French Indochina 1889-A 50 cent
This specimen was lot 581 in Stacks-Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $4,112.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRENCH INDO-CHINA. 50 Cents, 1889-A. PCGS PROOF-61 Secure Holder. RARE. From a mintage of only 100 pieces. Reflective fields with some light smoky gray toning." This fifty cent piece is one of a type issued for French Indo-China during 1885-95. The next year, the weight was reduced to 13.5 g. 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 proofs.
Specification: 13.60 g, 0.900 fine silver, .393 troy oz ASW, designed by Barré.
Catalog reference: KM-4; Gad-31; Lec-255.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Gadoury, Victor, and George Cousinié, Monnaies Coloniales Françaises, 1670-1988, 2me Éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 1988.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, The January 2015 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Featuring the John W. Adams and Ray Czabor Collections, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2014.
Link to: