1 Keping (Thick flan)

The 1804 Sumatra 1 Keping, issued by the British East India Company, was commissioned to facilitate trade in the Bencoolen (modern-day Bengkulu) region. During this period, the British presence in Sumatra relied on copper coinage to replace the inconsistent local currencies and facilitate small-scale daily transactions. The 'thick flan' variant is a notable production of the Soho Mint in Birmingham, which was renowned for its advanced steam-powered coining technology that allowed for more consistent and durable minting than traditional hand-struck methods.

The design of the coin features the East India Company bale mark on the obverse, a symbol signifying the company's mercantile authority, while the reverse displays the denomination written in Malay script. Matthew Boulton, the industrialist and partner in the Soho Mint, emphasized high-quality production standards to prevent counterfeiting, which was a persistent issue in colonial currency. The series was generally well-received for its portability and reliability, serving as a functional tool for economic administration until the decline of the British influence in the region.