Item number: A1691

Year: AD 1920

Material: Bronze

Size: 21.1 x 21.1 x 1.9 mm

Weight: 5.6 g

Manufactured by: Calcutta Mint

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2014

This is a 1-cent copper coin, minted at the Calcutta Mint in India and issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency for the Straits Settlements. One hundred cents were equivalent to one Straits dollar.

The obverse of the coin features a left-facing half-length portrait of King George V, wearing the Tudor Crown and dressed in his coronation robes. The surrounding inscription reads “GEORGE V KING AND EMPEROR OF INDIA”, denoting his titles as King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India. The portrait was designed by Australian sculptor Edgar Bertram MacKennal, the first Australian artist to have his work exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts. His works gained widespread acclaim in Britain, Australia, and France. However, his most recognisable works among the general public were undoubtedly his portrait designs of King George V, featured on coronation medals, coins, and postage stamps. George V held a particular appreciation for MacKennal’s work, commissioning him on multiple occasions for further projects.

The reverse of the coin bears the denomination “1 CENT” at the centre, encircled by a beaded border. The surrounding inscription reads “STRAITS SETTLEMENTS”, referring to the colonial administration, while “1920” denotes the year of issue.

The Straits Settlements were originally established in AD 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company. The colony initially comprised Penang, Singapore, Malacca, and Dinding, with Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Labuan later coming under the administration of the Governor of the Straits Settlements. Among the local Chinese community, the Straits Settlements were colloquially referred to as “San Chow Fu” (Three States Prefecture) or “Lé Yú Jiā” (叻嶼呷), derived from Singapore (Shílàbù), Penang (Bīnlángyǔ), and Malacca (Mǎliùjiǎ). In 1867, the Straits Settlements were formally transferred to direct British rule as a Crown Colony, administered by a Governor appointed from London, who also typically held the position of High Commissioner for the various British dependencies, autonomous territories, and protectorates in the British East Indies. During the Pacific War, which began in AD 1941, Japanese forces occupied numerous British territories in the region. After the war, in AD 1946, the Straits Settlements were dissolved, with its territories reassigned to different administrative jurisdictions.

Initially, the Straits Settlements adopted the Indian rupee as a standard currency for administrative convenience. However, due to the demands of trade, the rupee proved inadequate and was less widely accepted in East Asia compared to the “Spanish dollar” (佛洋), referring to Spanish silver coins. In AD 1845, after obtaining the right to mint copper coinage, the Straits Settlements issued its first series of coins, including the 1-cent copper coin. In AD 1897, the colony implemented a currency board system, establishing the Board of Commissioners of Currency, which monopolised coinage and banknote issuance, replacing the previous free circulation of multiple foreign currencies. Following the enactment of the 1899 Currency Ordinance, the Board began issuing Straits Settlements currency, and banks were prohibited from issuing their own banknotes upon the expiry of their charters. Among the Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaya, the Straits dollar became known as “Lé Bì” (叻幣) or “Lé Yú Jiā Treasury Notes” (叻嶼呷國庫銀票). In AD 1940, the Straits dollar was officially replaced by the Malayan dollar.

物件編號: A1691

年代: 公元 1920 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 21.1 x 21.1 x 1.9 mm

重量: 5.6 g

製造地: 加爾各答鑄幣廠

來源: 大城郵幣社 2014

這是一枚於印度加爾各答鑄幣廠鑄造，海峽殖民地貨幣發行委員會(Board of Commissioners of Currency for the Straits Settlements)所發行的1分銅幣。100分等於1海峽元(straits dollar)。

銅幣的正面是喬治五世的左側半身像，頭戴都鐸王冠，身著加冕時的皇袍。沿邊幣文「GEORGE V KING AND EMPEROR OF INDIA」，即「喬治五世國王，印度皇帝」。肖像的設計者，為澳洲雕塑家埃德加·伯特倫·麥肯納爾(Edgar Bertram MacKennal)。麥肯納爾是第一位在皇家藝術學院展出作品的澳大利亞人，作品在英國、澳大利亞與法國均受到廣泛歡迎。但讓他在普羅大眾中聲名鵲起的代表作，無疑為喬治五世的加冕勳章與硬幣、郵票上的肖像。喬治五世顯然特別青睞麥肯納爾的作品，此後也委託多次他創作。

銅幣的背面中央為面額「1 CENT」，即「1分」。以細珠圈帶環繞，圈帶內「STRAITS SETTLEMENTS」，即為「海峽殖民地」，「1920」為其發行年。

海峽殖民地最初於公元1826 年建立，是英國東印度公司所控制領土的一部分，最初包括檳城、新加坡、馬六甲和丁丁，聖誕島、科科斯(基林)群島與納閩島後亦由海峽殖民地總督管理。於當地華人間，因新加坡(石叻埠)、檳城(檳榔嶼)和麻六甲(嗎六呷)而簡稱為三州府或者叻嶼呷。公元1867 年起，作為直轄殖民地直接受倫敦控制。海峽殖民地由倫敦派任之總督治理，通常兼任英屬東印度群島各屬邦、自治領、保護國的高級專員。公元1941年，太平洋戰爭期間，日軍攻佔英屬東印度諸多地區。戰後，公元1946年，殖民地解散，屬地劃歸各國管理。

海峽殖民地最初由於方便管理，一體適用英屬印度盧比。後由於貿易需求，盧比不敷使用，在東亞的接受度遠不如「佛洋」，即西班牙銀幣。公元1845年，海峽殖民地獲得銅幣製造權後，首批銅幣發行，其中包括1分銅幣。公元1886年，由於西班牙銀幣短缺，發行面額50分的銀幣。公元1897年，海峽殖民地引進貨幣局製度，並成立貨幣委員會，壟斷鑄幣與發鈔權，發行海峽殖民地元，簡稱海峽元，此前各國貨幣多元流通的情況終結。公元1899 年《貨幣條例》頒布後，委員會開始發行海峽殖民地貨幣，銀行在其特許狀到期後被禁止自行發行紙幣。海峽元在新馬華人間被稱為叻嶼呷國庫銀票，又簡稱為「叻幣」。公元1940年，海峽元被馬來亞元所取代。