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.

Sarawak Coin 1842 : 1 Keping

Descriptions

Observe :

A badger over inscription J.B. ( James Brooke ) | SEP 24 1841  

Reverse :

Jawi inscription ساتو كڤيڠ ( satu keping ) in the middle and  ۱۲۴۷ ( 1247 ) of the Hijri Calendar at the bottom

Technical Detail

Diameter : 21.5mm

Weight : 1.75g

Composition : Copper or Brass

Issue : 1842

Brief Introduction

This is believed to be the first coin minted by James Brooke, for 24 September 1841 was the date Sarawak ceded to Brooke, of which Brooke made the first white Rajah of Sarawak.

The first Sarawak own coin was minted by the Birmingham Mint.   The coin feature a badger facing left, with initial “J.B” ( for James Brooke ) under the badger.  At the bottom is the date “SEP 24 1841” which commemorate the date Brooke made Rajah of Sarawak.

The reverse dies were recycled from dies used to make Singapore Merchant token, ‘duit ayam’ as the local called.  Thus it is explained that the year written in Arabic " ۱۲۴۷ " 1247 ( Gregorian calendar 1831 ) is contradicting with the year "1841"  inscribed on the observe. 

Euro Coins 2014 Andora

Descriptions

Observe :

€2 and €1, 50, 20 and 10 cent show the European Union as of 1 January 2007, a geographical image of Europe.

5, 2 and 1 cent show Europe in relation to Africa and Asia on a globe.

Reverse :

1c, 2c & 5c – Pyrenean chamois ( Rupicapra pyrenaica ), a goat antelope that lives in the Pyrenees, Catabrian Mountains and Apennine Mountains.

10c, 20c & 50c – the Church of Santa Coloma and a depiction of Christ from the church  Sant Martí de la Cortinada.  ( the depiction of Christ may be removed due to the objection from the European Commission on the grounds of religious neutrality )

€1 - Casa de la Vall

€2 - Coat of arms of Andorra

Brief Introduction

Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, is a microstate in Southwestern Europe sandwiched between Spain and France at the Pyrenees mountains, having only an area of 468m² and an estimated population of 85,000 in 2012.

Andorra was created under a charter in A.D.988.   The present Principality was formed in A.D.1278.  It is known as a principality as it is a monarchy headed by two Co-Princes – the Spanish/Roman Catholic Bishop of Urgell and the President of France.

Andorra did not have an official currency.  Prior to adopting the euro, Andorra used the French franc and Spanish peseta.  When the two currencies were replaced by the euro in 2002,  the euro became the de facto sole circulating currency in Andorra. 

However, Andorra is not a member of the European Union.  Yet, in 2011, a monetary agreement was sign between Andorra and the EU, allowing Andorra to mint euro coins from 2013.   As on 1 April 2012, the euro became Andorra’s official currency.

A design competition for the national side of the euro coins was launched in 2013.    The Andorra euro coins were supposed to be issued early 2014, but were delayed.

Euro Coins 2002-

Descriptions

Observe :

€2 and €1, 50c, 20c and 10c coins show either the EU15 before its enlargement on  May 2004 or, as of 1 January 2007, a geographical image of whole Europe.

5c, 2c and 1c coins depict the denomination, the words 'EURO CENT'.

Reverse :

The national sides show country-specific designs, surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union.

Technical Specifications

  

Details

The euro was established by the provisions in the 1992 Maastricht Treaty.   The name “euro” created by Belgian Germain Pirlot, was officially adopted by European Council meeting in Madrid on 16^th December 1995.

The euro was launched on 1^st January 1999, but only as an invisible currency, used for accounting purposes.  Real euro coins and banknotes was introduced on 1^st January 2002.  The euro is managed and administered by the European Central Bank ( ECB ) and the Eurosystem,

The euro is the sole currency of 18 of the 28 EU member states, including the overseas territories and islands which are either part of, or associated with euro area countries. Andorra,  Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City, although are not the EU member states, also use and mint their own euro.  Kosovo and Montenegro use euro as their de facto currency, but are not authorised to mint their own coins.

The euro coin series comprises 8 different denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, €1 and €2. The euro coins have a common side and a national side. The national side indicates the issuing country.

The euro currency sign ( € ) was created by Belgian Alain Billiet.  Inspiration for the symbol came from the Greek letter epsilon (Є) – a reference to the cradle of European civilization – and the first letter of the word ”Europe”, crossed by two parallel lines to ‘certify’ the stability of the euro.

The common sides of the coins were designed by Mr Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint. They show images of the European Union or of Europe and symbolise the unity of the EU.  The national sides show country-specific designs, surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union.

