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?

5. Straits Settlements 1 Dollar 1907H

Image 1: Reverse

Image 2: Obverse

Country of Origin: Straits Settlements (Now a part of Malaysia)

Date: 1907

Denomination: One Dollar

Weight: 20.21g

Edge: Milled

Dimension: Diameter of 34.33mm

Composition: 0.9 Silver

Population: 4 000 000 pieces Mintmark: 'H'

Reference: KN10b

Mint: Ralph Heaton & Sons, Birmingham

Category: Normal Circulation Coin 

Engraver: ---
Variety : ---
Grade: EF 40, cleaned coin

Showing here is a piece of 1 dollar Straits Settlements coin, dated 1907. It has silver purity of 90 percent and mintage of 4 000 000. The weight of this coin is approximately 20.21g and has diameter of 34.33mm (K.N Boon Sept 2008). The edge of the coin is milled. 

        Image 3: the mint marks of the coin

         It is quite interesting to see that this quote has two mint marks. In the black boxes above, you can see an "H" and "DES" below the neck of King Edward VII. The "H" is for Ralph Heaton & Sons, Birmingham mint while the "DES" stands for its engraver and designer, George DeSaulles.

    Extra information from dewardt.net, showing in the coin are the Imperial Crown and the Ermine Robe of State, the Collar of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, wore by the effigy of the King Edward VII.

    I am not sure about the grading of my coin here. Can someone out there grade it for me as I am quite new in this hobby? 1 dollar series of Straits Settlements is my favourite series because it is big (big means value), shiny (shiny means value too) and beautiful, especially for the obverse part. I just like the flora motif and multi languages used in this coin.

  

4. Malaya 25 Cents 1940

Image 1: Obverse

Image 2: Reverse

  

Country of Origin: Malaya (Now a part of Malaysia)

Denomination: 25 Cents

Prefix: D 562149
Dimension: 121mm x 79mm
Category: Emergency Issuance Note
Sign(s): L.S Corney, Chairman of Commissioners
Date(s): 1/9/1940
Printer: Survey Department Federated Malay States
Watermark: 'S' 'D' 'M'
Portrait: King George VI

      This is a banknote from Malaya which bears the value of 25 cents. It was signed by L.S Corney who was the Chairman of the Commissioners. It was designed and printed by Survey Department of Federated Malay States. The dimension is 121 mm times by 79 mm.

        The prefixes are from A to F. According to K.N Boon, prefixes C and D bear the higher value than the other siblings. This banknote is for emergency issues. According to some stories that I have read, the emergency issues were releases due to the sinkage of the ship that was supposed to transport the banknotes to Malaya. The ship was attacked by Germans. Then, new banknotes has to be released temporarily before they prepare for the 1941 new banknote series. No 25 cents denominations for 1941 series as they changed it with 20 cents and 50 cents denominations.

    Apparently this banknote is getting scarcer day by day and the price has rising up recently. I could not find myself a good quality, but yet cheap one of this banknote. So this is all I can afford for the time being. By the way, it is quite good as a filler. An uncirculated one sure can fetch a high price, such as this one.

    Personally, this is my favourite banknote. First, it is because it has value of 25 cents. It is odd value right ? And furthermore, I fancy the portrait of King George VI in this banknote. For me, it looks androidic and robotic. Quite funny, but that was probably maybe they were rushing to design this banknote, but nevertheless, this banknote is still beautiful!

    For further reading and reference.

• Nazri Banknotes
• Collectorbox
• Malaysianbanknotes

2/1/2011 - updated