French Indochina 1897-A 10 cents
This specimen was lot 51101 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $1,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRENCH INDO-CHINA. 10 Cents, 1897-A. Paris Mint. PCGS MS-64 Gold Shield. Shimmering and radiant, this nearly blast white minor offers a strong strike and verges upon full Gem status." This ten cent piece is one of a type issued for French Indo-China during 1898-1919. The type was reduced from 2.72 grams in 1895 and then the fineness was lowered from 0.900 to 0.835 in 1898. 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: 900,000.
Specification: 2.70 g, 0.900 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-2a; Lec-139.
- 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]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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