Malaysia Coins - 2012 Third Series

Descriptions

Observe : Each denomination feature different motif, i.e. destar siga, orang asli motif, bunga melur and sulur kacang for 5sen, 10sen, 20sen and 50sen respectively.  14 dots representing the 13 states and the Federal Territory.  5 horizontal lines on 5sen, 10sen and 20sen representing the 5 principles of Rukun Negara.  50sen coins have 9 indents at the edge.

Reverse : the coins feature the national flower bunga raya ‘Hibiscus rosas-sinensis’ , numerals indicating the year of minting, the face value of the coin, and the words “BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA”

Technical Specifications

value	diameter	thickness	weight	composition	edge	colour
5sen	17.78mm	1.12mm	1.72g	stainless steel	plain	silver
10sen	18.80mm	1.50mm	2.98g	stainless steel	coarse	silver
20sen	20.60mm	1.75mm	4.18g	nickel brass	milled	yellow
50sen	22.65mm	1.92mm	5.66g	nickel brass clad copper	plain	yellow

year of mint	5sen	10sen	20sen	50sen
2012	p	p	p	p
2013	p	p	p	p
2014	p	p	p	p

2015

p

p

p

p

2016

p

p

p

p

2017

p

p

p

p

2018

p

Details

The design of the third series of Malaysian coins themed ‘Distinctively Malaysia’, features motifs from traditional craft and flora and fauna

5sen·The ‘destar siga’ is an indigenous form of fabric weaving that originates from the Kadazan Dusun people in Sabah.

10sen·The weave pattern of the Mah Meri tribe of the aboriginal people.

20sen·bunga melur ( Jasminum sambac )

50sen·The ‘sulur kacang’ is a popular motif featured in traditional woodcraft and silverswear.

The third series was announced on the 25^th July 2011, and sold to the public as commemorative coins.  It was issued into circulation from the 16^th January 2012.

source : www.bnm.gov.my

Malaysia Coins - 1989 Second Series

Descriptions

Observe : Items of Malay culture : rebana ubi, gasing, congkak, tapak sireh, wau, and keris & songket on 1sen, 5sen, 10sen, 20sen, 50sen and $1 respectively.

Reverse : BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA, bunga raya ‘Hibiscus rosas-sinensis’ in the middle above the  ‘Value’  which is sandwiched in between the ‘Year of Mint’.

Technical Specifications

value	diameter	thickness	weight	composition	edge	reverse
1sen	18.0mm	1.00mm	1.95g	bronze clad steel	plain	rebana ubi
5sen	16.0mm	1.05mm	1.42g	cupronickel	reeded	gasing
10sen	19.4mm	1.20mm	2.82g	cupronickel	reeded	congkak
20sen	23.4mm	1.50mm	5.69g	cupronickel	reeded	tapak sireh
50sen	27.8mm	2.10mm	9.40g	cupronickel	"Bank Negara Malaysia"	wau
$1	24.0mm	2.50mm	9.40g	aluminium-bronze	reeded	keris & songket
RM1			9.35g	brass

year of mint	1sen	5sen	10sen	20sen	50sen	$1	RM1
1989	p	p	p	p	p	p
1990	p	p	p	p	p	p
1991	p	p	p	p	p	p
1992	p	p	p	p	p	p
1993	p	p	p	p	p	p	p
1994	p	p	p		p		p
1995	p	p	p		p		p
1996	p	p	p		p		p
1997	p	p	p	p	p
1998	p	p	p	p	p
1999	p	p	p		p
2000	p	p	p	p	p
2001	p	p	p	p	p
2002	p	p	p	p	p
2003	p	p	p		p
2004	p	p	p	p	p
2005	p	p	p	p	p
2006	p	p	p	p
2007	p	p	p	p	p
2008		p	p	p	p
2009		p	p	p	p
2010		p	p	p	p
2011		p	p	p	p

History

The Malaysian second series of coins was designed by Low Yee Kheng.  The coins entered circulation on the 4^th September 1989, with completely different redesigned observes and reversed, but retain the edges, diameters and composition of the previous series.

The observes include the depiction of items of Malay culture, ie. rebana ubi, gasing, congkak, tapak sireh, wau, and keris & songket on 1sen, 5sen, 10sen, 20sen, 50sen and $1 respectively.   The reverses include an inclusion of a bunga raya ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ), the national flower of Malaysia.

The $1 coin was reduced to 24mm in diameter, composed of an alloy of copper, zinc and tin.  The “$” symbol was changed to “RINGGIT” in 1993.  On 7^th December 2005, the 1 ringgit coin was demonetized and withdrawn from circulation, mainly due to problems with forgery.