Malaya Old Currency : 1845-1926 Straits Dollar ( Queen Victoria )

Brief History

The Straits Settlements were established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, which was based in Calcutta, India.

The Straits Settlements originally consisted of the three individual settlements of Malacca, Prince of Wales Island ( now Penang Island ) with the Province Wellesley ( now Seberang Perai ), and Singapore.

On the 1^st April 1867 the Settlements became a British Crown colony, making the Settlements answerable directly to the Colonial Office in London.

The following territories were temporary incorporated in the Straits Settlement : Dinding ( 1874 -1935 ), Christmas Island ( 1900 – 1958 ), Cocos Island ( 1903 – 1955 ), and Labuan ( 1907 – 1946 ).

On the 1^st April 1946, Straits Settlement was dissolved.

Coinage History

In the early 19^th century, the most common currency used in the East Indies was the Spanish dollar, including issues both from Spain and from the new world Spanish colonies, most significantly Mexico. Locally issued coinages included the Kelantan and Trengganu keping, and the Penang dollar.

In 1837, the Indian rupee was made the sole official currency in the Straits Settlements, as it was administered as part of India. However, Spanish dollars continued to circulate and 1845 saw the introduction of coinage for the Straits Settlements using a system of 100 cents = 1 dollar.   

In 1867, administration of the Straits Settlements was separated from India and the dollar was made the standard currency.

Queen Victoria

“Her Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India”

Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. On 1 May 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India.

The first coins issued for the Straits Settlements in 1845 were : ​¼¢, ½¢ and 1¢ denominations in copper. They were issued by the East India Company and did not bear any indication of where they were to be used.

Year Minted	Value	Metal	Weight	Diameter
1845	¼¢	Copper	2.33g	18.0mm
1845	½¢	Copper	4.66g	22.5mm
1845	1¢	Copper	9.33g	29.0mm

A second issue of the same denominations was produced in 1862 by the government of British India. These bore the inscription "INDIA - STRAITS".

Year Minted	Value	Metal	Weight	Diameter
1862	¼¢	Copper	2.33g	18.0mm
1862	½¢	Copper	4.66g	22.5mm
1862	1¢	Copper	9.33g	29.0mm

In 1871, silver coins were issued in the name of the Straits Settlements for 5¢, 10¢ and 20¢, followed by copper ​¼¢, ​½¢ and 1¢ in 1872 and silver 50 cents in 1886. Silver dollars were first minted in 1903.   Copper ¼¢, ½¢ and 1¢ were replaced with bronze in 1884.

Year Minted	Value	Metal	Weight	Diameter
1872-1883	¼¢	Copper	2.33g	18.0mm
1872-1883	½¢	Copper	4.66g	23.0mm
1872-1883	1¢	Copper	9.33g	29.0mm
1884-1901	¼¢	Bronze	2.33g	18.0mm
1884-1901	½¢	Bronze	4.66g	23.0mm
1884-1901	1¢	Bronze	9.33g	29.0mm
1871-1901	5c	Silver 0.8	1.32g	16.0mm
1871-1901	10c	Silver 0.8	2.71g	18.0mm
1871-1901	20c	Silver 0.8	5.43g	23.8mm
1886-1901	50c	Silver 0.9	13.57g	31.0mm

From 1904, August 31^st, British Dollar, Mexican Dollar and Hong Kong Dollars ceased to be legal tender.  

	¼¢	½¢	1¢	5¢	10¢	20¢	50¢
1845
1862
1871
1872
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1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
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1881
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