
Excerpt from the Straight Times, 23 July 2005
"The Moneytree Authority of Singapore (MAS) launched
a brand new Singapore Dollar bill, which has been
named the " Peanut Series " . Each peanut series bill is
legal tender equivalent to 600,000 Singapore Dollars,
henceforth known as 1 Peanut.
CEOs across the Republic have been quick to applaud the launch of
the 1 Peanut bill.
In an interview with a Mr. Durai, a CEO of a philanthropic
organisation,who wished to remain anonymous, he said,
" Now I don't have to carry suitcases of money home.
Prior to the issuing of the Peanut, I had to carry
a whole suitcase of small change home every month.
This is because the people who paid me tend to do so in
small amounts, like $5 dollars each time, and it can
be very irritating. Now I am just paid 1 Peanut with a
single bill, slip it quickly into my wallet and off I go.
It ' s very convenient! "
The reaction by the general public was however cool.
Most said that it is unlikely that they will ever use
a 1 Peanut bill. With a average national income of
S$3000 (0.005 Peanut), the average Singaporean will
need about 2 lifetimes to save a Peanut. Said a Mr. Tan,
who is a plumber,
" The other day, I installed a golden tap in some CEO 's
bathroom and he paid me using 1 Peanut for the
$1000 golden tap. I tell him where got enough change ah? "
Watch out for the newest security features on the
1 Peanut note, including a new watermark which
replaces the traditional lion head.
The new watermark can only be seen under
an intense bright light and close scrutiny
because of its extreme lack of transparency.
According to MAS spokesman, the added security
features are extremely important given that 1 Peanut
can probably buy three 4-room HDB flats, or 10
Nissan Sunnies, the average Singaporean will be very
tempted to lay their hands on a Peanut.