Sarawak Coins - Rajah Charles Brooke

Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke became the Rajah of Sarawak on 3 August 1868 succeeded his uncle James Brooke.  Charles Brooke ruled until his death on 17 May 1917.

Charles married Margaret Alice Lili de Windt at Highworth, Wiltshire on 28 October 1869.  They had 6 children : Dayang Ghita Brooke ( 1870-1973 ), James Harry Brooke ( 1872-1873 ), Charles Clayton Brooke ( 1872-1873 ), Charles Vyner Brooke ( 1874-1963 ), Bertram Willes Dayrell Brooke ( 1876-1965 ) and Henry Kepple Brooke ( 1879-1926 ).

Charles Brooke had another son, Esca Brooke, born of a native Malay woman which was unrecognized in English Law.  Esca was later adopted by Rev. William Daykin and moved to Canada.

During his reign, Sarawak issued its own postage stamp (1871), introduced civil marriage (1871), conducted its first census (1871), , founded Sarawak Rangers (1872), abolish slavery established First, Second, Third and Forth administrative Divisions (1885), became a British Protectorate (1888), established the Sarawak Museum (1891), founded Government Lay School ( later SMK Green Road ) (1903), adopted Straits Dollar (1904), discovered oil in Miri (1910), built oil refinery (1914), built railroad (1915) ... 

Charles died in 1917, and buried in St. Leonard’s Church in Sheepstor, Dartmoor.

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Descriptions

Observe :

Effigy of Rajah Charles Brooke facing left and the inscription “C.Brooke | Rajah”

Reverse :

“SARAWAK” inscribed on top, with “1863” at bottom, ‘value’ in center encircled by a laurel wreath.  A letter “H” inscribed at middle beneath of wreath for some coins.

Technical Details

Year of mint : 1870 - 1896

Value : ¼ cent, ½ cent & 1 cent

Composition : copper

Diameter : 18mm, 22mm, 29mm

Weight : 2.4g, 4.7g, 9.3g

Mint : Heaton & Son, Birmingham

value	¼ cent	½ cent		1 cent
1870
1879
1880
1882
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889					H
1890					H
1891					H
1896			H

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Descriptions

Observe :

Hole in middle, above hole is effigy of Rajah Charles Brooke facing left, below hole is crossed flags, and the inscription “C.Brooke | Rajah”

Reverse :

Within laurel wreath “ONE” above hole, “CENT” below hole,  above wreath “SARAWAK,  “year of mint” at bottom.  A letter “H” inscribed at middle beneath of wreath.

Technical Details

Year of mint : 1892, 1893, 1894, 1896, 1897

Value : 1 cent

Composition : copper

Diameter : 29.5mm

Weight : 9.2g

Mint : Heaton & Sons, Birmingham

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Descriptions

Observe :

Effigy of Charles Brooke facing left, inscription “C. BROOKE” “RAJAH” “SARAWAK”

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 : 1900 - 1915

Value : 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents

Composition : 0.008 Silver

Diameter : 15.7mm, 18.0mm, 23.4mm, 32mm

Weight : 1.35g, 2.71g, 5.42g, 13.57g

Mint : Heaton & Sons, Birmingham

	5 cents	10 cents	20 cents	50 cents
1900
1906
1908
1910
1911
1913
1915