File:1 Centime - French Protectorate of Cambodia - Scott Semans 08.jpg

English: FRENCH PROTECTORATE and NATIONAL COINAGE

• Cambodia's first national coinage was struck in Udon using European dies and machinery. Problems with the 1853 strikings from Ingram dies led to a second series c. 1856 using Heaton dies. More than one die variety is known for some, though the differences are small. The Tical and 1/4 Tical are unique among world coinages in bearing dates in three eras. The coppers with "3 3+4" legend (KM #1,2) are also from this period, the intriguing question being whether they preceded the silver coinage and provided their design, or were contemporary.

    K1      Pe     (c.1847-59) 2.66gm on standard of 1/100 Salung, 13x14.5mm, Uniface 
     K1      Pe     (c.1847-59) 2.58gm on standard of 1/100 Salung, 14mm, Uniface 
     K33a      1/8 Tical     (c.1856, Heaton dies) Closed horizontals in temple. 1.68gm F+, large hole $75;   1.85gm 
     K33b      1/8 Tical     (c.1856, Heaton dies) Open horizontals in temple. 1.73gm    A very similar piece went for in the 1/09 Heritage Sale, Lot 50414. 
     K33X      1/8 Tical     Lapa counterfeit (1970s). Heavier (2.0-2.5gm), flatter strike, cruder die work. Many differences in bird, but neck is most obvious: 5 horizontal lines & 3 diagonal, vs 6 & 2 in genuine. Rev. is accurate as var. b, but stylistically cruder. Not for sale. 
     K35      1/4 Tical     (1853, Ingram dies) 22.5mm, 3.65gm 
     K34      1/4 Tical     (c.1856, Heaton dies) 20mm, 3.63gm Significant revision of design. 
     K37a      Tical     (1853, Ingram dies) 35-35.5mm, 14.3 - 15.4gm. Dies A/1    VF+-EF (a,b) ; VF (c) ; 
     K37b      Tical     (1853, Ingram dies) 35-35.5mm, 14.3 - 15.4gm. Dies B/2    VF+-EF light scratches obv & rev (a) ; 
     K37c      Tical     (1853, Ingram dies) 35-35.5mm, 14.3 - 15.4gm. Dies B/3    
     K37      Tical, Counterstamped     (1853, Ingram dies) 35mm   av) K37a Sun c.s obv Vg/F, holes ;   aw) K37a Western "5" obv Vg-F, scratches, ex-mount ; bv) K37b Sun c/s rev VF+-EF ;   bz) K37b Chops, 3-char Chinese obv, "100%" and Arabic "8"(?) rev F+, ugly mount removal, cleaned 
     K36      Tical     (c.1856, Heaton dies) 30mm, 14.0 - 15.5gm Significant revision of design.gm   EF-AU, rainbow toning (a) ;    VF+ (b) ; VF, hole (c) ;   F-VF, hole (d) 
     K36      Tical, Counterstamped     (c.1856, Heaton dies) 30mm   v) "Shun" c/s rev (a) F+ ;   w) Chinese c/s rev Fine (c) , 

• A mysterious third set of dies dated 1209, with features common to both the Ingram and Heaton dies, was used to strike patterns, probably in Europe. The SCWC erroniously lists the 1/4 Tical as a silver circulation strike.

    K39      1/4 Tical Pattern     (1855 or later) Tin, 1209, 2.55gm, 20mm 

• Minor Coinage: The common Praq Pe (K11), dated by Cribb to 1870-1900, suggests a significant need for coins smaller than the 5 and 10 Centime. A Standing Garuda Pe (K26) was issued c.1880-1902 from the mint machinery installed in 1880. Many dies exist, but no significant varieties. The corresponding 4 Pe is much rarer. Trial strikings and patterns for Centimes (KM-Tn1) were made in Europe in 1897 (Lecompte, Yeoman) or 1875-1904 (KM), corresponding to types widely used in French Indo and Cochin China 1875-1902. A scarce series of 10, 15, 20, and 25 (Centime) tokens are noted by H. Rolland (1932) as "a l'usage du palais (1906)."

    K11      Hamsa (Praq) Pe     Crude Hamsa left with crest, vine, and tail feathers as detached elements around. Chinese Ji (luck) in box above. From style and silvering, varieties with one or two dots above upper tail feathers and five horizontal dashes behind appear to be earlier than the variety with no dots above, and four dots behind. 1850-80 (Panish) or 1870+ (Cribb). K11a = one dot above, 5 dashes behind; K11b = 2 dots above, 5 dashes behind; K11c = No dot above, 5 dots behind; Order "K11" for my choice, best grade. Each: VF-EF ; 
     K11S1      Hamsa (Praq) Pe     Set of 3 varieties, K11a with silvering, others with traces or no silvering. 
     K11W      Hamsa (Praq) Pe     From an old bulk purchase, unsorted, per 10 pieces 
     K26      Garuda Pe     Machine-struck, ca. 1880-1902, Garuda standing left, R: Preah / Dambaan (Batambaang) in old Khmer script. Beaded edges. 
     K26      Garuda Pe     Machine-struck, ca. 1880-1902, Garuda standing left, R: Preah / Dambaan (Batambaang) in old Khmer script. Beaded edges.    Poor (not shown) ; Fine (a, b) ; VF (c) ; 
     K30      Garuda 4 Pe     Similar in design to the Pe, but tail is upraised and different style; cartouches to either side, R: different 3-line legend in wreath. 22m, 3.89, 4.54g, compared to average 1.2g for the Pe. The two Fox specimens are different dies. 
     L4      Centime     "Business" strike with square center hole, 1.04gm, copper? 
     L1      Centime, Pattern/Trial     Thick version with wire rims and round guide-hole in unpunched square center, 1.81gm, brass 
     L8      Centime, Pattern/Trial     Normal weight with unpunched square center hole, 1.26gm, brass 
     L8v      Centime, Pattern/Trial     Light weight with unpunched square center hole, 0.86gm, brass 
     L98+      Palace Tokens     L98) 10 Centimes, L100) 15 Centimes, L102) 20 Centimes, L104) 25 Centimes   Each 25.5mm, 3.7-4.0gm 

"1860" Series Dated for Nordom I's accession, though first struck in 1875 in Belgium, with later restrikes in Cambodia, and business strikes of the 5 and 10 Centime in Heaton. There are actually six to thirteen metal and striking varieties for each denomination; "regular," Essai (normal and proof), Piefort, off-metal strikes, and Cambodian restrikes are the main categories. The silver were intended as largesse issues: one series of light-weight restrikes was for the 1899 cremation of the Queen Mother. The regular and restrike silver did curculate, and repeat orders were given to the Heaton Mint for circulation strikes of the 5 and 10 Centimes. However, the editors of Krause's SCWC have failed to link the "award" coinages of Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia with the Western commemorative tradition, resulting in the omission of most of the Thai multiple-mark bullets, and lately the removal of the entire "1860" Cambodia series to Unusual World Coins, though Vietnam's extensive series is in the main catalogue.