|
Ref: 6946 |
Sarawak,
Charles Vyner Brooke, The Rajah of Sarawak Fund,
silver medal hallmarked 1932, by The Mint (Birmingham), rare Obv: profile
bust of Charles Vyner Brooke right, CHARLES VYNER
BROOKE THIRD RAJAH OF SARAWAK around Rev:
Arms and motto of the Brooke family, THE RAJAH OF SARAWAK FUND around Condition:
about extremely fine; Diameter: 38mm Notes:
The Fund was established in 1932 by the Rajah for the education of children
of British colonial or Sarawak civil servants of European descent. The
charity still exists but its remit is now to support financially Sarawak
students studying in the United Kingdom. The story of the Brooke family in
Sarawak is fascinating and almost unbelievable. The first ‘white rajah’ was
James Brooke who in 1841 was awarded land in Borneo by the Sultan of Brunei
as reward for tackling a pirate problem. They ruled Sarawak for a century as
independent rajahs, until Japanese occupation in 1941 effectively ended their
rule. Vyner was a benevolent ruler who fostered
indigenous traditions, although he drew the line at headhunting. Price
£850 |
 |
 |