French Indochina

French Indochina was a portion of the French Colonial Empire in the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. In 1954, French Indochina gained independence from France and now comprises the countries of Cambodia, Laos, North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

Banque de l'Indochine

The Banque de l'Indochine was founded in 1875, and initially operated in China, Saigon (Vietnam), French India and Cochinchina (Vietnam). The bank expanded over the years to include Tonkin (Vietnam), Haiphong (Vietnam), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Tahiti and Singapore. A branch was even opened in Djibouti. Banque de l'Indochine branches were eventually closed or acquired by other banks starting in the 1940's. Virtually all banknotes were provided by Banque de France, denominated in Francs or Piastres.

1920 (1920-1925) Issue

B125 face
B125 face
B125 (
  • KM132
  • P-40
) 5 Piastres Saigon Issue
Purple, black. Ships; Dragon, Chinese text
  • Printer: BdF
  • 1/28/1920
  • 180 x 94mm
  • Buff paper
  • Sig 3

  • Watermark: Man's Head in Profile

1921-1936 Issues

B135b face
B135b face
B135b (
  • KM141b
  • P-48b
) 1 Piastre Marianne de Walhain
Brown, Blue on Tan.
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1927-31)
  • 149 x 93mm
  • Sig 5

  • Watermark: Man's Head in Profile

B136b face
B136b face
B136b (
  • KM146b
  • P-49b
) 5 Piastres Woman
Peacock, Butterflies
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1926)
  • 180 x 90mm
  • Buff paper

  • Watermark: Man's Head in Profile


  • Rita SC
  • Roque FEC
    • (B)
B138d face
B138d face
B138d (
  • KM154d
  • P-51d
) 100 Piastre Dupleix
Incense Burner; Bust of Joseph-François Dupleix
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1936-39)
  • 214 x 146mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Man's Head in Profile
  • Rita SC
  • Roque FEC
    • (F)

1932 Issues

B141a face
B141a face
B141a (
  • KM143a
  • P-54a
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1932)
  • 127 x 80mm
  • Sig 6
  • Text in Blue, Denomination Red
  • Old Lao text on back, dot under "MÔT" on back

  • Watermark: Mercury

B141b face
B141b face
B141b (
  • KM143b
  • P-54b
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • ND (1936)
  • Sig 7

B141c face
B141c face
B141c (
  • KM143c
  • P-54c
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • ND (1946)
  • Sig 9b

B141d face
B141d face
B141d (
  • KM144c
  • P-54d
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • ND (1949)
  • Sig 9b
  • New Lao text on back

B141e face
B141e face
B141e (
  • KM145
  • P-54e
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • ND
  • Sig 9b
  • No dot under "MÔT"

B142b face
B142b face
B142b (
  • KM148b
  • P-55b
) 5 Piastre Helmeted woman
Ruins of Angkor
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1936)
  • 140 x 90mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Mercury

B142c face
B142c face
B142c (
  • KM148c
  • P-55c
) 5 Piastre Helmeted woman
  • ND (1946)
  • Sig 9b

B142d face
B142d face
B142d (
  • KM149d
  • P-55d
) 5 Piastre Helmeted woman
  • ND (1949)
  • Sig 9b
  • New Lao text on back

B143b face
B143b face
B143b (
  • KM152b
  • P-56b
) 20 Piastres Athena with Oak Crown
Khmer Temple
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1936-39)
  • 160 x 85mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Mercury

B144 face
B144 face
B144 (
  • KM157
  • P-57
) 500 Piastre Education: Woman, Child & Globe
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1939-)
  • 190 x 103mm
  • Sig 7

  • Watermark: Mercury

1947-1951 Issue

B165a face
B165a face
B165a (
  • KM153
  • P-81a
) 20 Piastre Athena with Oak Crown
Khmer Temple
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1949)
  • 160 x 85mm
  • Sig 9b

  • Watermark: Mercury

B166b face
B166b face
B166b (
  • KM156
  • P-82b
) 100 Piastre Mercury
Elephants
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1949-54)
  • 175 x 89mm
  • Sig 9b
  • New Lao text

  • Watermark: Man's head in profile

Institut d'Émission des États du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viet-Nam

In 1951, the responsibility for issuance of banknotes was transfered to The Institut d’Émission des États du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam, which issued individual notes for the three states: Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

1953 ND Issue

B401b face
B401b face
B401b (
  • KM901
  • P-92
) 1 Piastre Local Woman, Emperor Minh Mang Royal Tomb
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1953)
  • 127 x 80mm
  • Sig 15

  • Watermark: Mercury

1953-1954 Cambodia Issue

B406 face
B406 face
B406 (
  • KM914
  • P-97
) 100 Piastre Three Women representing Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1954)
  • 173 x 108mm
  • Sig 18

  • Watermark: Elephant head

B407 face
B407 face
B407 (
  • KM917
  • P-98
) 200 Piastres Elephant and Water Buffaloes
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1953)
  • 207 x 113mm
  • Sig 17

  • Watermark: Cambodian dancer

1953-1954 Vietnam Issue

B417 face
B417 face
B417 (
  • KM916
  • P-108
) 100 Piastres Three Women representing Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
Bao Dai, Emperor of Vietnam
  • Printer: BdF
  • ND (1954)
  • 173 x 108mm
  • Sig 21

  • Watermark: Tiger head

  • Leguay, M. INV
    • (F)

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