Obverse © Heritage Auctions
Obverse © Heritage Auctions
Sapèque Essai; With hole; "ESSAI"
1879 year| Bronze | 2.1 g | 20 mm |
| Issuer | French Cochinchina (Vietnam) |
|---|---|
| Period | Third Republic (1870-1940) |
| Type | Pattern |
| Year | 1879 |
| Value | 1 Sapeque (0.002) |
| Currency | Piastre (1878-1885) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 2.1 g |
| Diameter | 20 mm |
| Thickness | 0.8 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#21443 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Chinese lettering around central square hole
Scripts: Chinese, Latin
Lettering:
南安之 國法大
當
二
ESSAI
Translation:
French Cochinchina
Worth two
Engraver: Jean-Auguste Barre
Edge
Plain
Comment
The Chinese text has an incomplete value. It could be interpreted as “worth two cash/dongs” (ten cash in a cent, two dongs in a Sapèque) or “worth 2/1000 Piastre”.Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Pattern Sapèque (Essai; With hole; "ESSAI") 1879 from French Cochinchina (Vietnam) made of Bronze weighing 2.1 g is that it is a rare and unique coin, with only a few known examples existing today. It is considered a valuable collector's item among numismatists and enthusiasts of Vietnamese history.
