Sarawak dollar
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The dollar was the currency of Sarawak from 1858 to 1953. It was subdivided into 100 cents. The dollar remained at par with Straits dollar and its successor the Malayan dollar, the currency of Malaya and Singapore, from its introduction until both currencies were replaced by the Malaya and British Borneo dollar in 1953.
During the Japanese occupation period (1942-1945, paper money was issued in denominations ranging from 1 cent to 1000 dollars. This currency was fixed at 1 dollar = 1 Japanese yen, compared to a 1:2 pre-war rate. Following the war, the Japanese occupation currency was declared worthless and the previous issues of the Sarawak dollar regained their value relative to sterling (two shillings four pence).
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[edit] Coins
Throughout its history, coins were minted in values of ¼ cent, ½ cent, 1 cent, 2½ cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, and 50 cents. Coin equal to or above 5 cents contain precious metal. However, 5-cent and 10-cent coins were made of copper-nickel since 1920. The coins carry the portrait and the name of the Raja, James Brooke (as J. Brooke) until 1868, Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke (as C. Brooke) from 1868 to 1917, and Charles Vyner Brooke (as C. V. Brooke) from 1917 to the end of this currency.
[edit] Banknotes
The first series was issued by the Sarawak Government Treasury. They were hand-stamped notes of low quality. All later notes were issued by the Government of Sarawak except for the 10-cent and 25-cent notes in 1919 (by the Treasury again). Throughout its history, banknotes came in the values of 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100. Anything before 1922 or above $50 is extremely rare.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Albert Pick (1996). in Neil Shafer, George S. Cuhaj, Colin R. Bruce II (editors): Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues to 1960, 8th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-469-1.
- (2003) in Chester L. Krause, Cliffor Mischler, Colin R. Bruce II, et al. (editors): 2004 Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1901-present, 31st ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87349-593-4.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: No modern predecessor |
Currency of Sarawak 1858 – 1942 Note: had been at par with Straits dollar, and Malayan dollar after 1939 |
Succeeded by: Japanese occupation Malayan dollar Location: present day Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Reason: Japanese occupation Ratio: at par Note: The Japanese allowed the former currencies to to circulate, but they were in practice hoarded as a more reliable store of value. |
| Preceded by: Japanese occupation Malayan dollar Location: present day Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Reason: Japan lost World War II Ratio: The occupation currency became worthless. The value of the pre-occupation currency was restored. |
Currency of Sarawak 1945 – 1953 Note: had been at par with Malayan dollar |
Succeeded by: Malaya and British Borneo dollar Reason: creation of a common Board of Commissioners of Currency Ratio: at par, or 60 dollars = 7 British pounds |
