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4 Francs - Norodom I Pattern
| Issuer | Cambodia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1875-1899 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | Fr#2a |
| Obverse description | Bare, unadorned effigy of King Norodom I facing left, rendered in high relief with naturalistic detail to the hair and facial features. The engraver's signature C. WURDEN appears in small letters below the truncation of the neck. The circular legend NORODOM I ROI DU CAMBODGE runs along the upper periphery, while the date 1860 is prominently placed in the lower exergue area. The rim is finished with a fine beaded border. |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
French Indochina's monetary administration never formally adopted a Cambodian gold franc coinage for circulation, which is precisely why this piece exists only as a pattern. Norodom I had signed the 1863 protectorate treaty under considerable duress, and French authorities retained tight control over fiscal policy throughout his reign — a circulating domestic gold issue would have implied a degree of monetary autonomy Paris had no intention of granting.
The Fessard attribution (Fr#2a) distinguishes this from at least one other pattern variety in the series.