In 1939, The Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya issued their first set of coins with the inscription of "COMMISSIONERS OF CURRENCY MALAYA" under the reign of King George VI. The potraits of King George VI bear the inscription of "GEORGE VI KING AND EMPEROR OF INDIA". Starting in 1948, the inscription change to "KING GEORGE THE SIXTH" after the Indian Independence Act 1947.
The first set of coin were released in 1/2, 1, 5, 10 and 20 cents. The 1/2 and 1 cent were issued in bronze. The 5, 10 and 20 cents were minted in .750 fine silver.
Malaya King George VI 1/2 cent
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1/2 cent
Issued by:Malaya
Ruler/Governor: King George VI
Year: 1940
Mint: Royal Mint, London
Artist: Percy Metcalfe
Diameter: 18.5 mm (Height), 18.5 mm (Width)
Thickness:
Weight: 2.921 g
Coin Shape: Square with rounded corners
Material: Bronze
Coin Edge: Plain
References: KM#1
Malaya King George VI 1 cent
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 cent
Issued by:Malaya
Ruler/Governor: King George VI
Year: 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1945
Mint: No Mint Mark-Royal Mint, London; i Mint Mark-Calcutta Mint (1941i), India.
Artist: Percy Metcalfe
Diameter: 1939-1941 21.5 mm (Height), 21.5 mm (Width); 1943-1945 20 mm (Height), 20 mm (Width)
Thickness:
Weight: 1939-1941 5.83 g; 1943-1945 4.333 g.
Coin Shape: Square with rounded corners
Material: Bronze
Coin Edge: Plain
References: KM#6
Malaya King George VI 5 cents
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 5 cents
Issued by:Malaya
Ruler/Governor: King George VI
Year: 1939, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1950
Mint: No Mint Mark-Royal Mint, London; i Mint Mark-Calcutta Mint (1941i) & Bombay Mint (1945i), India.
Artist: Percy Metcalfe
Diameter: 1939-1945 16 mm; 1948-1950 16.2 mm.
Thickness:
Weight: 1939-1945 1.37 g; 1948-1950 1.41 g.
Coin Shape: Round
Material: 1939-1941 .750 Silver; 1943-1945 .500 Silver; 1948-1950 Copper-Nickel.
Coin Edge: Milled
References: KM#3a
Malaya King George VI 10 cents
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 10 cents
Issued by:Malaya
Ruler/Governor: King George VI
Year: 1939, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1950.
Mint: No Mint Mark-Royal Mint, London; i Mint Mark-Calcutta Mint (1941i) & Bombay Mint (1945i), India.
Artist: Percy Metcalfe
Diameter: 1939-1945 18 mm; 1948-1950 19.5 mm.
Thickness:
Weight: 1939-1945 2.71 g; 1948-1950 2.82 g.
Coin Shape: Round
Material: 1939-1941 .750 Silver; 1943-1945 .500 Silver; 1948-1950 Copper-Nickel.
Coin Edge: Milled
References: KM#4a
Malaya King George VI 20 cents
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 20 cents
Issued by:Malaya
Ruler/Governor: King George VI
Year: 1939, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1950.
Mint: No Mint Mark-Royal Mint, London; i Mint Mark-Bombay Mint (1945i), India.
Artist: Percy Metcalfe
Diameter: 1939-1945 23.2 mm; 1948-1950 23.5 mm.
Thickness:
Weight: 1939-1945 5.43 g; 1948-1950 5.65 g.
Coin Shape: Round
Material: 1939-1941 .750 Silver; 1943-1945 .500 Silver; 1948-1950 Copper-Nickel.
Coin Edge: Milled
References: KM#5a
The Currency Ordinance No. 44 of 1952 of the Crown Colony of Singapore, No. 33 of 1951 of the Federation of Malaya, No. 10 of 1951 of the British North Borneo and No. 1 of 1951 of the Crown Colony of Sarawak implemented an agreement between those governments and the State of Brunei for the establishment of a Board of Commissioners of Currency to be the sole issuing authority in Malaya and British Borneo. This agreement became effective on 1 January 1952 and the board was renamed The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo.
