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. The Board consisted of five members:
1. Financial Secretary of Singapore who was also the Chairman of the Board
2. Minister of Finance for the Federation of Malaya
3. Governor of Sarawak
4. Governor of British North Borneo
5. British Resident of Brunei
6. and two further appointed by agreement of the participating governments.
The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo took over the responsibility from The Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya (Malaya King George V coins) of issuing all currency in Malaya, Singapore, State of North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei. In 1953, coins bearing the new design of the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo were released. Cupro Nickel 5 cents and 10 cents were released in 1953 followed by the 20 cents and 50 cents in 1954. The 1 cent coin in Bronze were released in 1956.
All these coins have the inscription "QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND". The reverse is inscribed "MALAYA AND BRITISH BORNEO" with the respective denomination in the centre and the year date below. In 1962, new 1 cent coins in Bronze bearing two keris (Malay dagger) on the obverse were introduced.
Except for the 1 cent 1962, all the other coinage for Malaya and British Borneo bears the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II of England.
The coins for Malaya and British Borneo were struck at the following mints:
-The Royal Mint, London -No Mint mark
-Heaton Mint Limited, Birmingham, England -H Mint Mark
-King's Norton Metal Company, Birmingham, England -KN Mint Mark
Malaya & British Borneo Queen Elizabeth II 1 cent-square
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 Cent
Issued By: Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo
Ruler: Queen Elizabeth II
Year: 1956, 1957, 1958 & 1961
Mint: Royal Mint, London.
Artist: Mr Cecil Thomas, Great Britain.
Shape: Square with rounded corners
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 20 mm (Height), 20 mm (Width)
Weight: 4.19 g (Weight)
Coin edge: Plain
References: KM#5
1962 1 cent Keris Malaya & British Borneo Queen Elizabeth II
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 Cent
Issued By: Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo
Ruler: Queen Elizabeth II
Year: 1962
Mint: Royal Mint, London.
Artist: unknown
Shape: Round
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 18 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 1.90 g (Weight)
Coin edge: Plain
References: KM#6
5 cents Malaya & British Borneo Queen Elizabeth II
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 5 Cents
Issued By: Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo
Ruler: Queen Elizabeth II
Year: 1953, 1957, 1957H, 1957KN, 1958, 1958H, 1961, 1961H, 1961KN
Mint: No Mint Mark-Royal Mint; H Mint Mark-Heaton Mint Limited; KN Mint Mark-King's Norton Metal Company.
Artist: Mr Cecil Thomas, Great Britain.
Shape: Round
Material: Copper-Nickel
Dimensions: 16 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 1.414 g (Weight)
Coin edge: Milled
References: KM#1
10 cents Malaya & British Borneo Queen Elizabeth II
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 10 Cents
Issued By: Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo
Ruler: Queen Elizabeth II
Year: 1953, 1956, 1957H, 1957KN, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1961H, 1961KN
Mint: No Mint Mark-Royal Mint; H Mint Mark-Heaton Mint Limited; KN Mint Mark-King's Norton Metal Company.
Artist: Mr Cecil Thomas, Great Britain.
Shape: Round
Material: Copper-Nickel
Dimensions: 20 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 2.80 g (Weight)
Coin edge: Milled
References: KM#2
20 cents Malaya & British Borneo Queen Elizabeth II
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 20 Cents
Issued By: Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo
Ruler: Queen Elizabeth II
Year: 1954, 1956, 1957H, 1957KN, 1961, 1961H
Mint: No Mint Mark-Royal Mint; H Mint Mark-Heaton Mint Limited; KN Mint Mark-King's Norton Metal Company.
Artist: Mr Cecil Thomas, Great Britain.
Shape: Round
Material: Copper-Nickel
Dimensions: 24 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 5.669 g (Weight)
Coin edge: Milled
References: KM#3
50 cents Malaya & British Borneo Queen Elizabeth II
Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 50 Cents
Issued By: Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo
Ruler: Queen Elizabeth II
Year: 1954, 1955H, 1956, 1957H, 1957KN, 1958H, 1961, 1961H
Mint: No Mint Mark-Royal Mint; H Mint Mark-Heaton Mint Limited; KN Mint Mark-King's Norton Metal Company.
Artist: Mr Cecil Thomas, Great Britain.
Shape: Round
Material: Copper-Nickel
Dimensions: 28 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 9.45 g (Weight)
Coin edge: Milled (Rare); Security (normal)
References: KM#4.1
Under the Central Bank of Malaya Ordinance 1958, Bank Negara Tanah Melayu was established on 26th January 1959, with the sole right of issuing coins and banknotes in Malaya. However, in order to avoid any action which might have precipitated an irrevocable severance of monetary relations with Singapore and the Borneo Territories, this power was temporarily suspended. Malaya continued to share with Singapore, Brunei. State of North Borneo, Sarawak and Labuan the common currency issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo.
The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo, ceased to issue it's currency with effect from 12th June 1967. Thereafter, this function was taken over by Bank Negara Malaysia which assumed sole currency rights in Malaysia. Singapore and Brunei issued their own respective currencies through newly constituted monetary authorities.
In Malaysia, the currency of The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo, continued to circulate side by side with the new Malaysia currency until 16th January 1969 at which date it was demonetized and thus ceased to be legal tender.
