45. Terengganu Pitis / Keping Coin 2

photos 1&2 : Obverse and reverse of Coin 1

photos 3 & 4: obverse and reverse of Coin 2

Country of Origin: Terengganu (Now a state, part of Malaysia)

Date: Most probably issued in the late 18th Century and/or early years of 19th century

Denomination: One Keping / One Pitis

Weight: 1.85g

Edge: Plain

Dimension: Diameter of 18mm

Composition: Tin

Population: Unknown

Reference: SS26, P.102

Mint: Unknown

Category: -

Extra Note: On obverse, in Jawi "Malik Al Adil" (The Just Ruler) while having blank reverse. Rarity level indicated by Saran Singh is RR out of RRRR, probably means very rare.

     Getting bored of my tin coin posts? Hehe sorry and most probably next posts I will try open up my banknote albums and post something from there.

   My first examination paper is tomorrow, but why I am writing about coins rather than doing fatigue analysis? Hope you are enjoying this post and happy collecting!

    I have done my first calligraphy work to be displayed in my blog. Not bad isn't?

Figure 1: Extract from Saran Singh book

Figure 2: My Jawi writing of "Malik Al Adil"

   

44. Terengganu Pitis / Keping Coin

Country of Origin: Terengganu (Now a state, part of Malaysia)

Date: Most probably issued in the late 18th Century and/or early years of 19th century

Denomination: One Keping / One Pitis

Weight: Average of 3.30g

Edge: Plain

Dimension: Diameter of 24mm

Composition: Tin

Population: Unknown

Reference: SS28, P.105

Mint: Unknown

Category: -

Extra Note: On obverse, in Jawi "Malik Al Adil" (The Just Ruler) while having blank reverse. Rarity level indicated by Saran Singh is R out of RRRR, probably means rare.

     

      

       These coins were found together with the coin in my previous post. These coins are not to be confused with these coins, although both come from Terengganu.

    

    The first coin is very beautiful with perfect details on it, while the second one is no less interesting where we can see the incomplete tin flow which makes several holes in the coins. Cut marks also can be traced on both of the coins.

     The coins are hard and not bend-able, but the Kali Malik Al Adil coins are bend-able. According to here, the coins made from tin are supposed to be bend-able as they are ductile. I suppose the softness meant here does not reflect the softness where we can deform it with our bare hands. Could it be the softness indicates fake coins? I need more info about this.

     The bend-able set of Terengganu tin coins was obtained from an Indonesian seller, which he claimed that the coins were found in the deep river of Sungai Musi where the latest unbend-able set of Terengganu tin coins was obtained from a local which claimed that he discovered the coins at the river shore of Sungai Terengganu, due to deepening civil work there. I am more positive and confident that the latter are most probably genuine coins. But still, I do hope that both sets are genuine.

    Collecting tin coins are very risky! Counterfeiters out there really give me a headache.

      

43. Terengganu Coin One Cent 1907 ( 1325 A.H )

photo: obverse

photo: reverse

Country of Origin: Terengganu (Now a state, part of Malaysia)

Date: 1907

Denomination: One Cent

Weight: 6.50g

Edge: Milled

Dimension: Diameter of 29mm

Composition: Tin

Population: Unknown

Reference: SS18, P.98

Mint: Unknown

Category: -

Extra Note: On obverse, within a dotted circle in Jawi "Kerajaan Terengganu 1325" ( State of Terengganu 1325 A.H = 1907). The initials in jawi in the border * S * Z * A of (S)ultan (Z)ainal (A)bidin separated by stars. On reverse, the figure "1" within a dotted circle. A wreath of leaves in the border. (extract from SS). Rarity level indicated by SS is RRR out of RRRR, probably means very rare.

    Hello there. This is the newest addition into my collection which I acquired through a local some weeks ago. This coin was discovered from the river shore of Sungai Terengganu. The deepening work for Monsoon Cup to Sungai Terengganu has unearthed this coin to the surface.

     I have a pair of this coin, which the other one is in really  bad condition. Only a very small part of leaves are visible on the reverse part. How can this piece escaped natural corrosion? Perhaps she was entrapped in an isolated place ?

