Orchid $10 (1967)
Many Races, One Nation
From Day One, our government understood the importance of our four races—Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasians—living in solidarity. Following increased tension that led to a series of racial riots and civil disorder, the four clasped hands on the banknote symbolised the importance of racial harmony as we navigated the complexities of building a nation from diverse communities. Placed over an outline map of Singapore island, the hands were a reminder that our differences must not be a barrier, but a source of strength. They were a symbol of our shared journey and our commitment to mutual respect towards one another.
Circulation status: Discontinued
Issuing authority: BCCS
First issued: 12 June 1967
Pieces issued: 195 million
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Co Ltd
Material: Paper
‘Singapore’ in caps
‘Singapore’ in four languages
National Coat of Arms
Outline map of Singapore
Denomination print: ‘$10’ & ‘TEN DOLLARS’
Size: 133mm x 79mm
Colour: Red
Guarantee: Legal tender affirmation
First prefix: A1
Last prefix: B95
Replacement prefix: Z1
Signed by: Minister for Finance
• A1 to A65: Lim Kim San (no seal)
• A66 to A80: Goh Keng Swee (with seal)
• A81 to B15: Hon Sui Sen (no seal)
• B16 to B95: Hon Sui Sen (with seal)
• Z1: Hon Sui Sen (no seal/with seal)
Watermark of lion’s head
Fluorescent ink
One solid, vertical security thread
Intaglio print
Geometric patterns
The First to Map a Nation, a Note in Every Hand
The Orchid $10 note was special in three ways. First, it was the most widely used denomination, even though it had fewer pieces issued than the $1. This was because there was also a $1 coin in use at that time, which reduced reliance on the $1 note. Second, it was the first time an outline map of Singapore was featured on our currency notes. Although this was the only time the map appeared in the Orchid notes, it would appear in many of our banknotes from the Bird series onwards. Third, it was the only one among all of Singapore’s banknotes to spot a 3-digit prefix numeral: the A100. All other prefix numerals were one, or at most two, digits (e.g A7 or B99).
• Genus: Dendrobium
• Grex: Marjorie Ho
• Cultivar: Tony Pek
• Registrant: A.C. Ho
• Originator: Hung Ung Young (1956)
Dendrobium is one of the largest orchid groups, with over 1,800 types that come in many different shapes and sizes. Because these orchids are resilient and long-lasting, they were ideal for export and played a big role in helping Singapore build its flower trade in the 1960s. As Singapore’s orchid industry grew, many hybrid Dendrobiums were created and given special names. Some of these names included a cultivar, such as Tony Pek, Teo Choo Hong, or Chay. A cultivar is like a nickname that helps to tell apart a special version of the orchid, usually because it has a unique colour or shape compared to others in the same group. In this case, Tony Pek is a specific version of the Dendrobium Marjorie Ho.
Fragile Bonds in A Young Nation Divided by Race
In the 1960s, Singapore was a young and fragile country facing serious racial tensions. These problems had built up over time because of our colonial past, unequal wealth distribution, and political rivalry. People of different races mostly lived in their own areas and did not mix much outside of work or business. This made it easier for misunderstandings and mistrust to grow. There was also competition for jobs and business opportunities, which sometimes caused resentment between groups trying to find their place in a fast-changing Singapore. Even politics made things worse—many political parties and groups were based on race, which added to the tension between communities.
In July 1964, a racial riot broke out after someone threw a glass bottle into a crowd of about 20,000 Malays who were taking part in a procession to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. This led to angry exchanges between the marching Malays and the Chinese bystanders, which escalated into punches and more bottles being hurled. As word of the riot spread, others joined in, resulting in fights breaking out across the island. The riots lasted 17 days, 23 people lost their lives, and 454 were injured.
The 1960s saw heated debates over language policies. Malay was declared the national language to acknowledge the indigenous Malay community and maintain harmony with Malaysia, but English would be the working language to unite Singaporeans of different races. Some in the Chinese and Tamil communities viewed this as sidelining their ethnic languages, while some in the Malay community felt their language had been honoured in name but not in practice. This added to the tensions already swirling around race and cultural identity.
Market Value in 2024
Market Price: $480
Condition
• Ungraded
• Lightly used
• No tears, pinholes, stains or 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 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 by musyanstubbing-0, eBay listing. Source: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/126121401322.
4. Image by Neo Tuan Hong. Source: https://orchidroots.com/display/summary/orchidaceae/100059501.
5. Image generated by ChatGPT using DALL·E (OpenAI), 2025.
6. Image from Nexus, Ministry of Defence. Source: https://www.sg101.gov.sg/social-national-identity/examples/racialriots.
7. Image from National Library Board. Source: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-13/issue-4/jan-mar-2018/textbooks-we-remember.