© Heritage Auctions
© Heritage Auctions
1 Keping Sultana
1835 year| Copper | - | - |
| Issuer | Sumatra (British East Indies) |
|---|---|
| Type | Token |
| Year | 1835 |
| Value | 1 Keping (1⁄400) |
| Currency | Dollar (1783-1824) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Shape | Round |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#43830 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 86% |
Reverse
Malformed Arabic inscription with denomination at top and fictitious date at bottom using eastern Arabic numeral. Beads around border.
Script: Arabic
Lettering:
٩
(?)
١۴۱۱
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) 1835 from Sumatra (British East Indies) made of Copper is a rare and valuable coin that is highly sought after by collectors. One interesting fact about this coin is that it was minted during a time when the British East India Company was actively involved in the region, and the coin's design reflects this influence. The coin features an image of a sultana, which was a title used by female rulers in the region, and the reverse side of the coin bears the inscription "1 Keping" in Malay, which was the local language spoken in Sumatra at the time. This coin is a unique piece of history that provides a glimpse into the cultural and economic exchanges that took place between the British and the people of Sumatra during the 19th century.
