Sunday, June 18, 2023

Bank Negara Malaysia Museum ~ Numismatics Gallery

The Numismatics Gallery @ Bank Negara Malaysia Museum & Art Gallery

… tells us about the history of coins and currency notes. In this entry, I am only posting about some interesting old coins used to Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak.  Going back as far as the 15th century, there are coins used in individual states during old Malay rulers and under foreign rule. 

Coins of the Melaka Sultanate

Sultan Muzaffar Shah ~ Pitis and Half Pitis

Sultan Mansur Shah - Half Pitis

Sultan Mahmud Shah - Pitis

Sultan Ahmad Shah - Pitis

Coins of doubtful authenticity during the Melaka Sultanate

Sultan Muzaffar Shah

Sultan Mansur Shah

Sultan Ahmad Shah

Private Tin Coins issued in Melaka by Chinese Chiefs and Merchants


Design adapted from the Sung Dynasty, China

Gold Kupang from Johor



Gold Kupang from Johor


Gold coins from Johor


Gold coins from Johor




Silver coins from Johor

One Penjuru

Quarter Penjuru

Ambur-Ambur was casted or moulded onto thin metal pieces. So, are these real coins? These particular ones were distributed at funeral processions.


Private monetary tokens from Pahang



Coins from Selangor

Tin Pitis

Copper token from Singapore

Coins from Perak

Tin Pitis

Copper token from Singapore

Private tokens

Gold Kupang and Silver Rial from Kedah

Gold Kupang

Half Rial

Cockerel shaped tin coins from Kedah

Cockerel perched on 5 rings

Depending on what one purchases, the cockerel is worth 5 cents and each ring is worth 1 cent. The rings could be broken into individual rings to pay for a purchase. For example, if one purchases something for 6 cents, then a cockerel and one ring are only needed to pay for the purchase.



Broken off rings

Tin coins from Terengganu




Tin coins from Terengganu

Pitis with Arabic inscriptions



Unique coins from Terengganu

Terengganu Money Trees


Sun ray shaped money tree

Money trees without coins attached

Cluster of coins

Gold Kijang coins from Kelantan



Siamese coins in Kelantan



Sao Tome Gold coins from Portuguese rule of Melaka


Silver coins from Potuguese rule of Melaka



Portuguese rule of Melaka ~ First, Second and Third issues of Tin Coins


Tin coins from Portuguese rule of Melaka





Silver coins during Dutch rule of Melaka







Bonk Stivers during the Dutch rule of Melaka

Bonk 1 Stiver

Bonk 2 Stivers


Copper coins of the Balemark series issued during the British rule of Penang





Silver coins of the Balemark series issued during the British rule of Penang


The Coat of Arms series of coins during the British rule of Penang




Tin coins issued during the Emergency (Darurat) times in Penang




The British Government in the Straits Settlements ~ 1/4 cent coins issued during the reign of Queen Victoria




The British Government in the Straits Settlements ~ Silver coins issued during the reign of King Edward VII



The British Government in the Straits Settlement ~ Bronze couns issued during the reign of King George V


Copper coins issued during the rule of Rajah James Brooke in Sarawak


One Keping or Satu Keping 1841 coins, issued during the rule of Rajah James Brooke in Sarawak

Copper (Tembaga)

Brass (Loyang)

Bronze (Gangsa)

Copper coins issued during the rule of Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke in Sarawak

1 cent

1 cent

Copper coins issued by the British North Borneo Company

1/2 cent

1 cent


Pattern coins of British North Borneo 1878



Private tokens issued in Sabah

Labuk British North Borneo

The Labuk Planting Company Limited

Tenom Rubber Company Limited


Private Tokens issued in Sabah

New Labuan Borneo Tobacco Company Limited Estate Shop

London Tobacco Company





Coins of the Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya 1939 - 1952





Osaka Mint, Japan 1942
Aluminium pattern coins used during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya







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