THE GOVERNMENT 
OF THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 
Promises to pay the bearer on demand at Singapore. 
TWENTY FIVE CENTS 
Local Currency for Value received. 
(H. MaArriorr) 
The Royal Arms. Ag. Treasurer. 
(Serial letters and number.) 
On the back of the note appears in black the representation of 
a tiger standing amongst long grass super-imposed upon a decor- 
ative orange coloured pee seeming in the upper corners of which are, 
in white, Alte figures COE? and in the lower corners also in white 
Bil Oy ky 
The issue of notes undoubtedly saved the situation but, even 
so, small change was often a great difficulty and postage stamps 
and tramway tickets were sometimes offered. 
I heard of Chinese Towkays up-country utilizing notes and 
vouchers or “ good-fors ” of their own, and a number of tokens or 
tallies, (some of which are described in this Article) made their 
appearance in different localities. 
In 1919 a large quantity of debased 5, 10, and, I understand, 
some 20 cent silver pieces were issued for currency in British Malaya 
from the Indian Mints; in 1919 to the value of $950,000 and in 
1920, up to about the middle of March, $950,000 worth. I am in- 
formed that during this period no 50 cent or dollar pieces were re- 
ceived from the Indian Mints. Even of this debased coinage I be- 
heve a considerable quantity found its way to the China coast being 
utilized there as currency in.place of that of higher intrinsic value 
which disappeared into the melting pot. I do not describe these, 
as, except for the fact that they were of very low silver fineness, 
they appeared to be similar to the former Georgian coins of like 
denomination. 
The following is a short account of some of the coins and tokens 
which have come under my notice :-— 
Jour. Straits Branch 
