Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Cent 1892-1897, KM# 7, Sarawak, Charles Brooke
  • 1 Cent 1892-1897, KM# 7, Sarawak, Charles Brooke
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

Bust of Charles Rajah left above the hole and two crossed flagpoles with flags.

Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak (1829–1917), born Charles Anthoni Johnson, ruled as the head of state of Kingdom of Sarawak from 3 August 1868 until his death. He succeeded his uncle, James Brooke, as the second White Rajah of this small country on the coast of Borneo.

Charles resigned his commission in the Royal Navy in 1861 and continued the work his uncle had started, suppressing piracy, slavery, and head-hunting, while encouraging trade and development and expanding his borders as the opportunity arose. In 1891 he established the Sarawak Museum, the first museum in Borneo. Brooke founded a boys' school in 1903, called the 'Government Lay School', where Malays could be taught in the Malay language. By the time of his death, Britain had granted Sarawak protectorate status, it had a parliamentary government and a railway, and oil had been discovered.

C. BROOKE RAJAH

Reverse

Value within wreath, date below. The mint mark (H) below knot wreath.

SARAWAK
ONE
CENT
H
1893

Edge

1 Cent

KM# 7 Schön# 1 Pr# 47
Characteristics
Material Copper
Weight 9.1 g
Diameter 29.4 mm
Thickness 1.9 mm
Shape round with a center hole
Alignment Medal
Mint
Heaton Mint, Birmingham (H)

Related coins

Copper, 8.9 g, ⌀ 29 mm