who is on the singapore dollar

[ElliottFitz]

The individual featured prominently on the Singapore dollar banknotes is Yusof bin Ishak. He was the inaugural President of Singapore, serving from 1965 until his death in 1970. His portrait is a central element of the current series of currency notes, which is officially known as the Portrait Series.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore introduced the Portrait Series in 1999, making it the fourth and current set of notes issued for circulation. This series marked a significant design shift from its predecessors—the Orchid, Bird, and Ship series—which did not feature any individual's portrait. The consistent use of Yusof bin Ishak's image across all denominations of the Portrait Series serves to honor his foundational role in the nation's history. While the obverse side of each note displays his portrait, the reverse sides feature various themes that represent Singapore's national identity, such as Education, Garden City, and Arts.