French Indo-China Paper Money Collection French Indo-China Paper Money Collection
| [ Last Update: Saturday, 18-Dec-2010 11:17:17 EST ] |
Banque De L'Indochine | |
| Banque de l'Indochine was a note-issuing bank established in Paris on 21 January 1875, for the territories of France in Asia. Up to World War II, the bank experienced three phases of development. From 1875 to 1888, it functioned as a colonial bank to help the French government manage its colonial properties in Southeast Asia. Then from 1889 to 1900, the bank shifted its operations from Indochina to China. Thereafter, from 1900 to 1941, the bank represented the interests of the French government in handling the Boxer indemnity and transacted international trade between France and China. | |
1932-1939 ND Issue | |
 | P54d - 1 Piastre, 1949 Front: Woman at right, building at center, red denomination numeral 1 Back: Man with baskets at left, Chinese, Lao and Vietnamese text Watermark: Side portrait of Mecury Size: 128 x 80 mm |
 | P55c - 5 Piastre, 1946 Front: Woman with helmet and lance to left, large denomination numeral 5 over wreath at upper right on white backgroud Back: Omen with headdress at left, ancient statues at right, Lao text Watermark: Side portrait of Mecury Size: 141 x 90 mm |
1942-1945 ND Issue | |
 | P58 - 1 Piastre Sampans at left Back: Figure with hands together Printer: I.D.E.O Hanoi - Imprimerie de l'Extreme Orient in Hanoi Size: 125 x 62 mm |
 | P64 - 5 Piastre Back: Pavillion at water's edge Printer: I.D.E.O Hanoi - Imprimerie de l'Extreme Orient in Hanoi Size: 126 x 73 mm |
1942-1945 ND Second Issue | |
 | P71 - 20 Piastres Front: Walled fort Back: Seated figure Printer: I.D.E.O Hanoi - Imprimerie de l'Extreme Orient in Hanoi Size: 157 x 75 mm |
1949; 1951 ND Issue | |
| Printed in Japan in 1944. | |
 | P74 - 20 Piastre, 1949 Front: Two farmers with ox Back: Two women with tree branches Size: 127 x 63 mm |
1945 ND Issue | |
| Printed in the US and England after WWII. | |
 | P76a - 1 Piastre, 1951 Front: Two men in a boat, red letter "B" (possibly not issued), blue planchets Back: Angkor Wat, blue planchets Printer: American Bank Note Company Size: 128 x 64 mm |
 | P76b - 1 Piastre, 1951 Front: Two men in a boat, red letter "D" Back: Angkor Wat, blue planchets Printer: American Bank Note Company Size: 128 x 64 mm |
1947-1951 ND Issue | |
 | P81 - 20 Piastre, 1949 Front: Helmeted woman holding wreath at center, Athens standing in background Back: Helmeted woman holding wreath Watermark: Frontal portrait of Mecury Size: 161 x 85 mm |
1947-1951 ND Issue | |
 | P82 - 100 Piastre, 1949 Front: Mecury at left Back: Elephant handler with two elephants at left, elephant handler with stick at right Watermark: Side portrait of man with a hat Size: 176 x 88 mm |
Government General De L'Indochine | |
| When World War II broke out in Europe, the communication between France and Indochina became difficult and completely interrupted in 1940. When the German troops occupied Paris, the Japanese spreaded out into Viet Nam via China, but still placed Indochina under the authority of French Governor Decoux, being dependent on French Petain administration who took the side of Germans. During this time, the Indochina administration issued a new paper note with inscription GOUVERNEMENT GENERAL DE L'INDOCHINE (Government General of Indochina) by contracting with IDEO (Imprimerie d'Extreme-Orient) printing office in Hanoi. Due to the war and the lack of communication with France, the scarcity of ink and material for fine paper printing poor quality paper notes were produced.
The Japanese administration did not issue the occupation money in Indochina as they did in Philippine, China, and Malaya. However, in areas under their influence, the Japanese distributed a number of Japanese currency. The 50 sen, 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, and 100 yen paper notes were similar to the notes issued by the Japanese in China, but in different color plus two letters RO and the Chinese inscription GOVERNMENT OF GREAT EMPIRE OF JAPAN. Those rare paper notes are of high value in the numismatist's market. | |
1939 ND Issue | |
 | P85d - 10 Cents Front: Sculptures and left, dancers at right Back: Elephants walking through a market Size: 105 x 55 mm |
 | P86d - 20 Cents Front: Bamboo plants at left and right Back: Girl with hat at left, boat at center Size: 102 x 61 mm |
1942 ND Issue | |
 | P88 - 5 cents Front: Denomination at center, signatures at left and right Back: Forgery penalty clause at center Size: 77 x 50 mm |
 | P89a - 10 cents Front: Denomination at center, signatures at left and right Back: Forgery penalty clause at center Size: 77 x 50 mm |
Institut D'Emission Des Etats Du Cambodge, Du Laos Et Du Vietnam | |
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At the end of World War II, the French came back to Indochina. By confronting the movement, Independence for Viet Nam, the French applied a policy of more tolerant rule, but still followed the general Lyautey's policy of "divide to easy control and exert power". The Franco-Vietnamese war raged and exhausted French's potentialities which were already declined after the world war. The Auriol-Bao Dai Agreement resulted — The French recognized the independence and unification of Viet Nam, but Viet Nam should join the French Union. On 31 December 1951, the paper money issuance power was transferred to Institute of Issuance (commonly known as Institute of Issuance of Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam). However, Indochina Bank continued to publish Indochina paper notes until the Institute of Issuance was capable of producing the required amount for Indochina.
The paper notes used in Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, and within the French Union had same characteristics. On front is the inscription INSTITUT D'EMISSION DES ETATS DU CAMBODGE, DU LAOS, ET DU VIETNAM and the value of the notes in French. On back is a symbol of each nation, INSTUTION OF ISSUANCE inscription and the value in Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian. The highest value paper note in Indochina was 1000 piastre. The design was a sample and has never been issued. In 1954-1956, due to shortage in small changes, 1 piastre notes were torn into two to replace 50 cents; when assembled together, the note had the value of its sum. | |
Viet Nam Issue | |
1953-1954 ND Issue | |
 | P105 - 1 Piastre Front: Trees Back: Dragon at left Watermark: Tiger head Size: 128 x 79 mm |
 | P106 - 5 Piastre Front: Banana trees at left, palm trees at right Back: Bao Dai at left Watermark: Tiger head Size: 132 x 84 mm |
 | P107 - 10 Piastre, 1953 Front: Stylized sunburst at center Back: Rock in the Bay of Along at left, Vietnamese title at top Watermark: Tiger head Size: 139 x 88 mm |