I bought this banknote to add to my collection yesterday, and i found out it is too old to be in my standard catalog of world paper money. it is in good crisp condition except for the bottom right corner which has a very small piece missing from it. I know it is a french indo china 5 piastre, but i'm not sure which year, i cant find one on it anywhere. i paid $15 for it and i am wondering if i paid too much?
It was issued in 1949. It is P-55d in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money. There are four different signature combinations for this note. This is the most common. It catalogs at VG/1.00 VF/5.00 UNC/25.00.
That's a mighty fine looking 5-Piastre you now proudly own. According to the World Paper Money and History Catalog ... atsnotes.com ... it's from a series that was printed from 1932 to 1939. That dates it to be pre-Japanese occupation of Vietnam, September 1940. From what I have been able to learn, The Japanese never issued occupational currency. They left the French and Vietnamese alone to to manage their internal affairs, as long as they kept within the agreed occupational accords. Although French Indochina was composed of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, the French bank used the term Piastre throughout it's colonial holdings. The term Piastre is of Italian origin and means thin metal plate [fine for coinage, but not for paper ... then, again, you know how the French are]. The French withdrew from Indochina following their defeat at Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, in 1954. Following the French departure, Vietnam was divided into North and South at the 17th parallel and the currency was revised by each new nation. Curiously, in the south the term Piastre remained as a French holdover even though the French were no longer governing Vietnam. Historically, the Cambodian currency is the Riels, In Laos it's in Kips. In Vietnamese it's Dongs. Your beautiful note shows Piastre on the Euro side and Dong on the Asian side, confirming its origin. All my Vietnamese money dates from the Vietnam War era. At that time the paper currency was denominated in Piatres and coinage in Dongs. As to the price you paid, it wasn't all that much. If your interest is high, the price paid was moderate. If your interest is low, then the price was high. As a collector of military items, I've seen guys buy German Iron Cross medals that ran into the $600 to $800 range and be proud of their purchase. Their interest level was high, they were motivated and the item had more value to them than their money. Were I to ask myself if I would rather have $15 in my pocket or your Vietnamese note, I wouldn't hesitate to make the purchase. Then, again, my interest level is high. You own a beautiful piece of history. Be happy with your purchase. Treasure it and forget about the few dollars exchanged. Good on you!
The Standard Catalog shows this signature variety being issued in 1949. This type of note was printed and issued pre-war but with different signatures.
OK, lettow, thanks for the correction. That's a detail I overlooked. Time to hit the Google button and learn more from doing additional research. Actually, my earlier research revealed so much information I wound up with a headache in both eyes trying to digest it all in a single sitting. Now it's time for more manageable, longer lasting bites. BTW, always enjoy reading your postings. Take good care - - - - -
