Charles Vyner Brooke succeeded his father as the 3rd
Rajah of Sarawak on 17 May 1917.
The proclamation was held on 24 May 1917 at Kuching. He took oath before the Council Negri on 22
July 1918.
Vyner first mint Sarawak coins with his image in 1920,
for both the ‘laurel’ and the ‘rope’ series in copper-nickel and silver
respectively. The 1cent coins were later
minted in copper. The production of
1cent copper coins were continued until 1941, but due to the outbreak of the war
in S.E.Asia, the entire 1941 issue was recalled and subsequently melted down. Only about 50 examples of the 1941 1cent coins
are believed to be in existence. During
the Japanese occupation, the silver coins were commandeered and melted down.
Before Sarawak fell into Japanese invasion on 25 December 1941, Vyner and his family went to Sydney, Australia. He returned to Sarawak on 15 April 1946 and resumed as Rajah. On 1 July 1946, Sarawak was ceded to the British as a crown colony, thus ending the Brooke Dynasty in Sarawak.
Before Sarawak fell into Japanese invasion on 25 December 1941, Vyner and his family went to Sydney, Australia. He returned to Sarawak on 15 April 1946 and resumed as Rajah. On 1 July 1946, Sarawak was ceded to the British as a crown colony, thus ending the Brooke Dynasty in Sarawak.
His nephew, Anthony Brooke, the Rajah Muda of
Sarawak, together with the Council Negri opposed the cession. The anti-cession movement reached its climax
when the 2nd governor to Sarawak, Sir Duncan Steward was
assassinated by a Malay nationalist Rosli Dhoby in Sibu. However, Anthony was cleared for having any
connection of the assassination. In
1951, Anthony renounce his claim to Sarawak’s claim, and lived in New Zealand
where he died on 2 March 2011.
Vyner died on 9 May 1963, and buried in St.
Leonard’s Church in Sheepstor, Dartmoor.
× × ×
Descriptions
Observe :
Effigy of Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke facing right
and the inscription “C.V.Brooke | Rajah | SARAWAK ”
Reverse :
“Year of mint” inscribed on bottom, ‘value’ in center encircled by a laurel
wreath. A letter “H” inscribed at middle
beneath of wreath.
Technical Details
Year of mint : 1920, 1927 & 1934
1cent
|
5cent
|
10cent
|
|
1920
|
|||
1927
|
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1934
|
Value :1 cent, 5 cents & 10 cents
Composition : copper-nickel
Diameter : 18.1mm, 21.2mm, 26.0mm
Weight : 2.0g, 3.7g, 5.4g
Mint : Heaton & Son, Birmingham
× × ×
Observe :
Effigy of Charles Vyner Brooke facing right,
inscription “C. V. BROOKE” “RAJAH” at top, “SARAWAK” at bottom.
Reverse :
‘Value in numeric’ in middle, encircled by rope
circle tied at bottom, ‘value in alphabets’ and ‘year of mint’ outside rope
circle. Initial “H” at bottom of tied
knot.
Technical Details
Year of mint : 1920 & 1927
5cent
|
10cent
|
20cent
|
50cent
|
|
1920
|
||||
1927
|
Value : 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents
Composition : Silver
Diameter : 15.7mm, 18.0mm, 23.4mm, 32mm
Weight : 1.35g, 2.71g, 5.42g, 13.57g
Mint : Heaton & Sons, Birmingham
× × ×
Observe :
Effigy of Charles Vyner Brooke facing right,
inscription “C. V. BROOKE” on left, “RAJAH” on right.
Reverse :
Inscription “SARAWAK” on top, “year of mint” at bottom. ‘Value in alphabet” in middle, encircled by laurel
wreath , with initial “H” at middle bottom of wreath.
Technical Details
Year of mint : 1927 - 1941
1/2 cent
|
1 cent
|
|
1927
|
||
1929
|
||
1930
|
||
1933
|
||
1937
|
||
1941
|
Value : ½cent & 1cent
Composition : copper
Diameter : 18mm & 24mm
Weight : 3.0g & 5.5g
Mint : Heaton & Sons, Birmingham
