MAS unveils new S$10 coin minted in aluminium bronze to mark Lee Kuan Yew's 100th birth anniversary

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) unveiled a commemorative S$10 coin marking Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's 100th birthday on Monday, May 15. The gold-coloured LKY100 coins, minted in aluminium bronze, will be offered at face value by application. The coins will have a diameter of 30mm, making them about 22 per cent bigger than the present Third Series S$1 coin in circulation.

The face of the coin contains Mr Lee's name, his birth and death years, the phrase "100th Birth Anniversary," and a dual latent image that shows the year 1923 when seen from one angle and the year 2023 when viewed from another. The coin will be made available from September 2023.

"The coin pays tribute to his strategic vision, boldness and indomitable spirit that transformed Singapore from a regional trading port to a global manufacturing, business and financial hub, creating opportunities for all Singaporeans," said MAS.

Aluminium bronze is a form of bronze in which aluminium is the primary alloying metal added to copper, compared to normal bronze (copper and tin) or brass (copper and zinc). Aluminium bronzes of various compositions have found industrial usage, with the majority ranging from 5 per cent to 11 per cent aluminium by weight, with the remaining mass being copper.

The coin was designed by Weng Ziyan, a local artist who has previously created banknotes celebrating Singapore's 50th year of independence, Singapore's bicentennial, and the 50th anniversary of the Brunei-Singapore Currency Interchangeability Agreement. Only Singapore citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply, and each applicant may request up to five coins.

"The design features a portrait of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, accompanied in the foreground by the Marina Barrage, representing Mr Lee's vision to build a freshwater reservoir in the city, strengthening Singapore's water resilience. The backdrop is the skyline of the Raffles Place financial district, and two heritage buildings which have witnessed significant milestones in Singapore's history – Fullerton Hotel (formerly the Fullerton Building/General Post Office) and National Gallery Singapore (formerly the Supreme Court and City Hall)," added the Central Bank.