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On the first of April 1867 the Straits Settlements became a Crown Colony but it wasn't until 1871 that her first coins were struck with the lower denomination silver coins being first issued in 1871 and the copper in 1872, the copper being seen as less important as the previous British India issues were still in circulation. It would not be until 1886 and 1903 that the fifty cent and one dollar coins respectively would be struck.
Undoubtedly a key date of the entire Straits Settlements series, the 1883 Quarter Cent is one that has eluded most collectors.� As the last date of copper series before switching to a bronze alloy, the 1883 stands as one of most sought coins in the area. 1883 Quarter Cent in comparison to the other dates of the series stands at a paltry 200,000 mintage as opposed to a 9.2 million mintage like the 1872-H quarter cent. Of the 200,000 most of them have been unaccounted for and lost over time. While the extent of this rarity has not yet been fully explored, it is no doubt extremely rare with very few examples ever appearing on the market place.
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