Dutch East Indies (Java): VOC Emergency Copper Bonk Stuiver (180x)
Historical Overview
Produced in Batavia (modern-day Jakarta, Indonesia) under the Dutch East India Company (VOC), "Bonk" money was an emergency emergency currency minted between 1697 and 1818. To overcome severe shortages of imported European coinage, thick cast copper bars were imported from Japan or sourced locally and hand-chiseled into rectangular segments. Each bar segment was then hand-stamped on both ends with its denomination and date.
Item Specifications
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Issuing Authority: Netherlands East Indies / VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie)
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Mint: Batavia (Java, Indonesia)
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Date of Issue: 180x (1800–1809, likely 1803–1805 based on weight and die style)
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Denomination: 1 Stuiver (Bonk Bar)
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Metal: Cast Copper
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Weight: 21.8 Grams (Thick, heavy planchet segment)
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Obverse Stamp: Denomination Roman numeral
1(or1 S) enclosed within a beaded decorative border. -
Reverse Stamp: Four-digit date beginning
180...inside a beaded decorative frame. -
Edges & Fabric: Heavy rectangular bar segment with raw, hand-chiseled end-cuts showing the characteristic coarse internal metal structure of authentic Batavia bonk manufacture.
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Patina / Surface: Original warm cocoa-brown copper surfaces with subtle, natural earthen toning inside the stamped recesses.
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Packaging: Includes a custom Clear-top plastic presentation box, perfect for immediate display, safe storage, or gifting.
"An extraordinary piece of colonial monetary history. Struck in Batavia (Java) by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), this emergency 'Bonk' 1-Stuiver was hand-chiseled directly from thick cast copper bars to alleviate local currency shortages. Weighing an impressive 21.8 grams, it features crisp hand-stamped punches displaying the denomination '1' and date digits '180x' set within beaded borders. Accompanied by a glass-top leatherette presentation box, this unique bar currency is a standout highlight for world, colonial, or odd-and-curious money collections."
