Half Cent (Large), Coin Type from Sarawak - detailed information

Half Cent (Large), Coin Type from Sarawak (issued 1863 - 1896)
Coin TypeHalf Cent (Large)

In 1863 copper 1/4, 1/2 and 1 Cent coins bearing the portrait of Sir James Brooke were struck by the Ralph Heaton & Sons Mint in Birmingham, England. The dies for this coinage as well as the later copper coinage of 1870 were engraved by Joseph Moore.

Coinage bearing the portrait of the second white Rajah, Sir Charles Johnson Brooke, in copper bearing the denomination 1/4, 1/2 and 1 Cent were issued at various dates between 1870 to 1897.

All the coins of Sarawak from 1863 to 1941 were minted at the Ralph Heaton & Sons Mint in Birmingham (known as The Mint Birmingham Limited after 1879). However, the "H" mint mark on the coinage of Sarawak was only introduced in 1889.

During most of its existence, the half cent coin was copper with weight of 72 grains in the measurement units of the time, equal to 4.653 g, and had a diameter of 22.5 mm.

Obverse

Effigy of the monarch, legend.

Obverse Inscription
Reverse

Value HALF CENT within a wreath of two olive branches; around, SARAWAK and the date.

Reverse Inscription HALF CENT SARAWAK [year]
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

References to additional information:

[Book] Atkins, James. 1889. The Coins and Tokens of the Possessions and Colonies of the British Empire. pp 228-229
[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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Half Cent (Large): Details
CountrySarawak
CurrencySarawak Dollar
Sub-type ofHalf Cent
From1863
To1896
Face Value1/2 (x Cent)
CurrentNo (demonetised 1953)
MaterialCopper
DesignerJoseph Moore
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
Size22.5000 mm
Mass4.6530 g
Half Cent (Large): Photos
ImageDetails
Half Cent (Large): Photo Sarawak 1879 1/2 cent Sarawak 1879 1/2 cent
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Source
Half Cent (Large): Photo Bronze 1/2 cent, SE Asia, 1863 Bronze 1/2 cent, SE Asia, 1863
Copyright: American Numismatic Society / CC BY NC
Source
Half Cent (Large): Photo Sarawak 1879 1/2 cent Sarawak 1879 1/2 cent
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Notes: Charles Brooke, Rajah (1870 - 1896).
Source