Indonesia 500 Rupiah 1988 Pick 123 UNC Banknote
The Indonesia 500 Rupiah 1988 banknote (Pick 123) was issued by Bank Indonesia on 29 January 1988 as part of the country’s famous 1984–1988 banknote series. The note is best known for its beautiful wildlife design, featuring the Timorese deer (Cervus timorensis), one of Indonesia’s native species.
Presented in UNC (Uncirculated) condition, this attractive note is an excellent addition to collections of Asian banknotes, wildlife-themed currency and modern Indonesian paper money.
Historical Background
The 1984–1988 series marked a major redesign of Indonesia’s circulating banknotes, with each denomination highlighting a different aspect of the country’s heritage, wildlife or history. The 500 Rupiah denomination entered circulation in 1988 and remained in use until it was replaced by an updated design in 1992. It was officially demonetized on 25 September 1995.
Technical Specifications
- Country: Indonesia
- Denomination: 500 Rupiah
- Year: 1988
- Pick Number: P-123
- Condition: Uncirculated (UNC)
- Issuer: Bank Indonesia
- Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
- Material: Paper
- Dimensions: 140 × 68 mm
- Printer: Perum Peruri (Indonesia)
Obverse
The obverse features:
- Timorese deer (Cervus timorensis / Javan rusa)
- Bank Indonesia inscriptions
- Denomination numerals
- Decorative guilloche patterns
- Serial numbers
The Timorese deer is native to Indonesia and neighbouring islands and represents the country’s rich biodiversity.
Reverse
The reverse depicts:
- Bank Indonesia branch in Cirebon
- Ornamental security patterns
- Large denomination numerals
- Architectural details of the historic building
The Cirebon branch is one of the country’s historic central bank buildings and reflects Indonesia’s financial development during the twentieth century.
Security Features
- Watermark of General Ahmad Yani
- Embedded security thread
- Fine guilloche engraving
- Intaglio printing
- Multicolour underprint
- Serial numbering
Why Add This Banknote to Your Collection?
The Indonesia 500 Rupiah 1988 Pick 123 UNC banknote combines wildlife, architecture and modern Indonesian history in a compact and colourful design. It is one of the most recognisable notes from the country’s late-1980s banknote series.
Perfect for:
- Indonesian banknote collections
- Asian currency collections
- Wildlife-themed banknotes
- Deer-themed collections
- Historic bank building collections
- UNC world paper money collections
Collector’s Note
The Pick 123 is the first issue of Indonesia’s 500 Rupiah design introduced in 1988. Collectors often pair it with the later 1992 Pick 128 to complete the final pre-polymer evolution of Indonesia’s 500 Rupiah denomination. Well-preserved UNC examples are appreciated for their vibrant colours and crisp engraving.
