Sarawak Coins - Rajah James Brooke

Descriptions

Observe :

Effigy of Rajah James Brooke facing left and the inscription “J.Brooke | Rajah”

Reverse :

“SARAWAK” inscribed on top, with “1863” at bottom, ‘value’ in center encircled by a wreath.

Technical Details

Year of mint : 1863 - 1868

Value : ¼ cent, ½ cent & 1 cent

Composition : copper, copper, bronze-plated copper

Diameter : 18mm, 23mm, 29.5mm
Weight : 2.29g, 4.65g, 9.57g

History

James Brooke was granted the title of Rajah of Sarawak on 24 September 1841.  

The official declaration was made on 18 August 1842.

During his reign, James Brooke reformed the administration, codifying laws, introduced monetary system, expanding boundary and fighting piracy.  Sarawak dollar was introduced in 1858, until it was replaced with Malaya and British Borneo dollar in 1853.  The Sarawak dollar was at par with the Straits dollar and the successive Malayan dollar.

A “1 keping” coin was minted in 1842.  But the official Sarawak coin was minted only in 1863, depicted the effigy of James Brooke, in values ¼ cent,  ½ cent and 1 cent.  The coins were originally minted from copper, latter coins were of bronze-plated copper.

James Brooked ruled Sarawak until his death in 1868.  He was buried in St. Leonard’s Church in Sheepstor, Dartmoor.  He was succeeded by Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke.