The 1845 is new for me, so I thought I'd post this set: Top L: 1845, 1 Cent, Copper "East India Company" (Single Year Type) Top R: 1862, 1 Cent, Copper "India Straits" (Single Year Type) Bottom L: 1872, 1 Cent, Copper "Straits Settlements" (1872-1883) Bottom R: 1919, 1 Cent, George V, Bronze "Straits Settlements" (1919, 1920, 1926) If I wanted to complete a type set I still need the Victoria 1884-86 and 1887-1901 and an Edward VII 1903-1908. Seems like it should be possible... Please post any Straits Settlement coins if you like!
I thought I had two. Here they are. But I just realized I've got none! LOL. My square one-cent looks like yours but it's not from the Straits Settlements. The round one is from Straits Settlements but it's not one-cent. But I'll post them anyway. Do you know why they called King George "Emperor"? (I don't know myself. Thought it was weird...)
The UK kings and queens called themselves Emperor/Empress of India from 1876 to 1948. Title was used on non-Indian coins as well.
Canadian coins, for example, bore an obverse legend including the abbreviated words "Et. Ind. Imp" -- "and Emperor of India". That is apparently why some of the 1948 coins, including the dollar, are so scarce -- Canada had to wait for the dies to be prepared (in England, I think), deleting the phrase after India gained its independence in 1947. By the time the dies arrived much of the year was gone, and soon enough it was time to start minting the 1949s.
Straits Settlements - One Cent, 1862 Straits Settlements - Quarter Cent, 1845 Straits Settlements - 50 Cents, 1920 + Straits Settlements - One Dollar, 1904
I believe technically an emperor is king over multiple countries. That's the difference between a kingdom and empire.
It's a complicated political question, as well as a translation one. For example, for example the same ruler might be both King of Hungary and Emperor or Austria. Or King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor. The Kings of Korea were briefly called Emperors as their vassal status to a declining Qing Dynasty was disrupted. In the context of Asia, a multi-ethnic state is often called an Empire when translated into English. Why is the ruler of Japan called an Emperor customarily? In part it's a political claim placing him approximately on the same level as the Emperor or China, whether deservedly or not. It's not at all clear that a figurehead Emperor of Japan should "outrank" a King of Thailand, who actually holds significant political power.
I like those squares. Here's a 1901 Straits set which was part of the 1901 British Empire Victorian type set I built for my daughter (also named Victoria, b. 2001) during the first decade of the millennium. 1/4-cent, NGC MS62 BN 1-cent, NGC AU details (rev. planchet flaw) (I had the 5-cents in NGC AU53 but have lost the picture of it) 10-cents, NGC AU58 20-cents, NGC AU58 (I never got the 50-cent piece, and they didn't strike dollars in 1901, to my knowledge.)
Man, that's an oldie. The Littleton envelope, I mean. Looks '60s-early-'70s vintage. Neat. (Both the coin and the packaging.)
Found a few more Straits Settlement coins in my unsorted copper/junk silver bins. First: 3 more 1 cents L: 1891? C: 1874 R: 1874 again
Next: Silvers 10 cents: 1888, 1888, 1901, 1910, 1927 5 cents: 1897 20 cents: 1898 50 cents: 1901 They varied the fineness of these, especially during WWI and just after when the worldwide price of silver rose. I'm especially happy with the 50 cents. I think it was a junk silver find in the 1990s. These can get quite pricey in better condition.
A slightly later political unit, British Malaya (1939-1953) From top L: 1 Cent, 1940, Bronze 5 Cents, 1950, Cu-Ni 10 Cents, 1950, Cu-Ni 20 Cents, 1948 and 1950, Cu-Ni
Last: Malaya and British Borneo (1953-1967) From top L: 5 Cents, 1961, Cu-Ni 10 Cents, 1953 (x2), Cu-Ni 20 Cents, 1954 and 1957, Cu-Ni
Straits Settlements - Half Cent, 1916 Straits Settlements - 5 Cents, 1920 Straits Settlements - Half Cent, 1932 Straits Settlements - Five Cents, 1935
