Merchant Token - 1 Keping, Island of Sultana, 1804

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Summary:: 1 Keping, Issued by Malaysia, Singapore, Sultana, 1804
Statement Of Significance:: 'Singapore Merchants' Tokens: There was no dominant native currency in Singapore until the formation Straits Settlements in 1826. The Spanish Dollars was unit of account although a variety of other coins circulated. The East India Company?s official Keping coins of 1804 for Sumatera was widely used in Singapore and then neighbouring areas. In order to provide an acceptable coinage, Singapore merchants began to issue their own tokens closely copying the East India Company?s official Keping in 1828. The Singapore merchants changed the name of their tokens intended for Sumatera trade from ?Island of Sumatera? to ? Island of Sultana?.'
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Tagged with:	british empire coins, british commonwealth and empire coins
Themes this item is part of:	Public Life & Institutions Collection
Primary Classification:	TRADE TOKENS
Secondary Classification:	Malaysia - British North Borneo
DateEra:	1804 AD 1219 AH
Denomination:	1 Keping
Obverse Description:	Arms of British East IndiaCompany; around above, ISLAND OF SULTANA; below, 1804
Reverse Description:	Malay inscription with the date 1219 below
Edge Description:	Plain
Shape:	Round
Material:	Copper
Issued By:	Singapore, 1804
References:	Bank Negara Malaysia Money Museum http://moneymuseum.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=8&;pg=14&ac=26
Bibliography:	[Book], Jerome Remick, British Commonwealth Coins, Regency Coin and Stamp Co. Ltd., Winnipeg, 1971, 538 Pages