French Indochina 1889-A 20 cent
This specimen was lot 24625 in Heritage sale 3026 (Long Beach, October 2013), where it sold for $5,287.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "French Colonial Proof 20 Cents 1889-A, Proof 65 NGC, deeply toned with rich magenta and blue-green patina over flashy mirror surfaces. A spectacular example of this very rare proof only date with a mintage of 100." This twenty cent piece is one of a type issued for French Indo-China during 1885-95. The type was reduced to 5.4 grams in 1895 and issued in that form until 1898, when the fineness was reduced to .835. French Indochina was occupied by the Japanese in 1940. French attempts to reoccupy the area after World War Two were challenged by Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh, leading to French defeat and withdrawal in 1954. The colony was divided into Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
Recorded mintage: 100.
Specification: 5.443 g, 0.900 fine silver, .157 troy oz ASW, designed by Barré.
Catalog reference: KM 3.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Gadoury, Victor, and George Cousinié, Monnaies Coloniales Françaises, 1670-1988, 2me Éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 1988.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3026, World & Ancient Coins, featuring the RLM Collection, Part Two, the Nogales Collection and the Goetz Medals Die Archive, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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