NGC MS64 1941 Sarawak 1 Cent - Extremely RARE!!!

Description

NGC MS64 1941 Sarawak 1 Cent - RARE!!!

The one cent coin was the most popular denomination of the Sarawak dollar. The 1941 issue is the last date when the denomination was minted. These coins never made it into circulation though due to the outbreak of the war - the ship carrying the shipment of coins to the colony was sunk by the Japanese; very few examples (estimated about 50) have survived.

Japanese occupation forces replaced Sarawak currency with their own invasion currency in 1942. After the war, Sarawak did not regain independence and eventually became one of the states forming the Federation of Malaysia.

Obverse: Head of Vyner (Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke), the third and last Rajah of Sarawak, facing right. Around the monarch's legend, C. V. BROOKE RAJAH.

Reverse: The value and denomination ONE CENT are in two lines within a wreath of two olive branches; around above, SARAWAK; below the wreath, the date 1941. The mint mark H of the Birmingham Mint (previously known as Heaton and Sons) is above the date.

Unlike the 1920 issue, the design is like that of earlier one cent coins.

Reverse Inscription	ONE CENT SARAWAK 1941

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Notes	"Issues of copper cents were made in 1937 and 1941, production of each date being continued in 1938 and 1942, respectively. This accounts for the rumour that 1942 cents were struck; but an examination of the Birmingham Mint records indicates that all coins struck early in 1942 merely continued the 1941 date. Of the 1941 cents some 2,016,000 were struck in that year and a further 984,000 in 1942 (including 18,227 by ICI). Due to the outbreak of the war in South-east Asia in December 1941, however, the entire issue was recalled before it could be dispatched to Sarawak and subsequently melted down. Only about 50 examples of the 1 cent of 1941 are now believed to be in existence." [Article] James A Mackay, Coin Digest, 1989 Vol.2 No.1. "The Coins of Malaysia", Remick's "The Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1649 - 1971" and other sources list mintage of 2,016,000. But, see note above.

Notes

"Issues of copper cents were made in 1937 and 1941, production of each date being continued in 1938 and 1942, respectively. This accounts for the rumour that 1942 cents were struck; but an examination of the Birmingham Mint records indicates that all coins struck early in 1942 merely continued the 1941 date. Of the 1941 cents some 2,016,000 were struck in that year and a further 984,000 in 1942 (including 18,227 by ICI).

Due to the outbreak of the war in South-east Asia in December 1941, however, the entire issue was recalled before it could be dispatched to Sarawak and subsequently melted down. Only about 50 examples of the 1 cent of 1941 are now believed to be in existence."

[Article] James A Mackay, Coin Digest, 1989 Vol.2 No.1.

"The Coins of Malaysia", Remick's "The Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1649 - 1971" and other sources list mintage of 2,016,000. But, see note above.