Cambodia 1860 franc
This specimen was lot 51075 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $5,280. The catalog description[1] noted, "CAMBODIA. Franc, 1860. Phnom Penh Mint. Norodom I. PCGS PROOF-66 Gold Shield. Reeded edge. Intoxicatingly brilliant and dazzling, this colorful Gem features about as radiant and alluring beauty as one can expect to encounter for the issue. In-hand viewing is especially encouraged in order to fully appreciate all that this proof minor has to offer." 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: 5 g, silver.
Catalog reference: KMX-M6; Lec-57; Gad-6.
- 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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