World Coins - Asia & Middle-East. BORNEO: He Shun Kongsi, large tin cash (38.15g), ca. 1780-1808, Millies, Netscher & van der Chijs—, cf. Zeno-252169, Chinese legends he shun gong si (fo sjoen kong si in Hakka) // imitative Manchu inscriptions, 14 characters (the initials of the 14 members) chopmarked on obverse rim, very clear stamps, lightly misshapen rim, VF, RRR. He Shun Kongsi was established in 1776 when 14 smaller mining societies (kongsi) united into one federation. It became one of the largest kongsi republics and dominated gold mining in the Montrado region. Its success brought it into conflict with the Dutch, who waged two wars against it in 1822-24 and 1850-54, culminating in its surrender and dissolution in July 1854. Subsequently, most coins issued by the kongsi were melted down.The current example is the second of two examples of this type to appear in a public auction to our knowledge. Its sole mention in numismatic literature is found in Schaank s description in the Minutes of a Batavian Society for Arts and Sciences (BSAS) meeting on February 4, 1896 [NBG 34, 1896, p.13, cited by Yih & de Kreek (NC 1993 p.183) without an illustration].
