Summary

1 Cent, Issued by British North Borneo, Malaysia, 1938 H
Minted by Heaton & Son, 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, the mint mark, H

Reverse Description

Within a circle of beads, 1 / CENT; around, STATE OF NORTH BORNEO . 1938 .

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. These coins were linked to the silver dollar as used in the Straits Settlement and Hong Kong. In 1903-1904 it moved from the use of bronze to copper-nickel, issuing 1 cent, 2 1/2 cents and 5 cent coin in that metal. For the 1 cent denomination, the 2,000,000 pieces struck in 1904 sufficed until 1921 when a further 1,000,000 pieces were produced. That issue in turn proved sufficient until 1935 when another 1,000,000 produced followed by this, the second last production (of the same number) in 1938. The last 1 cent coins were prepared in 1941 with the Japanese invasion in 1942 ending the series.

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