Summary

1 Cent, Issued by British North Borneo Co., Malaysia, 1887 H
Minted by Heaton & Sons, Birmingham, England

Obverse Description

Shield of arms of the British North Borneo Company; on shield, a lion above a dhow; native warrior supporters one holding a shield the other as large machete; the crest, two arms holding a flag staff; below on ribbon the motto PERGO ET PERAGO (translation: I undertake and I achieve); below, 1887; the mint mark, H, above the date

Reverse Description

Within a laurel wreath, ONE CENT; above and below the denomination it is repeated in Chinese characters; below the wreath the denomination in Malay; around above, BRITISH NORTH BORNEO Co.

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

The British North Borneo Company had the right to produce coin under its Royal Charter, granted in 1881. It had 1 cent coins struck in England from 1882 and 1/2 cent pieces from 1885. These coins were linked to the silver dollar as used in the Straits Settlement and Hong Kong. In 1904 the Company moved from the use of bronze to copper-nickel for the 1 cent.

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