Saturday, January 29, 2011

The Straits Dollar Coins...................

  In the early 1900s Silver was the commodity much sought after, thus........................
The Straits Times 10 July 1903

 
The Singapore Free Press & Mercantile Advisor dated 19 July 1903


The Straits Times dated 24 July 1903 



The Straits Times dated 19 August 1903



The Straits Times dated 26 Sept 1903 

The Straits Times dated 3 Oct 1903 



Finally after a few months of newspaper publications, on 2 Oct 1903 new Straits Dollar coin was declared legal tender and subsequently issued but the coin was not popular with the local population especially the shopkeepers and illiterate market aunties.

Mexican and other dollars were collected and melted down to obtain the necessary silver bullion. Recoinage was done by the mint in Bombay, and was completed by November 1904.

 By this time the Straits Settlement Colony had received some 35,000,000 of the new dollar coins.

These coins were equal in weight and fineness to the existing British Dollar (416 grains troy, 900 millesimal fineness), but with a smaller diameter across the flan. The dies were engraved at the Royal Mint, from designs prepared by G.W. De Saulles.
(info from Pridmore: Coins and Coinage)


 
1903B



The Straits Times dated 3 Oct 1904




1904


The Straits Times dated 27 Mar 1907

The Straits Times dated 14 May 1907

By September 1906, the Straits Government was once again confronted with the problem of raising exchange rate, ratio to gold, etc.

Thus after some discussion with the local Chinese Advisory Board and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a decision was made for a second issue of Dollar coins with a reduction in weight, size but no reduction in fineness.

Subsequently, Dollar coins minted from 1907 to 1909 were smaller and lighter than the 1903 and 1904 dates.

                                                                                                  1907H

After the accession of George V and coupled with the First World War, Silver was in great demand and the prices rose rapidly.

Thus it became more profitable for the local population to melt the Dollar coins to obtain the Silver sell it than to use as a currency medium.

Another series of the Dollar coins with even smaller in size, lighter in weight and least of the Silver fineness as compared to the other two predecessor was minted and issued.

The reverse designs remained unchanged, but the obverse now showed the effigy of George V, wearing the Imperial Crown and the Robe of State, with the collar of the Garter and the Badge of the Bath.
                                                        (info from Pridmore: Coins and Coinage)



1919



1919 Restrike Proof 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

British Trade Dollars

        This newspaper article announces the proposed minting of the British Trade Dollars.
                                                                                       
The Straits Times dated 17 March 1894
         

The Straits Times dated 10 Jan 1895


The Straits Time 1 July 1895
   


                                1895B


                                                                                     
An odd enquiry to The Straits Times and published on 16 Oct 1901.
                              Never did found the published reply...............any advice from fellow collectors?

The rest of my personal collections of BTDs:
                                                                             1904



1913



1929B

                                                                                                                  

1930

1930
   

Saturday, January 8, 2011

My only East Malaysian (Sarawak & Borneo) Banknotes...................... :-(

Sadly, these three pieces are my only remaining collections of the early East Malaysian currency, I remembered I had also a BNBC twenty five & fifty cents banknotes, but probably misplaced somewhere.
These three pieces are almost practically uncirculated acquired thru' a foreign dealer and an auction house .

Ex-Spinks 22nd June 1996
The top piece has a richer hue than the bottom piece although they are consecutive pieces.


This other piece is from The British North Borneo Company dated 1st January 1936,engraved and printed by Blades,East & Blades Ltd. London

                                         .
The colour RED is still very vibrant considering the note is more than 72 years old.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy Belated New Year!!

        To all my friends and fellow collectors...............A Happy Belated & Prosperous 2011 to you and your family. May your wishes and dreams of havng that elusive banknote come true! 

I was away on holiday with my family and hence the lack of articles for the blog..........well here goes..................

A bit out of context....or country, got this foreign note with palindromic numerals (radar numbers to some collectors) from a supermarket cashier.


A beautiful South Korean banknote with unique numerals, make me an offer if you want to buy this note...........there is a slight small edge fold on the lower right hand corner otherwise crisp very good EF grade.

My other palindromic Singapore banknotes:


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