Prefix and banknote details from Vincent Tan and Tan Wei Jie, Singapore Banknotes: Complete Prefix Reference, Mr Banknotes, 2017.
2. Orchid registration details from International Orchid Register.
3. Image generated by ChatGPT using DALL·E (OpenAI), 2025.
4. Image by Patricia Harding. Source: www.orchids.org/grexes/papilionanda-nellie-morley.
5. Image by Tom Kuligowski. Source: https://www.orchids.org/grexes/vanda-sanderiana.
6. Image from Remember Singapore. Source: https://remembersingapore.org/2014/07/13/the-end-of-tanglin-halt.
7. Image from National Heritage Board. Source: www.roots.gov.sg/stories-landing/stories/bukit-ho-swee-fire/story.
8. Image from Housing and Development Board. Source: https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/history/hdb-towns-your-home/hougang.