Sarawak dollar
Encyclopedia
The dollar was the currency
of Sarawak
from 1858 to 1953. It was subdivided into 100 cents. The dollar remained at par with the Straits dollar
and its successor the Malayan dollar
, the currency of Malaya
and Singapore
, from its introduction until both currencies were replaced by the Malaya and British Borneo dollar
in 1953.
During the Japanese occupation period (1942-1945, paper money was issued in denominations ranging from 1 cent to 1000 dollars. This currency was fixed at 1 dollar = 1 Japanese yen
, compared to a 1:2 pre-war rate. Following the war, the Japanese occupation currency was declared worthless and the previous issues of the Sarawak dollar regained their value relative to sterling (two shilling
s four pence
).
. However, 5-cent and 10-cent coins were made of copper-nickel since 1920. The coins carry the portrait and the name of the Raja
, James Brooke
(as J. Brooke) until 1868, Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke
(as C. Brooke) from 1868 to 1917, and Charles Vyner Brooke
(as C. V. Brooke) from 1917 to the end of this currency.
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
of Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
from 1858 to 1953. It was subdivided into 100 cents. The dollar remained at par with the Straits dollar
Straits dollar
The Straits dollar was the currency of the Straits Settlements from 1904 until 1939. At the same time, it was also used in the Federated Malay States, the Unfederated Malay States, Sarawak, Brunei, and British North Borneo.-History:...
and its successor the Malayan dollar
Malayan dollar
The dollar was the currency of the British colonies and protectorates in Malaya and Brunei until 1953. It was introduced in 1939, replacing the Straits dollar at par, with 1 dollar = two shillings four pence sterling .-Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya formed:The Malayan dollar was issued...
, the currency of Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, from its introduction until both currencies were replaced by the Malaya and British Borneo dollar
Malaya and British Borneo dollar
The Malaya and British Borneo dollar was the currency of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo and Brunei from 1953 to 1967. The currency was issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo...
in 1953.
During the Japanese occupation period (1942-1945, paper money was issued in denominations ranging from 1 cent to 1000 dollars. This currency was fixed at 1 dollar = 1 Japanese yen
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
, compared to a 1:2 pre-war rate. Following the war, the Japanese occupation currency was declared worthless and the previous issues of the Sarawak dollar regained their value relative to sterling (two shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
s four pence
Penny
A penny is a coin or a type of currency used in several English-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currency system.-Etymology:...
).
Coins
Throughout its history, coins were minted in values of ¼ cent, ½ cent, 1 cent, 2½ cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, and 50 cents. Coin equal to or above 5 cents contain precious metalPrecious metal
A precious metal is a rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical element of high economic value.Chemically, the precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high lustre, are softer or more ductile, and have higher melting points than other metals...
. However, 5-cent and 10-cent coins were made of copper-nickel since 1920. The coins carry the portrait and the name of the Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
, James Brooke
James Brooke
James, Rajah of Sarawak, KCB was the first White Rajah of Sarawak. His father, Thomas Brooke, was an English Judge Court of Appeal at Bareilly, British India; his mother, Anna Maria, born in Hertfordshire, was the illegitimate daughter of Scottish peer Colonel William Stuart, 9th Lord Blantyre,...
(as J. Brooke) until 1868, Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke
Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke
Charles, Rajah of Sarawak, GCMG , born Charles Anthony Johnson, ruled as the head of state of Sarawak from 3 August 1868 until his death...
(as C. Brooke) from 1868 to 1917, and Charles Vyner Brooke
Charles Vyner Brooke
Vyner, Rajah of Sarawak, GCMG was the third and final White Rajah of Sarawak.-Early life:...
(as C. V. Brooke) from 1917 to the end of this currency.