Dutch East Indies Java Copper Bonk Bar Stuiver (180x) – 16.7 Grams
A fascinating piece of Dutch East Indies colonial-era history, this Java Copper Bonk Bar Stuiver (180x) is a unique collectible coin/bar issue from the former Dutch East Indies. Struck in copper, this 16.7-gram piece reflects the trade and monetary systems used in Java during the colonial period.
Featuring the distinctive bonk (bar-shaped) form, this piece stands out from traditional round coinage and offers collectors a rare glimpse into the everyday currency of the region. Its historical connection to Java, combined with its unusual shape and age, makes it an appealing addition for collectors of world coins, colonial currency, and Southeast Asian numismatics.
Specifications:
- Region: Dutch East Indies (Java)
- Type: Copper Bonk Bar Stuiver
- Denomination: 180x
- Weight: 16.7 grams
- Metal: Copper
- Category: Historical coin / colonial currency collectible.
- Stamped: I.S stands for 1 Stuiver.
Key Characteristics & History
-
What is a "Bonk"? The word bonk translates from Dutch as a "big piece" or "chunk". Because regular shipments of small coinage from the Netherlands were cut off due to the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the colonial authorities faced a severe shortage of small change. To fix this, large copper bars (often imported from Japan) were literally chopped into chunks and manually stamped with a denomination and date.
- Irregular Shapes: Because they were sheared straight from thick bars, no two specimens share the exact same dimensions, edge profile, or exact weight.
