Five Cents 1920 (CuproNickel), Coin from Sarawak - detailed information

In 1920, the silver coinage which had been introduced in Sarawak in 1900 (with weights and fineness corresponding to the respective issues of Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements) was first debased then supplanted by copper-nickel issues - of which this was the first. There was only one subsequent issue, in 1927.

Coins issued in 1920 circulated for 22 years 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.