Following on from the previous post about Rajah Charles Brooke, we move forward in time to the reign of his son, Charles Vyner Brooke. He ruled from 1917 to 1946, succeeding his father during the First World War and reigning until the aftermath of the Second.

Vyner Brooke was the third and final “White Rajah” of Sarawak. This coin, minted in 1930, represents the twilight years of the dynasty. Within just over a decade of this coin being struck, the Japanese Imperial Army would invade Borneo, and the unique century-long experiment of the Brooke Raj would come to a close.

The Historical Context: Modernisation

By 1930, Sarawak was a different place than it was in the 1880s. The state was modernising, and so was the coinage.

The most significant change here is the metal. While the previous 1 cent we looked at was Copper, this 1930 issue is struck in Copper-Nickel. This was a more durable, “modern” alloy that resisted the humid tropical climate of Borneo better than pure copper (though as this example shows, it still toned heavily over time).

The Coin: 1930 Sarawak One Cent

  • Denomination: One Cent
  • Ruler: Rajah C.V. Brooke (Charles Vyner Brooke)
  • Year: 1930
  • Mint: Ralph Heaton & Sons (Birmingham)
  • Metal: Copper-Nickel
  • Reference: KM 18

The Heaton Connection:
Once again, the Heaton Mint in Birmingham struck this coinage. Unlike the 1885 “Ghost” issue, the 1930 issue typically displays the mintmark proudly.

  • Look closely: On the reverse, just above the date 1930 (specifically above the gap between the 9 and the 3), you should see a tiny letter H.

Condition & Grading

Grading Copper-Nickel is slightly different from Bronze, as the metal is harder.

The Assessment:

  • Obverse: The portrait of Vyner Brooke is clear. The ear and the jawline—typical wear points—are distinct. The hair detail is a little flat, but this is often due to the strike quality on this harder metal.
  • Reverse: The wreath remains sharp, and the lettering is bold.
  • Surface/Colour: Interestingly, this coin has a dark, bronze-like tone. Copper-Nickel is silver in colour when new, but in tropical climates, it often tones to a dark charcoal grey or brown. This “jungle tone” is very common for Sarawak issues. There is some minor surface residue (verdigris) amongst the letters of the legend.

Grade: Very Fine (VF)
A solid, collectable example of the type, showing honest circulation in the pre-war era.

The Verdict

This coin completes a “mini-set” within my collection: the Father and Son (Charles and Vyner Brooke). It tells the story of the transition from the rugged 19th-century expansion of Sarawak to the established state of the 20th century, all manufactured in the workshops of Birmingham.

Further Reading & Data: