154. Singapore merchant coin fighting cock series dua keping 1831

image 1: obverse and reverse of the coin

  Another addition into my Singapore Merchant Coin collection. She was badly circulated it seems. The only two keping of the fighting cock series.

Category	Coin > Singapore Merchant Coin
Country Of Origin	Malaysia / Indonesia / Singapore
Date	1831
Grade	G
Denomination	One Pitis / One Keping
Shape	Round
Weight	4.27g average from SS
Diameter	23mm - 30mm from SS
Thickness	-
Composition	Copper
Population	714,085
Reference	SS24, P.18
Mint	Soho Mint, Birmingham
Category	Normal Circulation Coinage
Demonetized	Yes
Engraver/Designer	-
Designer's Initial	-
Mint Mark	-
Variety	-
Edge	Plain
Obverse	A spurred fighting cock facing right, In Jawi, "Tanah Melayu" (Land of the Malays). Last two tail feathers of the cock are crossed.
Reverse	In Jawi, "Dua Keping 1247" (Two Keping 1247 = 1831)
Extra Note	Rarity level indicated by Saran Singh is R out of RRRR a

131. East india company 1 keping thin planchet 1804

image 1: obverse and reverse of the coin

   
       Finally the last piece of East India Company (E.I.C) Singapore Merchant Coin thin planchet series.

       If I am not mistaken, EIC is still exist today. Even shopping mall in Malaysia do have these EIC outlets.

       This is my dua keping and empat keping of the same series.

130. ISLAND OF SUMATRA 1 KEPING WITH LAMINATION ERROR

image 1: obverse and reverse of the coin

image 2: lamination error?

    This is a merchant coin from Island of Sumatra. Do you know that, Sumatra is being listed as the 6th largest island in the world.

   By the way, I have noticed that perhaps this coin has an error. Could it be a lamination error?

89. Negeri Siak 1 Keping

image 1: obverse and reverse of the coin

Origin: Negeri Siak ( Now a state, part of Indonesia )

Date: 1835/1836 

Denomination: One Keping / Satu Keping / 1 Keping

Weight: 2.26g

Edge: plain

Dimension: Diameter of 21mm

Composition: Copper

Population: unknown  

Mintmark: ---

Reference: SS 59, P.48

Mint: -

Category: Singapore Merchant Coins 

Engraver: ---
Variety : --- 

Grade: ---

image 2: extract from reference

88. Tanah Melayu 1 Keping

image 1: obverse and reverse of the coin

Origin: Tanah Melayu ( Land of the Malays, now a part of Malaysia)

Date: 1835/1836 

Denomination: One Keping / Satu Keping / 1 Keping

Weight: 2.26g

Edge: plain

Dimension: Diameter of 21mm

Composition: Copper

Population: unknown  

Mintmark: ---

Reference: SS 60, P.49

Mint: -

Category: Singapore Merchant Coins 

Engraver: ---
Variety : --- 

Grade: ---

image 2: extract from reference

       One of my target in my collection is to complete the Singapore Merchant Coins series. Among all, this particular piece is one of my primary target. Praise to God finally I managed to acquire this coin at a very affordable price. Even the condition is not very appealing, but again quality is not my major concern. Indulgence is.

   By the way, do you know where is Tanah Melayu supposed to be? or where was Tanah Melayu in 1835/1836?

71. East India Company Dua Keping 1804

image 1: reverse and obverse of the coin

Origin: East India Company

Date: 1804

Denomination: Two Keping / Dua Keping / 2 Keping

Weight: 4.40g

Edge: plain

Dimension: Diameter of 26mm

Composition: Copper

Population: 4 656 313 pieces  

Mintmark: ---

Reference: SS 4a

Mint: Soho Mint, Birmingham

Category: Normal Circulation Coin 

Engraver: ---
Variety : --- 

Grade: ---

image 2: reference from Saran Singh's book

     Currently searching for a One Keping piece to complete this series, East India Company Singapore Merchant Coin Thin Planchet Series. This is my earlier post of 4 Keping.

image 2: obverse and reverse of countermarked "OD", image of smokyisabigcat from ebay.com

15. Singapore Merchant Coin Satu Keping 1831 1832

photo: reverse and obverse of the coin

   This coin is a gift from my friend, Kamsar. On the reverse of the coin is a fighting cock, with legend in Jawi "tanah melayu" means "the land of Malays". On the obverse is "Satu Keping 1247".

   When I was referring to the Saran Singh's book, I get confused which one is my coin because there are so many fighting coin varieties and types. Some of them are differentiated according to the tail of the cock. Some have bushy tail, some have tail hanging down straight, curl, etc.But I think most likely this coin is categorized under SS26.

   Made of copper, this coin is having diameter of 21 mm. It was minted in Soho, Birmingham and circulated in trade region in some parts of Singapore, Malacca, Sumatera Island and for sure Sabah, as I got this coin from Sabah.

   reference: http://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=26121

6. East India Company Empat Keping 1804

image 1: obverse and reverse of the coin

Origin: East India Company

Date: 1804

Denomination: Four Keping / Empat Keping / 4 Keping

Weight: 8.55g

Edge: plain

Dimension: Diameter of 30.55mm

Composition: Copper

Population: 1 612 498 pieces  

Mintmark: ---

Reference: SS 5a

Mint: Soho Mint, Birmingham

Category: Normal Circulation Coin 

Engraver: ---
Variety : --- 

Grade: ---

           Recently I bought this coin from eBay. The appearance of this coin attracts me. This coin is under the category of Singapore Merchant Coin. This coin was strucked for circulation in Singapore. It is interesting to note that this coin was strucked on 1823, but still bearing earlier date for thick flan version, which is 1804. This issue was on orders of Thomas Stamford Raffles. This coin served as the prototypes for the later Island of Sumatra series of Singapore Merchant Coin.

Observe: Arms of the British East India Company in centre. The legend "EAST INDIA COMPANY" above, the year date 1804 below.

Reverse: in Jawi / Arabic "4 Empat Keping 1219 AH"

There are two types of this coin, thin flan and thick flan. Basically the thick flan version weighs more than the thin flan as the thickness is different. The thick flan version was issued to be used in Sumatra and its neighbors only.

I bought this coin from an Irish dealer, and it costs me around USD10 exclusive of postage. Do you have similar coins like this?