Wednesday, 9 July 2014

Sarawak Coins - Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke

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.

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.


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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



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



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Descriptions
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


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Descriptions
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




2 comments:

Unknown said...

I have a 1920 5 cents, silver coin in excellent condition,however my does not state Sarawak on reverse side but directly under the head of CV. please explain and is it worth anything, also if you hold the head upright then swing coin round to rear it appears to be upside down.

ongzi said...

dear unknown
i'm mere a collector, not an expert in antique coins.