1 Piastre Pattern


Silver (.900)	27.2156 g	39 mm

Description

Issuer	French Cochinchina (Vietnam)
Period	Third Republic (1870-1940)
Type	Pattern
Years	1879-1884
Value	1 Piastre
Currency	Piastre (1878-1885)
Composition	Silver (.900)
Weight	27.2156 g
Diameter	39 mm
Thickness	2.7 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized	Yes
Updated	2024-10-09

References

Numista	N#21447
Rarity index	92%

Reverse

Denomination in wreath

Script: Latin

Lettering:
COCHINCHINE FRANÇAISE
ESSAI
PIASTRE DE COMMERCE
TITRE 0,900
POIDS 27,215

Translation:
French Cochinchina
Trial
Trade Piastre
Weights 0.900 pounds or 27,215 (grams)

Engraver: Jean-Auguste Barre

Edge

Reeded

Comment

The Cochinchinese piastre was struck due to demand for trading purposes, as a competitor for the various foreign silver trade dollars circulating in East Asia at the time in commerce. The creation of French Indochina in 1885 after the Tonkin Campaign and the Sino-French war removed the need for Cochinchinese piastres (with the legend becoing "Indochine Française" instead, which explains the rarity of these coins, known only as essais today. The 1885 mintage was created on a polished planchet and released during the Antwerp Exposition of 1885. (Source : Monnaies et jetons des colonies françaises, Ed. Gadoury)

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about the Pattern 1 Piastre coin from French Cochinchina (Vietnam) is that it features a unique blend of French and Vietnamese design elements. The obverse side of the coin bears the image of a French republican allegory, while the reverse side features a traditional Vietnamese dragon, highlighting the cultural fusion that existed during the French colonial period in Vietnam.

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
1879	12500	-	-	-	-	-	-
1879 A	14500	-	-	-	-	-	-
1884 A	16000	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 1 Piastre (Pattern) 1879-1884 coin.