1 Keping Sultana

1219 (1805) year


Copper	1.9 g	21 mm

Description

Issuer	Sumatra (British East Indies)
Type	Token
Year	1219 (1805)
Calendar	Islamic (Hijri)
Value	1 Keping (1⁄400)
Currency	Dollar (1783-1824)
Composition	Copper
Weight	1.9 g
Diameter	21 mm
Thickness	0.8 mm
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized	Yes
Updated	2024-10-04

References

Numista	N#37109
Rarity index	53%

Reverse

Arabic inscription with denomination at top and date at bottom using eastern Arabic numeral. Beads around border.

Script: Arabic

Lettering:
۱
سات کڤڠ
۱۲۱٩

Unabridged legend:
1
Satu keping
1219

Translation:
One keping
AH 1219

Edge

Plain

Comment

These coins were not official currency of any state. They were first issued in the early 1800s by British merchants at Singapore, to alleviate base coin shortage, before spreading to various parts of the Malay Archipelago. To circumvent confiscation attempts by colonial authorities (particularly the Dutch), British merchants use inscriptions that refer to locations that are vague, fictitious, or unaffiliated to Europeans. In this manner, legally it could not be argued that the tokens were intended for circulation in colonial territories.

The token's "Island of Sultana" is a fictitious location. They were issued after a Dutch proclamation in 15th October 1835 to confiscate a previous issue with "Island of Sumatra" inscription.

See Singh (1986:445-449) for details.

Interesting fact

The A Token 1 Keping (Sultana) 1219 (1805) from Sumatra (British East Indies) made of Copper weighing 1.9 g is an interesting coin because it is a rare example of a coin that was issued by a local ruler in Sumatra during the British East India Company's rule in the region. The coin features a unique blend of Islamic and Hindu-Buddhist motifs, reflecting the cultural diversity of the region. Additionally, the coin's small weight and copper composition make it a notable example of a low-denomination coin that was used for everyday transactions in the region.

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
1219 (1805)		-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 1 Keping (Sultana) 1219 (1805) coin.