50 Sen - Norodom Suramarit

Cambodia's first post-independence coinage was issued following the 1953 handover from France, with the National Bank established in 1954 specifically to replace the Indochinese piastre system. This 50 sen piece was struck during the reign of Norodom Suramarit, who ruled only from 1955 until his death in 1960 — making his coinage issues confined to a narrow window. His son Sihanouk, who had abdicated the throne to enter politics, resumed power as head of state after Suramarit's death, and the coinage series changed accordingly.