Coin of the Week: 1903 North Borneo 5 Cents

Obverse (Image: Denomination)

Reverse (Image: National Arms with Supporters)

The chartered British North Borneo Company was formed in 1881 to administer what today is known as Sabah in the territory of East Malaysia. The original Company charter can be found in the Cornell University Library. The Company exercised its rights to the territory until World War II, when the Japanese government took power from 1942 - 1945. After the war, the British military administration took control of the territory until North Borneo joined the new state of Malaysia in 1963.

The British North Borneo dollar was the currency of the territory from 1882 - 1953, with 100 cents equaling one dollar. The British North Borneo Company issued both coins and banknotes.

The obverse of the 5 cent piece states the denomination within a circle, the year of issue and "State of North Borneo". The reverse depicts the coat of arms of the British North Borneo Company. It consists of a crest with images of a lion above a dhow (a native sailing boat). Above the crest, two arms are grasping the flag of the Governor of British North Borneo. The crest is supported by two Borneo natives (the Dayak peoples). While the native on the left holds a shield, the one on the right holds a sword. Below the crest (hard to decipher on my coin image) is the Company motto Pergo et perago, Latin for "I undertake and I achieve".