Five Cents (Debased Silver), Coin Type from Sarawak - detailed information

Five Cents (Debased Silver), Coin Type from Sarawak (issued 1920 - 1920)
Coin TypeFive Cents (Debased Silver)

Silver coinage was introduced in Sarawak in 1900 with weights and fineness of the silver coins corresponding with the respective issues of Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements. In 1920 the denomination was first debased (this issue), then later the same year supplanted by copper-nickel coinage.

This is a one year only type in debased silver. Composition: 50% silver. The mass was 20.95 grains in the measurement units of the time, equal to 1.35 grammes.

These coins circulated until the Japanese occupation forces replaced them with their own invasion currency in 1942. After the war, Sarawak did not regain independence and eventually became one of the states forming the Federation of Malaysia. Its coinage was formally demonetised in 1953.

Obverse

Head of Vyner (Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke), the third and last Rajah of Sarawak, facing right. Around above, the monarch's legend C. V. BROOKE RAJAH; below, · SARAWAK ·.
Obverse Inscription C. V. BROOKE RAJAH · SARAWAK ·
Reverse

Within a rope circle tied at the bottom, the value 5; around, FIVE · 1920 · CENTS. The mint mark H of the Birmingham Mint (previously known as Heaton and Sons) is below the knot.
Reverse Inscription 5 FIVE · 1920 · CENTS
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

"The Coins of Malaysia" lists this coin as 0.800 silver, Krause says 0.400, while "The Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, 1400-1967" lists it as 0.500 silver.

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

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Coin Type: Five Cents (Debased Silver) - (1) Coins
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Five Cents (Debased Silver): Details
CountrySarawak
CurrencySarawak Dollar
Sub-type ofFive Cents
From1920
To1920
Face Value5 (x Cent)
CurrentNo (demonetised 1953)
Material0.500 Silver
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
Size15.5000 mm
Mass1.3500 g
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Five Cents (Debased Silver): Photos
ImageDetails
Five Cents (Debased Silver): Photo SARAWAK, Charles Vyner Brooke (1917-1946), silver five cents, 1920H SARAWAK, Charles Vyner Brooke (1917-1946), silver five cents, 1920H
Copyright: Noble Numismatics
Source
Five Cents (Debased Silver): Photo SARAWAK, Charles Vyner Brooke (1917-1946), silver five cents, 1920H SARAWAK, Charles Vyner Brooke (1917-1946), silver five cents, 1920H
Copyright: Noble Numismatics
Source