Sumatra 1798 keping
This specimen was lot 52430 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $4,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "MALAYA. Sumatra. British East India Company. Gilt Copper Keping, AH 1213/1798. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. NGC PROOF-65 Cameo. Error denomination with "3" Kepings on the reverse. A beautiful and entirely handsome Gem Keping, this wonderful piece offers a shimmering and sharp allure, with strong details and limited signs of handling. As the sole finest graded example certified by NGC, this example is certain to attract many excited bids." The British East India Company held trading stations on the island of Sumatra for decades prior to the Napoleonic Wars. At the Vienna Congress in 1815, the British surrendered all their holdings in Indonesia to the Dutch in exchange for a free hand in Malaya and Singapore. This type was struck in 1798 along with two kepings and three kepings. This is a later restrike in gilt copper.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: KM-260; Prid-20A.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Passon, Tom, Catalogus van de Munten van de Nederlandse Gebieden Overzee, vanaf 1601 tot heden, Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 2022.
- Scholten, C., The Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories, 1601-1948, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman, 1953.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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