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50 000 Riels Khmer Republic
| Issuer | Khmer Republic |
|---|---|
| Year | 1974 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Thickness | 1.1 mm |
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| Obverse description | Central figure of a standing Apsara (celestial dancer) depicted in the classical Khmer sculptural tradition, shown in a three-quarter stance with one arm raised and adorned with an elaborate tiered crown, jewelry, and traditional garments. The figure is set against a richly decorated background of stylized floral and scroll motifs evoking the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat. The curved legend REPUBLIQUE KHMERE arcs along the upper periphery in raised Latin letters. The overall design is rendered in high relief with fine detail throughout the field. |
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| Reverse description | Central device displays the coat of arms of the Khmer Republic, featuring Angkor Wat with its five towers surmounted by a star, flanked by decorative laurel-like branches and encircled by a ribbon banner bearing a Khmer inscription. A Khmer legend arcs along the upper periphery of the field. Below the arms, the denomination appears in two lines: 50.000 RIELS in Latin characters and the equivalent in Khmer numerals, followed by the dual date rendered in both Khmer and Arabic numerals (១៩៧៤ · 1974). A small fineness mark (900) is visible at the lower right of the field. |
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| Additional information |
The Khmer Republic issued this gold piece in 1974 — the same year Khmer Rouge forces were closing in on Phnom Penh, cutting supply roads and tightening a siege that would end the republic entirely by April 1975. Gold commemoratives of this period were effectively emergency fundraising instruments, produced for foreign sale rather than domestic circulation. The Lon Nol government was financially desperate, heavily dependent on U.S. aid that Congress was actively restricting.
Mintage was extremely limited, and most examples were sold abroad before the capital fell.