    From reference, it has been noted that counterfeited exists made from lead and tin, and those can be bend easily. I had try the bend test with this one, to my relief it can't be bend! I was afraid a little more force can crack her.

   By the way, I just love you. Ahah XD

42. Straits Settlements Emergency Issues 1919

Country of Origin: Straits Settlements (Now part of Malaysia and Singapore)
Denomination:10 Cents

Prefixes: c/65 82039

Dimension: 109mm x 63 mm

References: K.N Boon B16e

Category: Emergency Issue Notes

Sign(s): AM Pountney as Treasurer
Date: 14th October 1919

Printer: Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd, London

     The only dragon in our country, heheh. Apparently tiger, cow and of course, barking deer are the top 3 most popular animal to be used in Malaysia currency.

     This note is well decorated with Oriental influence, both in reverse and obverse parts. There are two varieties of this banknotes, first signed by AM Pountney as Acting Treasurer and second signed by him as Treasurer. The former is quite harder to find and commands higher value than the latter.

   Bought this piece for a two-digit price, can I hope the same for the Acting Treasurer signed one? Yes, for Poor condition. T-T

41. Collecting Terminology - KEY DATE

"Coins that are considered scarce due to low mintage or low surviving specimens for that date (and possibly mint mark). Prices are higher on scarce issues, and they are harder to find." coinresource.com

     Quote above is self-explanatory. Key date coins is a must for every collector especially for those who are into coins. It's a real please if you can complete a series with their respective keys. Even our current circulating coins (in your pocket!) has its own key dates.


    I don't know about other collectors, but every coins that fell into my hands were never had a chance to escape my strict checking. What if I stumble upon a 10 cent 1971? Absolutely it will be among the happiest day in my collecting life. 


   Why key date coins worth more than ordinary coins? The most obvious reason is that they are simply limited in number compared to other dates, hence harder to be found. Let say you have a 200 pieces of Malaysia 50 Sen, if you are lucky enough, maybe you will found only one Malaysia 50 Sen dated 1995. Try it if you don't believe me.



    Get excited? Okay this is the list for you to look for in your coins. If you are not a collector, but happen to have these coins, do inform me so that I can publish it (with the photo and your name in it) in my blog. Cheers!




1.  50 Sen Malaysia - 1969, 1995
2. 20 Sen Malaysia - 1970, 1978, 1994
3. 10 Sen Malaysia - 1971, 1994, 2003




footnote: I will update later a proper table for list of key dates coins.


Appendix: photo of some of my recently discovered key date coins.

40. Malay Sultanate Malacca Tin Coin, Sultan Muzaffar Shah Half Pitis 1446 - 1456 AD

image: obverse and reverse of the coin

 

Country of Origin: Malacca (Now a state, part of Malaysia)

Date: 1446 - 1456 AD

Denomination: Half Pitis

Weight: 1.85 - 2.26 grammes

Edge: -

Dimension: Diameter of 15mm

Composition: Tin

Population: Unknown

Reference: SS2

Mint: Malacca

Category: Malay Sultanate Coin

Extra Note: The obverse "Muzaffar Shah Al Sultan", The Supreme Ruler, Muzaffar Shah, and reverse interlaced Arabic inscription "Nasir Dunia Wal Al Din", means Helper of The World and the Religion, i.e Islam.

    This is might be the first official coinage series that was once used in Malaysia. Possessing a piece of coin from Malay Sultanate Era surely gives you a time-travel experience, especially when you hold the coin in your bare hands.

    Unfortunately, there are possibly impossible to acquire a mint condition coin, as the composition of lower denomination coins were made from tin, which is highly reactive to environment. But still, the condition of my coin here is worth for keeping as it is about in the same quality as what they have in museum. 

     Tin coins are easy to be counterfeited, including this Malay Sultanate Era coins. The best way to detect fake coins is to conduct experimental tests on the coins, carbon grading, composition test and so on, but involves a lot of money. Do not go for this unless you are hardcore serious collector. The other way to ensure you will have the genuine coins is by knowing the background of the seller. Make sure you know whether the seller has reputation or not in selling genuine coins. Extra point is given to the seller which is also a collector, because a collector will never claim a fake one to be a genuine one.

cropped document from reference, SS.