Before European colonization, various regions of the Indonesian archipelago had their own systems of trade and currency, including barter, commodity money (such as shells, beads, and gold), and local coinage. During Dutch colonization, the Dutch East Indies used the Dutch Gulden as the official currency, although local currencies also circulated alongside Dutch coins.
During World War II, when Japan occupied Indonesia, the Japanese government issued its currency, known as the "Japanese-issued Dutch East Indies Gulden”. After gaining independence from the Dutch in 1949, Indonesia began issuing its currency.
The official currency of Indonesia is the Rupiah, abbreviated as IDR and issued by Bank Indonesia, the country's central bank. Indonesian Rupiah coins come in various denominations, including 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 Rupiah. However, due to inflation, coins with lower values are less common in circulation.
Indonesia's coin denominations range from the smallest, the 50 and 100 Rupiah, typically crafted from aluminum and often featuring a central hole and traditional Indonesian designs. The 200 and 500 Rupiah coins, typically composed of copper-nickel alloy, are larger and heavier. The 1000 Rupiah denomination has appeared in coin form, usually composed of copper-nickel alloy or a blend of metals.
