Koetaradja, Atjeh residency, Republik Indonesia, 1947-1949
- January 2009
- By Rob
Huisman
Introduction
The
most nothern part of Sumatra is called Aceh (Atjeh) province. It is one
of the Indonesian provincies that carries a special autonomous status,
officially recognized by law since 2001. Banda Aceh is the capital and
was previously called Koetaradja (Kutaradja).
From approximately
1300 to 1800, Aceh was an independent Islamic Sultanate. Although the
Dutch were already present in the area for several years, it took until
1873 before they organized a first military expedition to conquer Aceh.
After an initial failure, they tried again in 1874 and finally
succeeded. The Dutch occupied Aceh until the second world war in 1942,
but during the occupation, the Aceh people never gave up their struggle
and kept fighting a guerilla war against their enemy. The so-called
Aceh war was the longest battle that was ever fought by the Dutch and
costed many lives on both sides.
After the Japanese surrender in
1945, the Dutch were never able to re-gain their rule in Aceh due to
fierce local resistance. When the Netherlands formally tranferred
sovereignty in 1949, Aceh became part of the new Indonesian Republic.
During the revolutionary period from 1945 - 1949, several issues
of paper money were produced in order to support the local monetary
system. Below you will find and overview of the paper money that
was issued by the local authorities in Koetaradja in 1947 -
1949.
Seri ORIDA (Oeang Republik Indonesia Daerah Atjeh), 1947-1948
50
(Lima Puluh)
Sen, Koetaradja, September 15, 1947 (KUKI H-622)
Serial identification: - 2 characters (capitals) and 5 numbers
Signatures: - Peng. Oeang Negara Keresidenan Atjeh - A. Muid
- Residen Atjeh - M. Daud Sjah
- Perw. Bank Negara Koetaradja -
Unknown
1
(Satu)
Rupiah, Koetaradja, September 15, 1947 (KUKI H-623)
Serial identification: - 2 characters (capitals) and 5 numbers
Signatures: - Peng. Oeang Negara Keresidenan Atjeh - A. Muid
- Residen Atjeh - M. Daud
Sjah
- Perw. Bank
Negara Koetaradja - Unknown
2,50 (Dua) Rupiah (Lima Puluh Sen), Koetaradja, September 15, 1947 (KUKI H-624)
Serial identification: - 2 characters (capitals) and 5 numbers
- 3 characters (1st and 2nd capitals, 3rd lower-case and always an 'a') and 5 numbers
Signatures: - Peng. Oeang Negara Keresidenan Atjeh - A. Muid
- Residen Atjeh - M. Daud
Sjah
- Perw. Bank
Negara Koetaradja - Unknown
5 (Lima) Rupiah, Koetaradja, January 15, 1948 (KUKI H-627)
Serial identification: - 2 characters (capitals) and 5 numbers
Signatures: - Peng. Oeang Negara Keresidenan Atjeh - A. Muid
- Residen Atjeh - M. Daud
Sjah
- Perw. Bank
Negara Koetaradja - Unknown
The reverse of the note in the picture is printed upside-down.
10 (Sepuluh) Rupiah, Koetaradja, January 15, 1948 (KUKI H-628)
Serial identification: 2 characters (capitals, only 'SI' & 'ZQ' are known) and 5 numbers
Signatures: - Residen Atjeh - M. Daud Sjah
This note only occurs with two large holes in the paper, one on the center left side and one on the center right side.
One speculates a lot about the possible origin of these holes. I have heard
stories about mice eating their way through a bundle of these notes.
The following observations can be made:
-
the holes in each of the five notes that are known to me have similar shapes.
The right hole has a point downwards while the point in the
left hole always points upwards.
- the border of the holes show the characteristics of torn paper, not cutted or perforated.
-
two notes in my possesion both show light vertical folds from top to
bottom of the note, right through the centerof the holes (see the red
lines in the picture below).
After careful study, my theory is as follows:
In order to make these notes invalid, they were folded where I marked the notes with a red line.
Next, someone took the note on one side and tore out a piece of paper, between finger and thumb.
Then, the note was turned 180 degrees and again a piece was torn out in the same way.
The above steps result in the note having two holes: the right hole having a point pointing downwards while the point in the
left hole always points upwards.
Seri URIPSU (Uang Republik Indonesia Propinsi Sumatera Utara), 1949
250
(Dua Lima Ratus Puluh)
Rupiah, Kutaradja, March 1, 1949 (KUKI H-629)
Serial identification: - 5 numbers and 2 characters (1st is a capital, 2nd is lower-case)
- 5 numbers and 2 characters (1st is lower-case, 2nd
is a capital)
- 5 numbers and 3 characters (1st is lower-case, 2nd and 3rd are capitals)
- 5 numbers and 3 characters (1st is a capital, 2nd
is lower-case, 3rd is a capital)
- 5 numbers and 3 characters (1st is a capital, 2nd
and 3rd are lower-case)
- 5 numbers
and 3 characters (1st and 2nd are capitals, 3rd is lower-case)
- 6 numbers and 3 characters (1st and 2nd are capitals, 3rd is lower-case)
- 6 numbers and 3 characters (1st is a capital, 2nd and 3rd are lower-case)
- 6 numbers and 3 characters (1st is lower-case, 2nd and 3rd are capitals) reported but not verified
A common forgerie exist of this note with a serial identification of 6 numbers and 3 characters 'ccF'
Signatures: - Gubernur Sumatera Utara - Mr. S.M. Amin
250
(Dua Lima Ratus Puluh)
Rupiah, Kutaradja, March 1, 1949 (KUKI H-630)
Serial identification: - 5 numbers and 3 characters (1st and 2nd are capitals, 3rd is lower-case)
- 5 numbers and 3 characters (1st is lower case, 2nd
and 3rd are capitals)
Signatures: - Gubernur Sumatera Utara - Mr. S.M. Amin
++++
The
author
would like to receive feedback; please e-mail via info@uang-kertas.com
================
Source:
Banknotes and Coins from Indonesia, 1945-1990, Yayasan Serangan Umum 1 Maret 1949 & Perum Peruri Jakarta
Katalog Uang Kertas Indonesia 1782-1996, Sugiana Handjaja, 1996 issue (KUKI)