Sumatra AH 1197/1783 2 sukus
This specimen was lot 23353 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $1,680. The catalog description[1] noted, "MALAYA. Sumatra. Fort Marlbro. 2 Sukus, AH 1197 (1783). Calcutta Mint. NGC AU Details--Edge Repaired. An always demanded type from Sumatra, this piece is one of the RAREST types from what is now Indonesia. Charmingly struck, with only limited wear on the surfaces, this piece presents phenomenally well. Despite the noted edge repair, likely originating from the tooling on the edge and perhaps some filing at 6 o'clock, this remains a premium for the type example, and a piece certain to command attention from any specialist." Wikipedia comments,
"Fort Marlborough (Indonesian Benteng Marlborough, also known as Malabero) is a former East India Company fort located in Bengkulu City, Sumatra. It was built between 1713-1719 by the East India Company under the leadership of Governor Joseph Collett as a defensive fort for the British East India Company's Residency there. It was one of the strongest British forts in the eastern region, second only to Fort St. George in Madras, India."
Bengkulu (then known as Bencoolen) was traded to the Dutch in 1824 in exchange for Malacca.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 5.35-5.80 g, silver.
Catalog reference: KM-271; Prid-1.
- 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, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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