Banque de l'Indochine

The Banque de l'Indochine was founded in 1875, and initially operated in China, Saigon (Vietnam), French India and Cochinchina (Vietnam). The bank expanded over the years to include Tonkin (Vietnam), Haiphong (Vietnam), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Tahiti and Singapore. A branch was even opened in Djibouti. Banque de l'Indochine branches were eventually closed or acquired by other banks starting in the 1940's. Virtually all banknotes were provided by Banque de France, denominated in Francs or Piastres.

B125 face
B125 face
French Indochina
B125 (
  • KM132
  • P-40
) 5 Piastres Saigon Issue
Purple, black. Ships; Dragon, Chinese text
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/28/1920
  • 180 x 94mm
  • Buff paper
  • Sig 3

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B135b face
B135b face
French Indochina
B135b (
  • KM141b
  • P-48b
) 1 Piastre Marianne de Walhain
Brown, Blue on Tan.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927-31)
  • 149 x 93mm
  • Sig 5

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B136b face
B136b face
French Indochina
B136b (
  • KM146b
  • P-49b
) 5 Piastres Woman
Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1926)
  • 180 x 90mm
  • Buff paper

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B138d face
B138d face
French Indochina
B138d (
  • KM154d
  • P-51d
) 100 Piastre Dupleix
Incense Burner; Bust of Joseph-François Dupleix
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1936-39)
  • 214 x 146mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head
(F)
B141a face
B141a face
French Indochina
B141a (
  • KM143a
  • P-54a
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1932)
  • 127 x 80mm
  • Sig 6
  • Text in Blue, Denomination Red
  • Old Lao text on back, dot under "MÔT" on back

  • Watermark: Mercury

B142b face
B142b face
French Indochina
B142b (
  • KM148b
  • P-55b
) 5 Piastre Helmeted woman
Ruins of Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1936)
  • 140 x 90mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Mercury

B143b face
B143b face
French Indochina
B143b (
  • KM152b
  • P-56b
) 20 Piastres Athena with Oak Crown
Khmer Temple
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1936-39)
  • 160 x 85mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Mercury
(F)
(B)
B144 face
B144 face
French Indochina
B144 (
  • KM157
  • P-57
) 500 Piastre Education: Woman, Child & Globe
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1939-)
  • 190 x 103mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Mercury
(F)
(B)
B165a face
B165a face
French Indochina
B165a (
  • KM153
  • P-81a
) 20 Piastre Athena with Oak Crown
Khmer Temple
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1949)
  • 160 x 85mm
  • Sig 9b

  • Watermark: Mercury
(F)
(B)
B166b face
B166b face
French Indochina
B166b (
  • KM156
  • P-82b
) 100 Piastre Mercury
Elephants
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1949-54)
  • 175 x 89mm
  • Sig 9b
  • New Lao text

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head
(F)
(B)
B108d face
B108d face
French Somaliland
B108d (
  • KM608d
  • P-6b
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
Blue, Red on Yellow.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927)
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B110a face
B110a face
French Somaliland
B110a (
  • KM611
  • P-7A
) 20 Francs
Multicolor, denomination in red. Woman; Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1941)
  • Sig 7

  • Microprint
  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B112as face
B112as face
French Somaliland
B112as (
  • KM613
  • P-8s
) 100 Francs Woman with wreath
Statue at Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1928-1938)
  • Sig 7
  • Specimen

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B114b face
B114b face
French Somaliland
B114b (
  • KM616b
  • P-9b
) 500 Francs Allegory of France
France and Local Woman, Ships
  • Printer: BdF
  • 3/8/1938
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Head of Polynesian woman

(F)
(B)
B117a face
B117a face
French Somaliland
B117a (
  • KM624
  • P-11
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain, with Free France overprint
Blue, Red on Yellow.
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/1/1943
  • Sig 7
  • Series 63-74

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B131a face
B131a face
French Somaliland
B131a (
  • KM609
  • P-19
) 10 Francs Camel caravan
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1946)
  • Sig 9c

  • Watermark: Mercury
B313d face
B313d face
New Caledonia
B313d (
  • KM412d
  • P-36b
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
Mauve, Brown on Lt. Green.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1926)
  • 149 x 93mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B314a face
B314a face
New Caledonia
B314a (
  • KM413a
  • P-37b
) 20 Francs Woman
Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1929)
  • Sig 5

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B315e face
B315e face
New Caledonia
B315e (
  • KM415e
  • P-42e
) 100 Francs Woman with wreath
Statue at Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1963)
  • Sig 11

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B317d face
B317d face
New Caledonia
B317d (
  • KM418d
  • P-43d
) 1000 Francs Woman at Marketplace
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1963)
  • Sig 11

  • Watermark: Polynesian woman with flowers in her hair

B325b face
B325b face
New Caledonia
B325b (
  • KM414b
  • P-50b
) 20 Francs Shepherd
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1954)
  • Sig 10b

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B201b face
B201b face
New Hebrides
B201b (
  • KM701b
  • P-4b
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain, with Free France overprint
Mauve, Brown on Lt. Green.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927-31)
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B202a face
B202a face
New Hebrides
B202a (
  • KM702
  • P-6
) 20 Francs Woman
Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1941)
  • Sig 5

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
(B)
B307d face
B307d face
Tahiti
B307d (
  • KM509d
  • P-11c
) 5 Francs Marianne de Walhain
Orange, Rose on Lavender.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927)
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

B310e face
B310e face
Tahiti
B310e (
  • KM513e
  • P-14d
) 100 Francs Woman with wreath
Statue at Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1961-65)
  • Sig 11

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

(F)
B311b face
B311b face
Tahiti
B311b (
  • KM516b
  • P-15
) 1000 Francs Market Scene, Woman with Basket
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1940-57)
  • Sig 10b

  • Watermark: Man's head
B319c face
B319c face
Tahiti
B319c (
  • KM511c
  • P-21c
) 20 Francs Shepherd
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1963)
  • Sig 11

  • Watermark: Profile of Man's head

Last update:

Web site, content and images © Dave Mills

jsLinkNext