Catalog
5 Piastres Brown
| Issuer | Banque de l'Indochine |
|---|---|
| Year | 1942-1945 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Piastre (1880-1952) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | BANQUE DE L'INDOCHINE CINQ PIASTRES L'INSPECTEUR GÉNÉRAL LE DIRECTEUR DE LA SUCCURSALE DE SAIGON L'ARTICLE 139 DU CODE PÉNAL PUNIT DES TRAVAUX FORCÉS CEUX QUI AURONT CONTREFAIT OU FALSIFIÉ LES BILLETS DE BANQUES AUTORISÉES PAR LA LOI PHAM-NGOC-KHUË IDEO. HANOI |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | GIẤY NĂM ĐỒNG VÀNG 東方匯理銀行 PHAM-NGOC-KHUË IDEO. HANOI |
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| Comments |
Wartime exigency pushed Banque de l'Indochine to print locally in Hanoi rather than rely on Metropolitan France, which was under German occupation and in no position to supply engraved currency. Phạm Ngọc Khuê's involvement as designer is notable — local artistic talent contributing to colonial currency production was hardly the norm for the period.
The notes circulated under Japanese-supervised Vichy administration, a peculiar arrangement that left the Banque de l'Indochine technically functioning until the Japanese coup of March 1945 abruptly ended French administrative authority altogether.