Catalog
See full images - free registration
Continue with Google - no registration!
or register with email
Why register? Just to keep bots out of our catalog. Your email stays private - we will never share it or send you anything uninvited. We guarantee you that!
5 Cents magnetic
| Issuer | Monetary Authority of Singapore |
|---|---|
| Year | 1980-1984 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | 16.26 mm |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse depicts the Oriental Darter, also known as the Snake Bird (Anhinga melanogaster), rendered in fine detail in the centre of the field. The bird is shown in a characteristic pose, with its long sinuous neck and outstretched wings conveying naturalistic elegance. The design reflects Singapore's first decimal coin series, which featured native fauna and flora as emblems of national identity. Fine engraving details highlight the bird's plumage and distinctive form against a plain field. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Singapore switched its 5-cent piece to copper-nickel clad steel in 1980 as part of a broader effort to reduce production costs — the underlying steel core made these noticeably magnetic, which caused intermittent problems with vending machine acceptors calibrated for the earlier cupro-nickel pieces. The transition was quiet and administratively unglamorous, driven entirely by economics rather than any redesign mandate.
The KM#2a designation separates this magnetic variety from its non-magnetic predecessor, a distinction that matters more to collectors than it ever did to the Singaporean public.