1/2 Cent Pattern

In 1939, the Monnaie de Paris produced a series of pattern coinage intended for French Indochina, exploring denominations and compositions that never entered circulation — the outbreak of war ended any practical implementation. This half-cent silver-plated pattern is catalogued under Lecompte 30a, a subvariant within a small family of trial pieces from that year's exploratory striking program.

Silver-plated patterns from this period were typically struck on base flans to assess visual effect rather than final composition — production cost and wartime metal priorities made a true silver issue for Indochina a non-starter by late 1939.