KUCHING: Long before Tan Jack Yong understood the history a banknote could carry, a bright yellow RM50 note from his grandparents had already given him a memory that would stay with him for more than two decades.
He was only four when Malaysia hosted the XVI Commonwealth Games in 1998 and his grandparents managed to obtain one of the commemorative banknotes issued for the occasion.
Better known as Jordan, he remembered being immediately drawn to its vibrant colours and the images featured across it.
At that age, he did not yet understand its historical significance or know that it was Malaysia’s first polymer banknote.
He simply knew that it looked different from the other money he had seen.
“I was fascinated by its vibrant colours and the images featured on the note. That was where my collecting journey began,” he said.
The note featured several landmarks reflecting Malaysia’s development, while its reverse carried an image of the Bukit Jalil main stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies were held.
Yet its lasting value for Jordan came not only from what was printed on it, but also from the memory attached to how it entered his life.
A simple gift from his grandparents became his first introduction to collecting and planted an interest that would eventually grow alongside him.
Now 31, the Kuala Lumpur-based art director has been collecting seriously since 2005, when he was in Standard Five.
What started with one commemorative banknote gradually expanded into a collection covering different periods and territories connected to Malaysian history.
His main interest lies in pre-independence banknotes from the Straits Settlements, Malaya, British North Borneo and Sarawak.
Over the years, his collection also grew to include coins, stamps, postcards, Coca-Cola cans and other Malaysian memorabilia with historical or cultural significance.
Beyond Malaysia, Jordan collects banknotes from around the world, with each piece arriving through a different encounter.
Some were found during his travels, while friends working at money changers helped him locate others.
Several pieces also came through numismatic partners operating online and offline.
His previous experience working at one of Malaysia’s largest auction houses allowed him to build connections within the collecting community and deepen his knowledge of the pieces that passed through it.
Those relationships became part of the journey as he met people who shared his fascination with objects that others might easily overlook.
Not every acquisition, however, came through an auction house, dealer or carefully planned search.
One of his most memorable collecting experiences happened at Piccadilly Circus in London after he noticed a street performer who had received foreign banknotes from tourists.
Knowing that the area attracted visitors from around the world, Jordan approached the performer and asked whether he would be willing to exchange some of them.
“I was glad he agreed, and I managed to add a few interesting foreign banknotes to my collection. It was definitely an unusual and memorable collecting experience,” he shared.
The exchange stayed with him because the notes came with a story that could not have been found through an ordinary purchase.
It also showed him that collecting was not only about the items eventually stored inside an album, but also the people and unexpected moments encountered along the way.
After 21 years of serious collecting, Jordan has acquired several rare banknotes, although some were eventually passed on to other collectors.
He said rarity and price did not always determine which pieces mattered most to him.
Sometimes, their meaning came from a signature, personal memory or detail that spoke directly to him.
The item holding the greatest personal value in his collection is a RM1 banknote from the 1981 to 1983 issue bearing a courtesy autograph by then Bank Negara Malaysia Governor, Abdul Aziz Taha.
The signature is admired within the numismatic community and considered by collectors to be among the most beautiful associated with Malaysian banknotes.
“His unique and elegant cursive signature makes this piece especially meaningful to me as a collector,” Jordan said.
The RM1 note is kept inside a graded protective holder, with the courtesy autograph still clearly visible across its front.
It may occupy only a small space in his collection, but the personal appreciation attached to it has made it difficult to replace.
While that note already holds a special place, another remains on his wish list.
Jordan is still searching for the extremely rare green Malaya $1 banknote dated 1940 and featuring King George VI.
He said it is sometimes considered a phantom issue because it was printed in London for use in Malaya but never officially entered circulation.
Shipments of the banknotes were reportedly lost at sea during the Second World War, while the remaining stocks were later destroyed.
Only a small number are believed to have survived, making the note difficult to obtain even among established collectors.
“Its rarity and extraordinary wartime history make it one of my ultimate dream pieces to add to my collection,” said Jordan.
The long search does not discourage him because waiting has become a familiar part of collecting.
Some historical banknotes are so scarce that years may pass before a suitable example appears.
Even then, Jordan must consider whether the piece is genuine, whether its condition is acceptable and whether its price is reasonable.
“The biggest challenge is finding the right piece in the right condition at the right price. Collecting requires patience, knowledge and careful research,” he added.
That patience has taught him to appreciate the search rather than treat it merely as the distance between himself and the next item he wants.
“Sometimes the search itself is just as meaningful as finally owning the piece,” Jordan stressed.
Over the years, the search has encouraged Jordan to learn about the periods in which different banknotes were issued, the people pictured on them and the events they were created to commemorate.
It has also connected him with collectors, dealers, travellers and people who may have encountered an unusual note without realising the history in their hands.
The collection continues to change as new pieces are added and others move on to collectors who value them.
Jordan has grown with it, moving from a child captivated by colour to a collector able to recognise the stories hidden in a signature, serial number or ageing piece of paper.
Yet the memory of the yellow RM50 remains at the beginning of that journey.
His grandparents may have simply wanted to keep something commemorating a historic occasion, but in passing it to him, they unknowingly introduced him to an interest that would follow him into adulthood.
Jordan now hopes the collection can eventually mean something to people beyond himself.
Rather than remaining known only within a small collecting circle, he wants the pieces to be documented, displayed or shared publicly.
He believes the banknotes could help others learn about the country’s journey through objects once held and used by earlier generations.
Many of his pieces have already survived for decades and passed through several hands before reaching him.
Keeping them in suitable condition would allow their stories to continue long after they leave his possession.
“Ultimately, I hope my collection can become more than just a personal collection. I want it to help preserve and share our history with future generations,” Jordan said.
His collecting journey began with something passed from grandparents to grandchild.
Today, he hopes the stories carried by his collection can be passed forward once again.
“For me, collecting is not only about owning these pieces. It is about preserving them for the next generation,” he concluded.
