| 2 keping | |
|---|---|
| |
| An 1889 illustration of the coin | |
| General information | |
| Country |
|
| Value |
2.00 keping |
| Years |
1831/1832 (AH1247) |
| Measurements and composition | |
| Composition |
copper |
| Appearance | |
| Shape |
round |
| Obverse | |
| Reverse |
Value, year |
| v · d · e | |
The 2 keping coin is a token coin of uncertain attribution that is believed to have been issued in 1831 or 1832 by the Straits Settlement of Malacca, a colony of the British Empire in what is now the Malaysian state of Malacca. It is the highest denominated coin purportedly issued in the territory. It is currently listed in the Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801-1900 under the "Malacca" subsection of "Malay Peninsula".
The coin is composed of copper and is circular in shape. Displayed on the obverse is an image of a bantam rooster facing right, with the Malay inscription "تانه ملايو" (Romanized: Tanah Melayu; English: "Land of the Malay"), printed above along the coin's upper rim in the Jawi script. Featured in the center of the reverse in large print is the value "دو كڤڠ" (transliterated: dwi keping; English: "two keping"). The numeral "۲" ("2"), also representing the value of 2 keping, is inscribed above it, while the Islamic date 1247 is written below in Perso-Arabic numerals as "۱۲۴۷". In the Gregorian calendar, this date translates to 1831 or 1832. Encircling the contents of both sides is a beaded circular border along the rim.
Some numismatic works suggest the 2 keping coin was produced by the East India Company, but many other sources consider it is more likely to have been minted in England. The coin is considered rare today due to its low mintage.
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