Few days ago I and few friends has some disagreement about British North Borneo coat of arms on coins. Some said in the earlier coat of arms it is only consisting of a shield within which is a native boat with sails and a lion above. Later, the arms came with two Dayak the one on the left holds a native shield and the one on the right holds a native sword. Some of us don't support that idea because we knew they don't support them with a fact. When we asked them, they said because they had seen British North Borneo two different coat of arms on a stamps and coins before. Upon hearing their reason, we laugh out loud at them because like we predicted, they give their reason not based on fact & history. There is only one British North Borneo coat of arms used on coins. The shield within which is a native boat with sails and a lion above, exactly is an arm and only used on the Half cent coin from 1885-1907. The actual coat of arms is the shield with the dayak & the moto "Pergo et Perago". The North Borneo Company coat of arms were granted by College of Arms (Herald's College) in London on 21 July 1882.
British North Borneo Company coat of arms
Arms: Azure in base on waves of the sea a native boat of North Borneo with sails manned and oars in action proper, a chief Or, thereon a lion passant guardant Gules.
Crest: Upon a wreath of the colours, two arms embowed that on the dexter side being an arm of a native of North Borneo proper, that on the sinister side being an arm vested Azure cuffed Argent, the hands grasping a staff proper thereon hoisted a flag flowing to the sinister Or charged with a lion guardant Gules.
Supporters: On either side a Dayak of North Borneo that on the dexter supporting with its exterior hand a native shield and that on the sinister supporting in his exterior hand a native sword point downwards all proper.
Motto: pergo et perago
The two arms in the crest symbolize the European and native populations. the company motto ” PERGO ET PERAGO” in latin mean "I undertake and I accomplish". The North Borneo Chartered Company or British North Borneo Company was a chartered company assigned by Royal Charter to administer North Borneo on 26th April 1881. In the same year, the Royal Charter granted the company right to produce coins. In 1882 they start producing 1 cent bronze coin minted by Ralph Heaton & Sons (Mint Mark H), England. Later in 1885, ½ cent bronze were minted by the same mint. In 1904 the Company moved from the use of bronze to copper-nickel for the 1 cent, the ½ cent was not continued, they're only issuing 1 cent and new denominations of 2½ cent and 5 cent in copper-nickel. In 1929, the 25 cents silver coin is minted. Ralph Heaton and Sons Limited change its name to The Mint Birmingham Limited in 1879.
The sovereignty of the British North Borneo Company was abolished on 15 July 1946 and British North Borneo became a British Crown Colony. On September 9, 1948 North Borneo received new arms. When British North Borneo acceded to the Malaysian Federation as the state of Sabah in 1963, the coat of arms was modified. The lion and dhow disappeared from the shield, but the two-armed crest was retained. Today, those same two arms grasp the current flag of Sabah.
Explanation by Wikipedia about coat of arms:
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth. The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement which consists of shield, supporters, crest and motto. The design is a symbol unique to an individual person, and to his family, corporation, or state. Such displays are commonly called armorial bearings, armorial devices, heraldic devices, or simply armorials or arms.
