Early Penang and The
Unnamed and Undated Uniface 1 Pice (1 Cent) (1786) coins.
By Saran Singh AMN,
AMP, PNM
18th
December , 2013. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
By 1785, the State of Kedah, was under possible threat of
attack from Burma (Myanmar) and Siam (Thailand). The Ruler of Kedah, Sultan
Abdullah Makarram Shah (1773 – 1798) asked for British protection through
Francis Light of the British East India and the Governor-General of India. In
return, he agreed to lease out the Island of Penang (Pulau Pinang) for
defensive protection and an annual payment of Spanish Dollars Thirty Thousand.
On 2nd July 1786, the offer of leasing the Island
of Penang was accepted by the Governor-General of India at Calcutta. However,
the question of the quantum of defense aid and compensation to be paid annually
was referred to the Court of Directors of the British East India Company in
London.
Francis Light was appointed captain and given the command of
the ship “Eliza” as well as appointed Superintendent of Penang. 30,000 Rupees
was approved for the expedition to Penang which consistent of 100 Native
Marines, 30 Lascars, 15 Artillery Men, 5 British Officers and 2 escort ships
(“Prince Henry” and “Speedwell”).
Captain Francis Light met Sultan Abdullah of Kedah on 9th
July, 1786 who was not pleased with the vague nature of the Agreement. However,
Francis Light convinced the Sultan to tentatively allow him to occupy the
Island of Penang. Light also agreed to give half the profits of the sale of
tin, opium and rattan to Sultan Abdullah as a temporary measure until an
official reply came from London. Finally, a provisional agreement was signed by
captain Francis Light and Sultan Abdullah of Kedah on 9th July, 1786.
Francis Light left Kuala Kedah on 14th July, 1786
and arrived at Pulau Tikus on 15th July, 1786. On the 17th
July, 1786, marines landed at Penaga Point, Penang Island which was a virtual
jungle at that time. To clear the jungle was going to be a formidable and time
consuming task. Francis light though of a easy solution. He loaded his ships
cannons with the unnamed Uniface 1 Pice (1 cent) undated coins and shot the
coins into the jungle. The marines who had accompanied him on the expedition,
including some Chinese and Indian adventurers and fisherman, were all provided
with machettes (parang) and told to clear the jungle and keep any coins they
found for themselves. Needless to say, there was a rush by those present to
look for the coins. In the process, part of the jungle was cleared within a few
days.
This cleared area was
later named Light Street, Beach Street, Chulia Street and Pitt Street. A
fortified wooden stockade was built in 1786 which was named Fort Cornwallis
after the Governor General of India, Lord Charles Cornwallis. On 10th
August 1786, the East Company vessels “Vansittart” and “Valentine” arrived with
goods for the establishment of the new settlement in Penang.
On 11th August 1786, Captain Francis Light by a Proclamation
formally took possession of the Island of Penang, which was renamed Prince of
Wales Island as this date was his birthday (The Prince of Wales later became
King George the IV). This first British settlement was named Georgetown after
the King of England, George III. This new British settlement of Prince of Wales
Island flourish and became an important trading area. In years to come, this
place became famous and was known as Pearl of the Orient, partly due to its
exotic beauty and pristine beaches.
The unnamed and undated Uniface 1 Pice (1 Cent) (1786) coins
were struck at the Calcutta Mint at short notice in readiness for Captain
Francis Lights expedition to the state of Kedah to occupy Penang Island. As the
name of the Island was not decided at this time, no name was engraved on the
coins, and neither was the year date.
The obverse had the bale mark of the United East India Company (VEIC)
within a double plain line circle. The diameter of this coin was 29mm and
weight was 220-240grains, 14.25-15.56 grams.
The subsequent coins of the Prince of Wales Island were
inscribed in Arabic “Jezirah Perrinsa ab
Wailis” (Island Prince of Wales).
Unnamed and Undated Uniface 1 Pice (1 cent) (1786)
Prince of Wales Island 1 Pice (1 Cent) (1787)
 |
|
Status of Captain Francis Light
First Superintendent of Penang
11.8.1786 – 21.10.1794
(Photo: Penang Museum) |
 |
|
Charles, Lord Cornwallis
Governor
General of India 1786-1793
after
whom Ford Cornwallis is named
(Photo:
National Archives, Malaysia)
|
 |
|
Captain Francis Light at the Flagstaff on Prince of Wales
Island (Pulau Pinang), proclaiming the instructions of Governor-General of
India on 11th August, 1786.
(Photo: National Archives Malaysia)
|
 |
|
Fort Cornwallis , Prince of Wales Island (Pulau Pinang)
circa 1850’s.
(Photo: Museum Negara, Kuala Lumpur collection)
|
In June 1788, Captain Francis Light informed Sultan Abdullah
of Kedah, that the Governor General of India, Lord Cornwallis, was unable to
assist Kedah against its enemies, the Siamese. Further , the compensation
offered was reduced to 10,000 Spanish Dollars for a period of 10 years, after
which Penang was to become East India Company Territory. Further, Captain
Francis Light had also failed to pay the half share of all profits to Sultan
Abdullah. This offer by the British was totally unacceptable to Sultan
Abdullah. Finally, in April 1791, Sultan Abdullah assembled a fleet to attach
Pulau Pinang. Unfortunately , Captain Francis Light who had been forewarned,
attached and defeated the Kedah fleet at Perai on 12th April, 1791. On
20th April, 1791, Sultan Abdullah reluctantly signed an agreement to
allow the British East India Company to occupy Pulau Pinang in return for an
annual payment of 6000 Spanish Dollars. He also had to agree not to allow any
other foreign power , like the Dutch and the French, to set up a settlement in
Pulau Pinang (Prince of Wales Island)
Coins for Prince of Wales Island (Pulau Pinang) continued to
be issued by the British East India Company with various dates , until
1828. However, these are not within the
scope of this article.
Unrecorded
Oral History
In July 1786, Captain
Francis Light ordered his gunners to load his cannons with the Unnamed and
Undated 1 Pice (1 Cent) (1786) coins and fire them into the jungle at Penaga
Point, Prince of Wales Island (Pulau Pinang). Some of the Chinese and Indian
adventurers/enterprising fortune seekers from the State of Kedah as well as
local fishermen who were present, were provided with machetes (parangs) and
axes and told to look for the coins and in the process clear the jungle. Any
coins found were to be treated as finders keepers. Within a few days , a
clearing was made at this spot which today lies in a prime area. This
interesting story was passed down by word of mouth from generation to
generation by the early residents of Penang. This piece of hereto unrecorded history was
related to the author of this article by the late Mr. Sim Ewe Eong, President
and Founder Member of the Malaysia Numismatic Society, in the late 1970’s. The
late Mr. Sim was a Baba Chinese whose family roots were from Penang. He was
also an ardent collector of the coinage of Prince of Wales Island (Penang).
This story here is recorded here for posterity before it is forgotten and
passes into oblivion.
References
:
a.
“The Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia,
Singapore and Brunei 1400 – 1986” by Saran Singh AMN, FRNS First Edition
(1986). Chapter 10, Pages 253 – 281.
b.
“Old Penang” by Donald Davies (Donald Moore,
Singapore 1956)
c.
“The Coins of the British Commonwealth of
Nations Part 2 – Asian Territories” by Major Fred Pridmore, P.1-P.33 (Spink
& Son Ltd, London 1965)
d.
“Old Penang” by Donald Davies (Donald Moore,
Singapore 1956)
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