Penang — Copper 1 Cent (1 Pice) 1810 KM# 14 | British East India Company

A copper 1 Cent (1 Pice) token-coin struck for Prince of Wales Island (Penang) under the authority of the British East India Company (EIC). Produced at the Royal Mint, London during the major currency overhaul of 1810, this machine-milled piece represents one of the earliest purpose-struck coins for a British colonial settlement in Southeast Asia.

Coin Details

• Denomination: 1 Cent / 1 Pice
• Issuing Authority: British East India Company (EIC)
• Mint: Royal Mint, London
• Date: 1810
• Composition: Copper
• Diameter: 28 mm
• Weight: ~8.55 g – 9.40 g
• Catalogue References: KM# 14 / Pridmore #16

Iconography

Obverse: The official East India Company Coat of Arms — the central quartered shield flanked by rampant lion supporters, EIC banners, and the Latin motto ribbon Auspicio Regis et Senatus Angliae ("By the authority of the King and the Senate of England") — all finely rendered. The date 1810 appears clearly at the base.

Reverse (coin rotation): The phonetic settlement name "ڤولو ڤينڠ" (Pulau Pinang) beautifully struck in elegant Jawi script, surrounded by an intricate ornamental lily-leaf wreath that remains well-defined despite normal high-point circulation wear.

Patina & Surface

The coin displays an exquisite, uniform, original chocolate-brown copper patina — the hallmark of an undisturbed, naturally aged piece. There are no signs of cleaning, artificial dipping, environmental pitting, or active oxidation. This is precisely the surface quality that experienced collectors and institutions look for.

Edge Quality — Cabinet Preservation

This specimen's most remarkable attribute is its flawless edge integrity. The vast majority of surviving 1810 Penang issues display severe rim bruises, rolling flat spots, or "barrel damage" from their original overseas transit in bulk. This specific example presents smooth, sharp, and precise edges, entirely free of knocks, contact marks, or rim dents — strongly suggesting it was singled out for careful storage or placed directly into an early numismatic cabinet rather than entering heavy commercial circulation.

⚠ Currently for display purposes only. Available for purchase from 1st November 2026.