Besides the 1 cent coin issued in 1887, coinage history is fairly short - only 40 years or so.

All prices mentioned here are in RM (Malaysian Ringgit) at approximately MR 3.30 for US$1 (Oct. 07). All mintage and pricing information is from the Standard Catalogue of Malaysia Singapore Brunei Coin & Paper Money 18th Edition.Ed. Steven Tan

The first 50 sen coin was issued in 1967 and lists in RM 7 in XF and RM 12 in UNC. Issues from 1968 - 2nd type - to 1977 range from RM 6 to 12 (1973) in XF and 8 to 20 (1973) in UNC. The rare date here is 1973 with a low mintage of 140,000 pieces. The third type was issued from 1977 to 1992 with prices ranging from RM 3 to RM 15 (1982) and RM 5 to RM 40 (1982) in UNC. The rare date is 1982 with a mintage of 136,000 pieces. Normal mintages range from 250,000 to 1,120,000 pieces.

To reflect greater islamization of Brunei Society a full frontal portrait with topi was used for the 4th type. Here is where things get interesting. Mintages range from 458,000 to 600,000 for dates 1993-96 with a price of RM 1.50 in UNC. After a five year hiatus - reflecting the SE Asian crisis - new coins were issued in 2001. A grand total of 50,000 pieces. The next year even less were minted - only 1,325! Is this the rarest modern coin in Eastern or South Eastern Asia? I know many commemorative or bullion coins have smaller mintages - but a normal circulation coin?

The 2001 and 2002 - dated 50 sen coins are unpriced. They have never appeared in Ebay. Who has them? Does anyone know what they are worth? Or are they going to disappear into the mists of time like Zimbabwe's $10 and $25 coins dated 2002. They have never appeared in Krause either. But that is grist to the mill of some other article.