French Indochina

French Indochina was a portion of the French Colonial Empire in the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. In 1954, French Indochina gained independence from France and now comprises the countries of Cambodia, Laos, North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

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.

1901 (1909-1919) Issue

B120 (
  • KM131
  • P-16
) 5 Piastres Haiphong issue
Green, Brown. Ships; Dragon, Chinese text
  • Printer: BdF
  • 180 x 94mm
  • Buff paper
  • Sig 4,5

(F)
B122 (
  • KM135
  • P-17
) 20 Piastres Haiphong Issue
Green, brown. Seated Allegorical Woman, two Native Women; Two Dragons, Chinese text
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1910
  • 206 x 118mm
  • Sig 4,5

(F)
B124 (
  • KM140
  • P-18
) 100 Piastres Haiphong Issue
Green, brown. Allegorical Woman (France) Standing with Asian Man; Chinese text and Dragon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1911
  • 212 x 142mm

(F)
(B)

1920 (1920-1925) Issue

B114 (
  • KM125
  • P-34
) 1 Piastre
Red-brown. Seated East Asian Woman and Allegorical Woman (France); Chinese text
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1891-1909
  • 141 x 106mm
(F)
B119 (
  • KM131
  • P-37
) 5 Piastres Saigon Issue
Purple, black. Ships; Dragon, Chinese text
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1909-1924
  • 180 x 94mm
(F)
B121 (
  • KM134
  • P-38
) 20 Piastres Saigon Issue
Purple, black. Seated Allegorical Woman, two Native Women; Two Dragons, Chinese text
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1917
  • 206 x 118mm
(F)
B123 (
  • KM137
  • P-39
) 100 Piastres Saigon Issue
Purple, brown. Allegorical Woman (France) Standing with Asian Man; Chinese text and Dragon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1911
  • 212 x 142mm
(F)
(B)
B125 face
B125 face
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)
B126 (
  • KM133
  • P-19
) 5 Piastres Haiphong issue
Green, Brown. Ships; Dragon, Chinese text
  • Printer: BdF
  • 5/27/1920
  • 180 x 94mm
  • Buff paper
  • Sig 5

(F)
B127 (
  • KM136
  • P-41
) 20 Piastres Saigon Issue
Purple, black. Seated Allegorical Woman, two Native Women; Two Dragons, Chinese text
  • Printer: BdF
  • 8/1/1920
  • 206 x 118mm

(F)
B128 (
  • KM139
  • P-42
) 100 Piastres Saigon Issue
Purple, brown. Allegorical Woman (France) Standing with Asian Man; Chinese text and Dragon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1920
  • 212 x 142mm

(F)
(B)
B129 (
  • KM140
  • P-20
) 100 Piastres Haiphong Issue
Green, brown. Allegorical Woman (France) Standing with Asian Man; Chinese text and Dragon
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1920
  • 212 x 142mm

(F)
(B)

1919 Fractional Issues

B130 (
  • KM187
  • P-43
) 10 Centimes Pagoda Gate
Blue.
  • Printer: Chaix, Paris
  • 10/6/1919
  • 84 x 56mm
(F)
B131 (
  • KM188
  • P-44
) 10 Centimes Pagoda Gate
Blue.
  • Printer: Chaix, Paris
  • 10/6/1919
  • 84 x 56mm
(F)
B132 (
  • KM189
  • P-45
) 20 Centimes Pagoda Gate
Purple and yellow.
  • Printer: Chaix, Paris
  • 10/6/1919
  • 93 x 59mm
(F)
B133 (
  • KM190
  • P-46
) 50 Centimes Pagoda Gate
Red and brown.
  • Printer: Chaix, Paris
  • 10/6/1919
  • 101 x 67mm
(F)
B134 (
  • KM191
  • P-47
) 50 Centimes Pagoda Gate
Blue.
  • Printer: Chaix, Paris
  • 10/6/1919
  • 101 x 67mm
(F)

1921-1936 Issues

B135a (
  • KM141a
  • P-48a
) 1 Piastre Marianne de Walhain
  • ND (1921-26)
  • Sig 4
B135b face
B135b face
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

