Sarawak, J. Brooke, copper keping, 1841, badger NGC XF45BN

Sarawak, J. Brooke, copper keping, 1841, badger l., initials JB(for James Brooke) in centre, SEPT 24 1841 below, rev. Hejira date 1247h (KM.TN1), certified and graded by NGC as Extremely Fine 45 Brown, very rare, This was the first coin issued by Rajah Brooke for his newly established private 'country'. 

The keping denomination was the standard of the current money of the archipelgo, hundreds of millions of kepings being imported from England and issued from Singapore all through the 1830's and 1840's. The Sarawak keping is so rare that it was unlikely to have been struck in any significant quantity. However, either the mintage sufficed until 1863 when new coins arrived from Birmingham denominated in 'cents', or Rajah Brooke was consumed with other matters and allowed local circulation to be supplied by anything that was available - the situation in virtually all Great Britain's far flung empire and even in the British Isles themselves until 1816. The neighbouring Straits Settlements received its first coinage in 1845, comprising quarter, half and one cents, and when Sarawak ordered new coinage in 1863 it followed suit. 

While the Straits introduced a silver coinage in 1871, it was not until 1900 that Sarawak under Charles Brooke ordered it's first. A CLASSIC RARITY IN THE ENTIRE BRITISH COLONIAL SERIES AND IN SUPERB CONDITION Ten coins recorded by NGC of which only one is listed in MS grade (63) and this not seen by the cataloguer 

Estimation: £6000-7000

Open bid: £4,800

Auctioneer: St. James, Auction 38, 29/09/2016

Sold for GBP 4,800 + 20%

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