BANQUE DE L’INDOCHINE

Branch building in Saigon (completed 1930)

CINQ Cents Piastres – Indochine

The French began their Indo-Chinese empire in 1862 with Cochinchina which is the area around the Mekong Delta and Saigon, and which is nowadays the extreme southern part of Vietnam.

This empire very quickly expanded to include Cambodia which had been a vassal state of the Kingdom of Siam. In 1875, the French introduced a Cambodian franc to Cambodia.

A specimen banknote is printed generally in very limited quantities for distribution to central banks to aid in the recognition of banknotes from a country other than their own.

In some cases, specimen banknotes are printed in less limited quantities distributed to commercial banks, or even to commercial enterprises and the public at large in order to familiarize users about new designs.

In addition, specimen banknotes are sold in some countries to collectors (often in special commemorative folders or albums). They have also been distributed by banknote printers (such as the American Bank Note Company) as examples of their craftsmanship.

Occasionally, specimen banknotes are distributed as gifts to dignitaries or to employees of central banks, often in special presentation albums.

Đổi tiền tại Việt Nam, 1975

“Chính phủ Cách mạng Lâm thời miền Nam Việt Nam hôm nay ra lệnh ngừng lưu thông toàn bộ tiền tệ do chính quyền cũ phát hành và cho phép người dân Sài Gòn nghỉ làm buổi sáng để kê khai tài sản.”