Penang — Copper ½ Pice (½ Cent) 1787 KM# 2.2 | British East India Company

A copper ½ Pice (½ Cent) struck for Prince of Wales Island (Penang) under the authority of the British East India Company (EIC). Produced at the Calcutta Mint in 1787, these coins were requested by Captain Francis Light shortly after establishing the British settlement, designed to provide fractional coinage for everyday trading alongside the Spanish American silver dollars heavily circulating in the region.

Coin Details

• Denomination: ½ Pice / ½ Cent
• Issuing Authority: British East India Company (EIC)
• Mint: Calcutta Mint
• Date: 1787 CE (Hijri date AH 1197 on reverse)
• Composition: Copper
• Diameter: 19 mm
• Weight: 4.1 – 4.3 g (standard)
• Catalogue References: KM# 2.2 / Pridmore #9

Iconography

Obverse: Features a large, stylized heart shape divided into quarters containing the letters V E I C (United East India Company). The heart is topped with an Arabic numeral 4, a traditional merchant trade mark. The date 1787 is stamped cleanly around the bottom rim.

Reverse: Displays an inscription in Jawi identifying Prince of Wales Island. Below the main calligraphic loop is the Hijri (Islamic) date ١١٩٧ (AH 1197). When the East India Company ordered these copper coins from the Calcutta Mint in 1787, the Islamic Hijri year was backdated to AH 1197 to act as a fixed, retrospective anchor date recognising the initial political treaties and local negotiations that paved the way for the island's acquisition. Captain Francis Light officially established the British settlement on Penang in 1786.

Patina & Condition

In the seller's opinion, this coin is in Very Fine condition. The letter lines forming the VEIC mark inside the heart are still clear, and the date digits 1787 are fully legible with only mild softening. The Jawi characters on the reverse show standard wear, and the surfaces exhibit a dark, mature chocolate-brown copper patina. There are no signs of environmental pitting or tool marks.

(Descriptions of condition are the seller's own subjective opinion on a best-endeavours basis.)

See the scans for details.

Availability & Offers

⚠ Currently for display purposes only. Available for purchase from 1st January 2027. Offer period closes 28th February 2027.

Asking price: £25.00. Offers are welcome — the highest offer received by 28th February 2027 will be accepted, subject to no prior sale at the asking price. Offers below 75% of the listed asking price will not be considered. Purchase at the asking price concludes the sale immediately and is not subject to the closing date. Interested parties who have submitted offers will be notified if a higher offer is received, giving the opportunity to revise. Please use the store contact form to submit an offer.