During the Japanese occupation period (1942–1945), paper money was issued in denominations ranging from 1 cent to 1,000 dollars.

This currency was fixed at 1 dollar = 1 Japanese yen, compared to a 1:2 pre-war rate.

Following the war, the Japanese occupation currency was declared worthless and the previous issues of the Sarawakian dollar regained their value relative to sterling (two shillings four pence).

[citation needed] In 1920 the 1 cent coin was struck in copper-nickel but later reverted to bronze in 1927.

[1] The first series was issued by the Sarawak Government Treasury.