Half Cent 1863, Coin from Sarawak - detailed information

Half Cent 1863, Coin from Sarawak (demonetised 1953)
CoinHalf Cent 1863

The half cent coin was the second smallest denomination of the Sarawak dollar.

James Brooke, whose head appears on the obverse of this coin, became Rajah of Sarawak in 1842 after receiving the land and title from the Sultan of Brunei. In 1863, through his British agents Buchanan, Hamilton & Co. he arranged for copper coins with the denominations of 1/4, 1/2 and 1 Cent to be struck in Birmingham. This was the only issue in his name. The Spanish dollar was the principal silver coin of the region at the time and the copper coins were fractions of it.

The artist was Joseph Moore of Allan and Moore, Great Britain.

Coins issued in 1863 circulated for 79 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.

The artist was Joseph Moore of Allan and Moore, Great Britain.

MintHeaton and Sons (Birmingham Mint) Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage unknown
Obverse
Sarawak / Half Cent 1863 - obverse photo

Head of James Brooke, the first Rajah of Sarawak, facing left. Around, the monarch's legend: J. BROOKE RAJAH.

Obverse Inscription J. BROOKE RAJAH
Reverse
Sarawak / Half Cent 1863 - reverse photo

The value and denomination HALF CENT is in two lines within a wreath of two olive branches; around above, SARAWAK; below the wreath, the date 1863. There is no mint mark.

Reverse Inscription HALF CENT SARAWAK 1863
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
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Half Cent 1863: Known varieties
Variety Proof
Mintage Issued: unknown
Variety Bronze-plated proof
Mintage Issued: unknown
MaterialBronze-plated copper
Details

Proof, bronze-plated copper.

Half Cent 1863: References to Information Used
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Half Cent 1863: Details
CountrySarawak
CurrencySarawak Dollar
Coin TypeHalf Cent (Large)
Issued1863
MonarchJames Brooke, Rajah
EffigyJames Brooke by Joseph Moore
Face Value1/2 (x Cent)
Total Mintageunknown
CurrentNo; demonetised 1953
MaterialCopper
DesignerJoseph Moore
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size22.5000 mm
Mass4.6530 g
OCC IDDBYN-KODD-CYGJ-OPQM
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Half Cent 1863: Photos
ImageDetails
Half Cent 1863: Photo Coin - 1/2 Cent, Sarawak, 1863 / thumbnail Coin - 1/2 Cent, Sarawak, 1863
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: This piece may be a cast copy.
Source
Half Cent 1863: Photo Coin - 1/2 Cent, Sarawak, 1863 / thumbnail Coin - 1/2 Cent, Sarawak, 1863
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: This piece may be a cast copy.
Source
Half Cent 1863: Photo Bronze 1/2 cent, SE Asia, 1863 / thumbnail Bronze 1/2 cent, SE Asia, 1863
Copyright: American Numismatic Society / CC BY NC
Source
Half Cent 1863: Photo Bronze 1/2 cent, SE Asia, 1863 / thumbnail Bronze 1/2 cent, SE Asia, 1863
Copyright: American Numismatic Society / CC BY NC
Source
Half Cent 1863: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore and BruneiSarawak SS 5
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsSarawak KM# 2, 2a (Bronze-plated proof)