CURRENCY NOTES, COINS AND TOKENS FROM MALAYA. 131 
premises of the Singapore Harbour Board for ordinary coinage or 
notes current in British Malaya. I was informed that they were 
not issued under any Government authority. 
PULAU BUKOM. 
In August, 1920 I was asked by the world-wide known numis- 
matist Mr. J. P. Moquette if I had heard of an issue of tokens from 
this place: a small island lying about seven miles from Singapore. 
It is British territory and there is situated an important oil depot 
of the Asiatic Petroleum Company. 
I made enquiries from the Manager of the Company who very 
courteously sent me specimens of the tokens which the Company 
had issued for Island use. I subsequently had the opportunity of 
seeing several more examples. The following is a description. 
1. One cent: made of tin: diameter 29 mm.; a circular coin 
punched on one side only; the other side being plain. [Pl. V. 
ine, TE he 
Obv. Within a small central circle the figure “1”: outside and 
within another another circle the letters “ P. Buxom.” ‘The 
letter “ P” stands for the word “ Pulau” which is Malay 
for “Island.” : 
Rev. Plain. 
2. Half cent: made of tin: diameter 19 mm.: a circular coin 
punched on one side only; the other side being plain. [Pl. V. 
fea Si). 
Oby. Within a small central circle the figures “4”: outside and 
within another circle the letters “ P, BuKom.” 
Rev. Plain. 
I was informed that these tokens were not issued under any 
Government authority. 
PULAU SAMBOE. 
In the early part of 1920 my attention was drawn to some 
tokens apparently emanating from this Island which is a Dutch 
possession situated about ten miles from Singapore. Large oil de- 
pots are maintained at this place. I accordingly wrote in April of 
that vear to the Official in charge of the Island asking for informa- 
tion about the issue. I received an obliging reply the interesting 
portion of which reads :— 
“Owing to the shortage of copper coins, I was compelled to 
introduce tokens at this place because a lot of work done by coolies 
here is paid cash on the spot. 
“The token has therefore no value as “currency” but a token 
represents the value of one Straits Settlements cent; and these 
tokens can only be used on the Island of Pulo Samboe and then 
only for the Companies’ business.” 
R. A. Soc., No. 85, 1922. 
