Cambodia 1860 2 francs
This specimen was lot 51074 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $4,320. The catalog description[1] noted,
"CAMBODIA. 2 Francs, 1860. Phnom Penh Mint. Norodom I. PCGS PROOF-65 Gold Shield. Reeded edge. Incredibly vibrant and shimmering, this proof issue offers highly reflective fields and a very subtle frosting to the devices. While the obverse is largely from of toning, the reverse presents a delightful golden nature throughout."
In 1860, Norodom ordered a series of patterns from Europe (mint not known but likely Paris or Brussels) for a proposed milled coinage which never came off. Silver piastres, four francs, two francs, one francs, fifty centimes and twenty-five centimes and bronze ten, five, two and one centimes were prepared, all conforming to French standards. Later, pieforts and off-metal strikes were made and sold to collectors, leading to a profusion of listings in the Unusual World Coins.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 10 g, silver.
Catalog reference: KMX-M7; Lec-67a; Gad-7.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Unusual World Coins, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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