Java 1805 1/2 stuiver
This specimen was lot 651 in Schulman auction 379 (Amsterdam, June 2024), where it sold for €300 (about US$386 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BATAAFSE REPUBLIEK 1799-1806 - 1/2 Stuiver-bonk 1805, Copper, Munten op Java geslagen Waarde S: 1/2: in rechthoekige parelrand. Kz. jaartal in eenzelfde rand. RRRR. Uiterst zeldzaam jaartal Vanwege de retrograde S vermoedelijk een inlandse navolging. Fraai. (Netherlands East Indies, Batavian Republic, 1799-1806, copper bonk half stuiver of 1805, struck in Java. Obverse: value in frame of pearls; reverse: date. Extremely rare date, probably a local imitation because of the retrograde S. Fine.)"
Java, the chief island of Indonesia, was occupied by the British 1811-16. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Indonesia was returned to the Dutch but the English kept their colonies in Malaya, especially Singapore. This type, a locally made product was hammered 1804-05. The SCWC notes that the 1805 was melted down and never released, increasing the likelihood that this is a contemporary counterfeit. Bonk one, two and four stuivers exist.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7.72 g, copper, this specimen 7.73 g.
Catalog reference: KM 213, Scho. 552.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Passon, Tom, Catalogus van de Munten van de Nederlandse Gebieden Overzee, vanaf 1601 tot heden, Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 2022.
- Peters, T., J. Scheper and J. Mevius, Muntalmanak 2018, 35e editie, Amsterdam: Nederlandse vereniging van munthandelaren, 2017.
- Scholten, C., The Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories, 1601-1948, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman, 1953.
- [1]Absil, Eddy, Florentine van Hees, Tim Poelman, Catelijne van den Bosch, Evert Philippeau, Andrew Absil, Schulman sale 379, Amsterdam: Schulman b.v., 2024.
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