Currency Today : Indonesia 1

In 2016, Indonesia replaced all of its banknotes (once more).
7 banknotes between 1000 and 100,000 rupiah.
All notes have the same hight, but slightly longer as the value goes up.

full set of Indonesian notes (series 2016)

On the side of each note, the ink is palpable. The lowest value (1000) has 7 sets of parallel stripes, and then one pair less as the value goes up, ending with one set of two parallel stripes on the 100,000 note. This makes the notes recognizable for the visually impaired.

palpable ink on the side of the notes

On the first note (1000 rupiah) we see Tjut Meutia, also known as Cut Nya(k) Meutia. She was a freedom fighter from Aceh (the city that was hit by the giant tsunami on Christmas 2004).

Cut / Tjut Nja(k) Meuthia

1000 rupiah Indonesia - 2016

At the reverse side of the note, we see a man with an instrument, the 'Tari'.
The tifa is a musical instrument typical of Eastern Indonesia especially Maluku and Papua. There are different types of tifa musical instruments like Tifa Jekir, Tifa Dasar, Tifa Potong, Tifa Jekir Potong and Tifa Bas.

Tifa instrument

The top of the drum is covered with deer skin. In the past, tifa was also used as a means of communication. The marinjo, the village announcer used the tifa to announce a village meeting. There were several tifa rhythms for different messages.

The word 'Tari' means 'dance.
Next to the musician on the note, we read 'tari tifa' or 'tifa dance'.

more to follow ...