Merchant token used in the Malay archipelago (particularly the Malaccan straits) around the early 1800s. These coins are not issued by any ruling authority of the time, making it less than "official" currency, but rather introduced by British merchants for use as small changes. Legend in local languages and script such as Malay, Bugis, and Thai are used to facilitate acceptance.
see H. Leslie Ellis (1895) BRITISH COPPER TOKENS OF THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS AND MALAYAN ARCHIPELAGO
H. Leslie Ellis
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