Catalog
10 Cents
| Issuer | Sarawak Government Treasury |
|---|---|
| Year | 1919 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Rectangular |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | The Sarawak coat of arms — a quartered shield surmounted by a cat bear (bearcat/binturong) crest with the motto 'DUM SPIRO SPERO' on a ribbon below — is printed at upper centre, flanked by the denomination '10c.' in each upper corner. The issuer's name 'The Sarawak Govt. Treasury' and the value 'TEN CENTS' are inscribed in bold letterpress across the face, with the date, serial number, and Treasurer's manuscript signature appearing in the lower portion. Decorative scroll-work borders frame the entire note. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The Sarawak coat of arms occupies the centre of the reverse, rendered as a quartered shield with the bearcat crest above and the motto 'DUM SPIRO SPERO' on a ribbon at its base. The denomination '10 CENTS' is repeated in bold letterpress to the left and right of the arms. An ornate foliate scroll border encloses the entire design. |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Log in to see details |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
Sarawak's small-denomination treasury notes of this period were a direct response to coin shortages that periodically plagued the remote Brooke Raj administration. The 1919 issue falls under the rule of Charles Vyner Brooke, who had recently assumed the Rajahship from his father Charles Anthoni following the latter's death that same year.
Pick 7 is notoriously difficult to find in any collectible state — the small format and lightweight paper meant heavy wear in the humid Borneo climate, and most surviving examples show significant soiling or edge damage consistent with prolonged pocket use.