Heart and Soul: Grandpa’s stories of old money

Towards the end of World War II, the Japanese administration in Malaya printed a massive amount of "banana money", like this old note. Photos: Gary Lit Ying Loong

During a recent long weekend, I took the opportunity to do some long overdue packing at home. While clearing my storeroom, I chanced upon a bag of coins and notes neglected for many years. It was given to me by my late grandfather in the 1960s.

My grandpa doted on all 60 of his grandchildren. He would give us a gift each time we obtained top marks for our tests. Invariably, it would be either one of his old coins or dollar notes.