Summary

1/4 Cent, Issued by Straits Settlements, Malaysia, Penang, Malacca, Singapore, 1872 H
Minted by Heaton & Son, Birmingham, England

Obverse Description

Head of the Queen wearing coronet or diadem ornamented with jewels facing left; around, VICTORIA QUEEN. The ends of the coronet are connected by a band which is partly hidden by the hair. The hair is drawn into a knot tied with a bow which hangs down the back of the neck. Mint mark, H, below neck truncation.

Reverse Description

Within a circle of beads, 1/4; around above, STRAITS SETTLEMENTS; below, QUARTER CENT 1872

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

This formed part of the first issue of copper coins for the Colony of the Straits Settlements. The new legal tender of the Colony was the silver dollar of which this coin was a subsidiary, such coins were legal tender up to $1. From 1867 the dollar coins of Hong Kong, Spain, Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia were legal tender. Later the Japanese Yen, the USA Trade dollar and the British Trade Dollar were added.

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