Malaysia celebrates 50 years of FELCRA and its efforts to help its rural population

A new coin from Malaysia started to ship on the 21 December and in line with much of the Bank Negara’s output, is themed around government and its influence on the country. This time out it’s an organisation called FELCRA, which stands for Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority. Established in 1966 to help bring the rural sector of Malaysia into the wider economic market and thus raise the standard of living of those working within it.

The coin has a nice symbolic depiction of a plantation, selectively coloured with all the inscriptions kept to a surrounding border. The obverse is clean and features the anniversary logo of FELCRA as its main design element. It’s quite a nice design overall, but the subject matter is going to make it a hard sell outside of Malaysia itself, it being very much a coin for internal consumption. Coins depicting national symbolism seem to be very appreciated around the world, national politics less so.

The one-ounce silver coin is available on its own with a mintage of 700, and in a two-coin set with a nordic gold version (a mix of copper, aluminium, zinc and tin that contains no actual gold) with a mintage of a further 2,000. The nordic gold coin is also available singly with a mintage that tops out at 13,000. Available now.

MINTS DESCRIPTION: Bank Negara Malaysia is issuing commemorative coins in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of FELCRA. FELCRA was established in 1966 with the objective of improving the standard of living of Malaysia’s rural sector through greater participation in the economy. Building on its plantation management and land rehabilitation capabilities, FELCRA has diversified its activities into the industrial, service sectors and other business areas. These commemorative coins were launched by YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia today at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

OBVERSE: Images of palm oil and rubber trees, amidst the green landscape which represent the core plantation business of FELCRA are depicted in the centre of the coin, with roads which lead to the skyline of Kuala Lumpur in the background. The words “SAMBUTAN JUBLI EMAS FELCRA” appear on the upper circumference of the coin while the years 1966-2016 are inscribed on the lower circumference.

REVERSE: The words “BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA” as the issuing authority of the commemorative coin is featured on the upper circumference of the coin, while the face value of the coin is inscribed on the lower circumference. In between, the official anniversary logo of FELCRA is featured on the coin.