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2 Keping Pattern
| Issuer | British East India Company |
|---|---|
| Year | 1786 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 2 Kepings (1/200) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The Arabic numeral '2' appears at the top of the field, denoting the denomination of 2 Kepings. In the centre, the Jawi word 'كفڠ' (Keping) is inscribed in bold Arabic script, flanked by decorative lozenge ornaments. Below the central inscription, the numerals '١٢٠٠' appear, representing the Hijri year 1200. The entire central design is surrounded by multiple groups of projecting rays radiating outward toward the milled border, giving a sunburst effect characteristic of this pattern issue. |
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| Additional information |
This piece dates to the period when the Company was actively experimenting with coinage for the Straits Settlements and the Malay Peninsula — a region where Spanish dollars, VOC issues, and locally cast tin money all circulated simultaneously, making standardization a persistent problem. The 1786 pattern series was struck in Birmingham, almost certainly by Matthew Boulton's associates, as the Company explored mechanically produced coinage before Boulton's formal Soho Mint contracts of the following decade.
It never entered circulation. The pattern was rejected, and the Company continued relying on improvised monetary solutions in the region for years afterward.