Sarawak James Brooke 1 Cent

History

1 Cent 1863, KM# 3, Sarawak, James Brooke

Obverse. Photo © Numismatic Guaranty Company

Description

The Kingdom of Sarawak (also known as the State of Sarawak) was a British protectorate located in the northwestern part of the island of Borneo. It was established as an independent kingdom from a series of land concessions acquired by an Englishman, James Brooke, from the Sultanate of Brunei. The kingdom received recognition as an independent state from the United States in 1850, and from the United Kingdom in 1864. The kingdom was made a British protectorate in 1888. World War II and the arrival of Japanese forces ultimately brought an end to the Raj and the Protectorate administration, with the territory placed under a military administration on the Japanese capitulation in 1945, and ceded to Britain as a Crown Colony in 1946. The area now forms the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

Obverse	Person (king, queen, tsar etc.) James Brooke Head of 1st Rajah of Sarawak James Brooke left surrounded by his name and title. Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak (1803–1868), was a British soldier and adventurer who founded the Kingdom of Sarawak in Borneo. He ruled as the first White Rajah of Sarawak from 1841 until his death in 1868. Brooke was born and raised under the Company Raj in India. After a few years of education in England, he served in the Bengal Army, was wounded, and resigned his commission. He then bought a ship and sailed out to the Malay Archipelago where, by helping to crush a rebellion, he became governor of Sarawak. He then vigorously suppressed piracy in the region and, in the ensuing turmoil, restored the Sultan of Brunei to his throne, for which the Sultan made Brooke the Rajah of Sarawak. He ruled until his death. J. BROOKE RAJAH
Reverse	Tree, flower, plant etc. Olive Value within an olive wreath, date below. SARAWA K ONE CENT 1863
Edge	Plain