Britain had a lot of small Island Colonies. These were
originally to service the needs of the Royal Navy. Singapore and
Hong Kong were two in the Far East.
The Island of Singapore was settled by Sir Stampfod Raffles on the 6th
February 1819.
Raffles was in the employ of the East India Company and saw Singapore's
location as important for the China & Japan trade.
At that time The East India Company had a monopoly of the British trade
in the east. By the 1840s it's influence was waining
and in 1853 it lost it's monopoly and the British India Government took
over resposibility for the Colonies.
On the 28th December 1866 the handing of the settlements was
transferred to the Imperial Government and on the 1st April
1867, the Straits Settlements became a British Crown Colony.
In 1826 the three settlements of Singapore, Penang and Malacca were
amalgamated into the Straits Settlements.
The Seat of Government was in Penang until 1836 when it was transferred
to Singapore.
The first nine copper coins reflect the change of administration of the
region.
Coins for the Straits Settlements started with the date 1845,
with Quarter, Half and One Cent copper coins that had East
India Company on them.
The same denomination coins from 1862 had, India
Straits 1862 on them.
From 1872 the coins had Straits Settlements on them.
The silver coins were the same weight and fineness as the coins of Hong
Kong and were often accepted in each other.
The Chinese merchants were more interested in the silver, than the
origin of the coin.
1919 The Centenary of Singapore
Medal.
This is a 38mm pewter medal. It has been holed at the top.
It was made by Spinks SPINK FECIT under the
bust. BHM 4152.
A similar silver medal in EF, sold in October 2019 for 500 Pounds.
1923 KEDAH EXHIBITION MEDAL
34mm silver medal. In 1923 by the Anglo-Kedah Treaty, Kedah
came under British Protection.
Kedah is the most northerly Malay State, bordering Thailand. Alor
Star is the main city.
The Kedah Exhibition took place on the 22nd to 24th September 1923, to
select a collection of the arts and crafts
of Kedah to be taken to the 1924 British Empire Exhibition.
This is the only Kedah Exhibition Medal I have seen in the last 50
years of collecting.
There is almost no reference to the Kedah Exhibition. I found one
article in the Malay Tribune newspaper.
If anyone has more information. Please let me know.
1937 Coronation Medal King George
VI & Queen Elizabeth
35mm bronze medal. Portraits of the King and Queen on the
obverse and the Penang Coat of Arms on the Reverse.
The East India Company took posession of Penang Island in 1786, and
renamed it the Prince of Wales Island, which is
why the Coat of Arms features the Prince of Wales Feathers.
1971 Jurong Bird Park Singapore Medal
41mm Gilt Bronze Medal. The Park was opened in 1971. There
are a series of medal with different birds found in the Park.
1988 Singapore / Malaysia Year of the
Dragon Token
38mm Gilt bronze token. 1888 Straits Settlement 1cent on
obverse. Lucky Dragon on reverse.
Stamford Raffles Modern Tourist Medal.
38mm pewter tourist medal.
SPINK FECIT under the
bust. BHM 4152.
