THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
Promises to pay the bearer on demand at Singapore.
TWENTY FIVE CENTS.
Local Currency for Value received.
(H. MARRIOTT)
Ag. Treasurer.
The Royal Arms.
(Serial letters and number.)
On the back of the note appears in black the representation of a tiger standing amongst long grass super-imposed upon a decorative orange coloured background in the upper corners of which are, in white, the figures "25" and in the lower corners also in white "Cts."
The issue of notes undoubtedly saved the situation but, even so, small change was often a great difficulty and postage stamps and tramway tickets were sometimes offered.
I heard of Chinese Towkays up-country utilizing notes and vouchers or "good-fors" of their own, and a number of tokens or tallies, (some of which are described in this Article) made their appearance in different localities.
In 1919 a large quantity of debased 5, 10, and, I understand, some 20 cent silver pieces were issued for currency in British Malaya from the Indian Mints; in 1919 to the value of $950,000 and in 1920, up to about the middle of March, $950,000 worth. I am informed that during this period no 50 cent or dollar pieces were received from the Indian Mints. Even of this debased coinage I believe a considerable quantity found its way to the China coast being utilized there as currency in place of that of higher intrinsic value which disappeared into the melting pot. I do not describe these, as, except for the fact that they were of very low silver fineness, they appeared to be similar to the former Georgian coins of like denomination.
The following is a short account of some of the coins and tokens which have come under my notice:—