(F)
B136b face
B136b face
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)
B137 (
  • KM151
  • P-50
) 20 Francs Woman with wreath
Statue at Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1928)
  • 207 x 119mm

(F)
B138d face
B138d face
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)

1932 Issues

B139 (
  • KM142
  • P-52
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1932)
  • 127 x 80mm
  • Sig 6
  • Text and Denomination in Blue. Series A.1-W.680
  • No Lao text on back

  • Watermark: Mercury
(F)
B140a (
  • KM147
  • P-53a
) 5 Piastre Helmeted woman
Ruins of Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1946)
  • 140 x 90mm
  • Sig 9b
(F)
B141a face
B141a face
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

(F)
B141b face
B141b face
B141b (
  • KM143b
  • P-54b
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • ND (1936)
  • Sig 7
B141c face
B141c face
B141c (
  • KM143c
  • P-54c
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • ND (1946)
  • Sig 9b
B141d face
B141d face
B141d (
  • KM144c
  • P-54d
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • ND (1949)
  • Sig 9b
  • New Lao text on back
B141e face
B141e face
B141e (
  • KM145
  • P-54e
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • ND
  • Sig 9b
  • No dot under "MÔT"
B142a (
  • KM148a
  • P-55a
) 5 Piastre Helmeted woman
  • ND (1932)
  • Sig 6
  • Old Lao text on back
B142b face
B142b face
B142b (
  • KM148b
  • P-55b
) 5 Piastre Helmeted woman
Ruins of Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1936)
  • 140 x 90mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Mercury

(F)
B142c face
B142c face
B142c (
  • KM148c
  • P-55c
) 5 Piastre Helmeted woman
  • ND (1946)
  • Sig 9b
B142d face
B142d face
B142d (
  • KM149d
  • P-55d
) 5 Piastre Helmeted woman
  • ND (1949)
  • Sig 9b
  • New Lao text on back
B143b face
B143b face
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
B144 (
  • KM157
  • P-57
) 500 Piastre Education: Woman, Child & Globe
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1939-)
  • 190 x 103mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Mercury
(F)
(B)

1947-1951 Issue

B165a face
B165a face
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)
B166a (
  • KM155
  • P-82a
) 100 Piastre Mercury
  • ND (1947-49)
  • Sig 9b
  • Old Lao text
B166b face
B166b face
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)
B167a (
  • KM157
  • P-83a
) 500 Piastre Woman and Child examining Globe
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1951)
  • 190 x 103mm
(F)
(B)
B168 (
  • KM160
  • P-84
) 1000 Piastre Elephant and Water Buffaloes
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1951)
  • 207 x 112mm
  • Specimen only
(F)
(B)

Institut d'Émission des États du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viet-Nam

In 1951, the responsibility for issuance of banknotes was transfered to The Institut d’Émission des États du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam, which issued individual notes for the three states: Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

1953 ND Issue

B401b face
B401b face
B401b (
  • KM901
  • P-92
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1953)
  • 127 x 80mm
  • Sig 15

  • Watermark: Mercury

(F)

1953-1954 Cambodia Issue

B406 face
B406 face
B406 (
  • KM914
  • P-97
) 100 Piastre Three Women representing Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
Temple of Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1954)
  • 173 x 108mm
  • Sig 18

  • Watermark: Elephant head

B407 face
B407 face
B407 (
  • KM917
  • P-98
) 200 Piastres Elephant and Water Buffaloes
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1953)
  • 207 x 113mm
  • Sig 17

  • Watermark: Cambodian dancer
(F)

1954-1954 Laos Issue

B412 (
  • KM915
  • P-103
) 100 Piastres Three Women representing Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
Flowering Tree, Woman Carrying Bowl of Roses
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1954)
  • 173 x 108mm

  • Watermark: Elephant head

(F)

1953-1954 Vietnam Issue

B417 face
B417 face
B417 (
  • KM916
  • P-108
) 100 Piastres Three Women representing Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
Bao Dai, Emperor of Vietnam
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1954)
  • 173 x 108mm
  • Sig 21

  • Watermark: Tiger head

(F)
B418 (
  • KM918
  • P-109
) 200 Piastres Bao Dai, Elephant and Water Buffaloes
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1954)
  • 207 x 113mm

  • Watermark: Cambodian dancer
(F)
(B)

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