This listing is for the photographed 1845 British Straits Settlements (East India Company) 1/4 Cent.
The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia. Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under British Raj control in 1858 and then under direct British control as a Crown colony on 1 April 1867. In 1946, following the end of the Second World War and the Japanese occupation, the colony was dissolved as part of Britain's reorganization of its Southeast Asian dependencies in the area.
In the early nineteenth century, the most common currency used in the East Indies was the Spanish dollar, including issues both from Spain and from the new world Spanish colonies, most significantly Mexico. Locally issued coinages included the Kelantan and Trengganu keping, and the Penang dollar.
In 1837, the Indian rupee was made the sole official currency in the Straits Settlements, as it was administered as part of India.
However, Spanish dollars continued to circulate and 1845 saw the introduction of coinage for the Straits Settlements using a system of 100 cents = 1 Straits dollar, with the dollar equal to the Spanish dollar or Mexican peso. In 1867, the administration of the Straits Settlements was separated from India and the dollar was made the standard currency.
1845 British Straits Settlements 1/4 Cent - Great Condition - East India Company 1/4 Penny 1845 One Fourth Penny 1845 UK Farthing