1 Riel FAO

1970 year


Copper-nickel (75% Copper, 25% Nickel)	2.8 g	19.38 mm

Description

Issuer	Cambodia
Period	Khmer Republic (1970-1975)
Type	Circulating commemorative coin
Year	1970
Value	1 Riel
Currency	First riel (1953-1975)
Composition	Copper-nickel (75% Copper, 25% Nickel)
Weight	2.8 g
Diameter	19.38 mm
Thickness	1.34 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized	17 April 1975
Updated	2024-10-04

References

Numista	N#19297
Rarity index	21%

Reverse

Grain bouquet, denomination

Script: Khmer

Lettering:
សូ្រវជាជីវិត នៃ សេដ្ឋតិច្នជាតិ
១ ៛. | 1 ៛.
មួយរេ្យល

Translation:
It is the life of the national economy
One Riel

Edge

Reeded

Comment

Norodom Sihanouk (1922-2012) was King of Cambodia (1st Reign:1941-1955) (2nd reign: 1993-2004) and as Head of state: 1960-1970. He was overthrown on 18/March/1970 by General Lon Nol of Khmer Republic. Due to the fall of the Cambodian government in 1970, the coin was not released then.

However, this coin was released in limited numbers in 1983 and came into circulation.

Note: According the British Royal Mint, this coin was minted at the Llantrisant Branch Mint in 1972 but dated 1969. According to the FAO, the coin was to have been dated 1971. The photograph of the coin, supplied by the FAO, is dated 1970. Only this type of coin is currently available.

Interesting fact

The 1 Riel (FAO) 1970 coin from Cambodia has an interesting design feature. On the obverse side, it features a portrait of King Norodom Sihanouk, who was the king of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1970 to 1975. The reverse side of the coin depicts a stylized representation of a rice plant, which is a significant crop in Cambodia and a symbol of the country's agricultural industry. The coin's design was created by the Cambodian artist, Nath Chandara.