Rupiah Notes with Old Signatures to Continue Printing: BI

Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Destry Damayanti stated that rupiah banknotes bearing the signatures of former Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and former BI Governor Perry Warjiyo will continue to be printed and issued. Damayanti explained that printing currency with the signatures of previous officials is a common practice. "If I'm not mistaken, a new series signed by the former Minister of Finance and the former Governor will be issued today. This is normal, whether someone collects it or not," she said during a press conference on Thursday, September 24. She further elaborated that the printing and issuance of rupiah notes are carried out gradually based on the community's currency needs, not all at once at the beginning or end of the year. This is especially important for those in areas with limited access to communication networks. BI, in coordination with the government, typically estimates the demand for rupiah in circulation at the end of each year for the following period. This coordination includes discussions on currency issuance needs and BI's plans for providing banknotes and coins. BI Deputy Governor Ricky P. Gozali noted that the increased public interest in notes with Purbaya's signature is linked to numismatic activities. Numismatics, he explained, is the collection of physical currency (coins and paper money) for various reasons, such as the year of issue, matching the year of birth, design, serial number, or the signature of an official. He emphasized that the issuance of the Rp100,000 denomination notes with Purbaya's signature complied with Law Number 7 of 2011 concerning Currency, as amended by Law Number 4 of 2023 concerning the Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector (P2SK). The signatures on the banknotes represent the Minister of Finance and the BI Governor who served at the time of their production and issuance. Gozali firmly stated that changes in officials at the Ministry of Finance and BI after the currency has been issued do not affect its validity. He reiterated that these notes remain legal tender for transactions throughout Indonesia. Source: VOI English