Melaka Dutch Coinage of Vereenigde Oos-Indische Compagnie ( V.O.C.)

The Netherlands East Indies ( N.E.I ) included all Dutch possessions in Java, Sumatra, the Moluccas Islands and Malacca/Melaka. The Dutch who were expanding their sphere of influence in the far east combined with the forces of the Sultan of Johor and captured Malacca from the Portuguese on 14thJanuary.1641. For the next 150 years the Dutch East India Company ( Verenidge Oos-Indische Compagnie or V.O.C ) continued to have exclusive monopoly on trade without much interference from foreign powers. In 1794 Holland was invaded by the French under Napoleon. The British occupied Malacca on 1st December.1795 on behalf of the Dutch government in exile. The charter of the Dutch East India company expired in 1799 by which time the company had fallen on bad times. Thus, all its assets and powers were taken over by the Batavian Republic on 30thJune.1799. In June 1806, Louis Napoleon, brother of the French King, became King of Holland. Later, on 9thJuly.1810 the Netherlands were annexed to the French empire. By a proclamation dated 18th September.1811, all Dutch possessions in Java and its dependencies came into British hands. After the fall of Napoleon in 1814, all Dutch possessions under the control of the British were returned to the Dutch by the Treaty of Vienna dated 13th August.1814. However, it was not until 16th August.1816 that Java and its dependencies were transferred to the Dutch. Malacca was returned to the Dutch only on 21st September.1818. Six years later, by the Anglo- Dutch Treaty of 17th March.1824, Holland renounced all claims to Malacca as well as all other parts of the Malay Peninsula and Singapore in returned for al British possessions in Sumatra. Subsequently, the British reoccupied Malacca on 1st March 1825.
After the capture of Malacca from the Portuguese, the first Dutch governor immediately introduced Dutch coinage’s of the Vereenigde Oos-Indische Compagnie or V.O.C ( Dutch East India Company ) into Malacca in February 1641. the earliest Portuguese coins and other circulating currency were retained for trading purposes. However, the Portuguese tin “Bazaruccos” were withdrawn, melted down and later issued as new Dutch-style bazaar pieces. These Dutch “Bazaruccos” were the only coins minted at and for Malacca during the entire Dutch occupation. Unfortunately none of these Dutch “Bazaruccos” have so far been traced but the 1Stiver and 2 Stiver ( unlisted ) denomination had been recovered. By the end of 1641 the Portuguese silver “Tanga” remained as the unit of account in foreign trade but all official accounts were kept in Dutch Guilders. There was a scarcity of small change during the early years of the Dutch occupation of Malacca. Finally the Dutch authorities in Batavia issued emergency copper ¼ Stiver and ½ Stiver coins of Batavia bearing the date 1644 for use in Malacca as well as Banda and Ceylon. However, the managers of the V.O.C in Holland soon put a stop to this issue. Gradually the Portuguese coins were withdrawn. The only recognized as legal tender were the Spanish 8 Real silver coins and the coinage of the V.O.C. for the use in the Netherlands East Indies, which consisted of Malacca as well as all Dutch possession in Sumatra. The main circulating coinage consisted of Dutch silver Ducatoons, Guilders, Java Rupees and copper Doits for uses small change in the bazaar.

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