During the Japanese occupation of Sarawak in World War II, the occupiers melted down most of the silver coinage they could find. Much of the silver coming now on the market was used as ornaments. In some cases coins may have been buried with the dead and show small solder marks or (filled) holes. The coins were coated with a purple die when buried with the dead.

Effigy of the monarch, legend.

References to additional information:

[Book] Saran, Singh. The Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, 1400-1967. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Malaysia Numismatic Society, 1986. pp 351-372.
[Book] Kavanagh, Kevin F. 1969. The Coins of Malaysia, pp 65-73
[Book] Remick, Jerome. 1971. British Commonwealth Coins, pp 489-492