Aidan, here's a Brit Commonwealth issue coin for you. Minted in England (probably the Soho mint in Birmingham) for the southern Malasian state of Malacca in 1833 (I think). This one is one of the error dates (1411 AH). Now then, what i don't understand about it is that it also appears to be a double error coin in that the denomination isn't `1' , but rather a sideways `9'. What can you tell me about this error coin? Did you know that the Dutch captured Malacca from the Portuguese in 1641? King Billy would have been proud of them don't you think?
Ian, AH 1411 is actually the Arabic date for 1991.I haven't got this error 'Fighting Cock' piece.I have the normal AH 1247 (1831) 1 Keping.There is an AH 1247 2 Kepings,but it is quite scarce.The other error dates for the 1 Keping are AH 1147,AH 1219,& AH 1241.The obverse inscription is 'Tanah Melayu' (Land of the Malays).These coins were issued privately by British merchants in Singapore,as was the Perakese & Selangorean AH 1251 (1835) 1 Keping coins (which I don't have). Sarawak also had a couple of 1 Keping coins,but these are extremely rare,& were issued by Rajah Sir James Brooke during 1842. Aidan.
The one i've posted was issued in 1833 even though the AH date translates to 1991. The people at Soho mint probably had difficulty with arabic. Any idea why the normal `error dates' for this issue (including your one presumably) have the `1' denomination at the top reverse, while my one has a `9' ? Is it an error error coin? Should the mint master at Soho mint have been sacked for his shoddy quality control? I mean, so many error dates for one issue. Almost unheard of in any other coinage.
Ian,the workers at the Soho Mint wouldn't know what the Arabic inscriptions meant,which is why the inscription on the AH 1411 error is regarded as meaningless.As to the status of the Soho Mint,it was the private mint that was established by Matthew Boulton.It was the Pobjoy Mint of its day,as it was striking coins for the British East India Company between 1786 & 1800,& played a very strong role in the token era.The Anglesey Mines 'Druid's Head' pieces of the Parys Mining Company are the most well-known pieces that were struck at the Soho Mint,next to the coins of 1797,1799,& 1805-07. Aidan.
The inscription on this particular coin (Tanah Melayu?) is identical to all other pieces of the type excepting for variations in the date caused by errors at the mint. All the others i've seen have a `1' denomination. This is the only one i've ever seen with a `9', which is why i bought it. Have you seen one with a `9' before now Aidan?
That's what it is supposed to be. My one is missing the 1/ bit, and the 9 is a good bit larger than it should be.
Indonesia , Sumatera Island , Error Date 1411 I have that coin. Above the cock "TANAH MELAYU" in "Huruf Jawi" , Malay written in Arab Letters + additions. This is similar to Melaka = Malacca coins dated 1247AH. BUT ! The term TANAH MELAYU = "THE MALAY LAND" Referres also to the Island of Sumatera , in Indonesia. The date 1411AH is an error because it equals to 1990AD. The other side has twusted legend : A part of "MELAYU" is "standing " in the middle 90 degrees counter clockwise. The right and left is unreadable. It may be twisted "PULAU" "Island" in Malay/Indonesian, for the nickname of Sumatera is also PULAU MELAYU "Island of the Malays". The coins were issued in defiance to the dutch conquset during Padri war 1821-1837, that ended in conqust of the south and central ports of Sumatera by the Dutch. The values of a Keping is like the Kepings of Malaysia , and the Ducth saw the existence of the coins as a British intervension in their own affairs. There is no denomination written on the coin , only the size confirms that the value is 1 Keping = Piece in Malay.
Giladzuc,I have checked my old 1981 Krause,& it confirms that this 'Fighting Cock' piece is from Malacca,not Sumatra.The Sumatran ones have what looks like a chrysathemum flower on the reverse.I do have a British Sumatran 1 Keping coin,which has the East India Company's Coat-of-Arms with the date '1804' below it & the inscription 'ISLAND OF SUMATRA' above.The reverse has what looks like a back to front '9' 'Satu Keping' in Arabic with '1219' in Arabic numerals.The '1219' is AH 1219. Aidan.
To Aidan Work : please look at Krause catalog in : "ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO EASTERN MINT NAMES" under the letter M "TANAH MALAYU" = "LAND OF THE MALAYS" see "Sumatra" , Indonesia and "Malacca" malaysia. In a more correct spelling it is written Melayu in reference to Malacca in the pages reffering to Malaysian states. I have also the "chrysathemum" Keping from Trumon , in Indonesia, dated 1250AH (=1834AD) . I have also the 1804 / 1219 Kepings of the British East India conpany's Kepings inscribed "Island of Sumatra" and "island of Sultana" with East Indaia Company Coat-of-Arms. I read both Arabic and Malay , and I read malay in both scripsts "Huruf jawi" (Arabic + additions) and Latin letters.
Many thanks for this wonderful insight you have provided. It's great to have your linguistic talents (as well as your numismatic ones) available to us. :thumb: Ian
Thanks A Lot , Ian There was an additional value for my visit to Indonesia in 1997. People there were amazed to hear a turist openning his mouth to speak Indonesian. It was a helpful tool when I searched for coins there. As for your country, Scotland, I have only one coin , dated 1678. It was hard to get it , like going to a war.
Giladzuc,I am not only basing my identification on what is in the 19th Century Krause catalogue,but also what is listed in Jerome Remick's Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations,1649-1971.If you have this book,which has a black cover,you will see what I mean. I am not doubting your linguistic ability at all.Keep it up. Aidan.
Is it possible that you can share the images of these two coins? Much appreciated. Regards Ballabh Garg
