Malaya & British Borneo Coins
The monetary history of Malaya and British Borneo is fascinating and reflects the political and economic changes in the region. From the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, these British colonies underwent various transformations in their monetary systems, which left a unique numismatic legacy.
Colonial coins and banknotes
During the colonial period, the pound sterling was the reference currency in Malaya and British Borneo. However, in 1939 the Straits Dollar was introduced and became the official currency of the region. This currency was divided into 100 cents and coins of various values were issued, including 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. Banknotes, meanwhile, featured elaborate designs with local motifs and were printed in denominations ranging from 1 to 1000 dollars.
Transition to independence
With Malaya's independence in 1957, Bank Negara Malaysia was established and began issuing the Malayan dollar. This new currency initially maintained parity with the Straits dollar. In 1967, following the formation of Malaysia and the separation of Singapore, the Malaysian and Singapore dollar was created and used by both countries until 1973. Subsequently, each nation adopted its own currency, giving rise to the Malaysian ringgit. This transitional period produced numismatic series of great interest to collectors, reflecting the political and economic evolution of the region.
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📢 Malaya & British Borneo is a country that does not exist today. It is now part of the Malaysia coins.
The most valuable coins
The most valuable Malaya & British Borneo coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Coin Catalog
5 cents
1 cent (British North Borneo)
10 cents
1 cent (British North Borneo)
20 cents
50 cents
1 cent
5 cents (British North Borneo)
1 cent
1 cent
1 cent
1/4 cent
1/2 cent
1 cent
5 cents
50 cents
1/2 cent
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Malaya & British Borneo
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