Monday, March 1, 2010

1. Penang Coat of Arms Series 1 Pice 1810

Image 1: Reverse of the coin
Image 2: Obverse of the coin


Country of Origin: Pulau Pinang (also known as Penang, Prince of Wales' Island, now a part as a country of Malaysia)
Date: 1810
Denomination: One Pice / One Cent
Weight: 9.46g
Edge: Plain
Dimension: Diameter of 28mm
Composition: Copper
Population: 1,827,840 pieces
Reference: SS29, P.16, C.292.1, KN2a
Mint: Royal Mint, London
Category: Normal Circulation CoinEngraver: Lewis Pingo Chief Engraver of Royal Mint, London
Variety : SS29a - Normal Date

      This is a 1 Pice coin from Pulau Pinang dated 1810. On the obverse is the coat of arm of East India Company and the reverse shows Jawi writing "Pulu Pinang" or "Pulau Pinang" in Malay Language. The diameter is 28.0 mm with plain edge. The mintage of this coin is 1 827 840 pieces. The composition of the coin is copper and has weight value of 9.46 grams.

             Some of the details of the coin cannot be seen due to wear. There is actually a phrase in the ribbon of the coat of arms. The phrase is "AUSPICIO REGIS ET SENATUS ANGLIAE" which means that "Under the auspices of the King and the English Parliament". Hence this coin is a clear evidence that our country, or at least Pulau Pinang, once had been conquered by Englishmen.

    It is interesting to see that they use Jawi writing to write the Pulau Pinang instead of romans. Maybe this is one of their strategy to tackle the local or they just simply had to use the Jawi writings in their business here?

   There are 3 varieties that were noted in Saran Singh's book. The varieties are as follow:
  • SS 29a - Normal date
  • SS 29b - Dot between 18 and 10 in date 18.10
  • SS 29c - Small stroke at bottom of second figure 1 in date due to die crack