1 SGD #478

Front

Chingay Procession, a vibrant annual street parade festival celebrated in Singapore. The scene depicts performers in traditional costumes with a Chinese dragon, lion dancers, musicians with drums and cymbals, and participants under a decorative parasol. Chingay began in 1973 as a substitute for street processions during Chinese New Year and has become a major multicultural celebration showcasing Singapore's ethnic diversity. The denomination appears in Chinese characters at left, with floral decorative elements including hibiscus (Singapore's national flower) at lower left.

Back

Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana), a seabird found in coastal Southeast Asia including Singapore's waters, depicted in flight against stylized waves. Below appears the Singapore skyline showing modern high-rise buildings and urban development along the waterfront, representing the nation's rapid economic progress after independence. The state coat of arms (Majulah Singapura - 'Onward Singapore') appears at upper right, flanked by a lion and tiger as supporters. Serial number H/3 334364 appears twice. Denomination text in four languages: English, Chinese (新加坡), Malay (Singapura), and Tamil (சிங்கப்பூர்).

History

This note belongs to the Bird Series issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency Singapore from 1976 to 1984, the first complete series designed and issued by independent Singapore (which gained independence in 1965). Each denomination featured a different bird species native to or found in Singapore, emphasizing the nation's natural heritage. The $1 note featured the Black-naped Tern. This series was replaced by the Ship Series in 1984-1987, and Bird Series notes were progressively withdrawn and demonetized by 1987. The serial prefix H/3 indicates this is from the later printing runs of the series. Thomas De La Rue, the renowned British security printer, produced these notes. The Chingay Procession theme on the front celebrates Singapore's multicultural identity and festive traditions.