Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Centime 1885-1894, KM# 1, French Indochina
  • 1 Centime 1885-1894, KM# 1, French Indochina
Description

French Indochina (1887–1954), was a grouping of French colonial territories in Southeast Asia. A grouping of the three Vietnamese regions of Tonkin (north), Annam (centre), and Cochinchina (south) with Cambodia was formed in 1887. Laos was added in 1893 and the leased Chinese territory of Guangzhouwan in 1898.

Engraver: Jean-Auguste Barre

Obverse

Marianne seated left with fasces between plants and anchor, mintmark and engraver's initials below, date in exergue, inscription "French Republic" above.

Marianne is a national symbol of the French Republic, an allegory of liberty and reason, and a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty. It is a significant republican symbol, opposed to monarchy, and an icon of freedom and democracy against all forms of dictatorship. Her profile stands out on the official government logo of the country, is engraved on French euro coins and appears on French postage stamps; it also was featured on the former franc currency.

Fasces (from the Latin word fascis, meaning "bundle") is a bound bundle of wooden rods, sometimes including an axe with its blade emerging. The fasces typically appeared in a context reminiscent of the Roman Republic and of the Roman Empire. The French Revolution used many references to the ancient Roman Republic in its imagery. During the First Republic, topped by the Phrygian cap, the fasces is a tribute to the Roman Republic and means that power belongs to the people. It also symbolizes the "unity and indivisibility of the Republic", as stated in the French Constitution. There is the fasces in the arms of the French Republic with the "RF" for République française. While it is used widely by French officials, this symbol never was officially adopted by the government.

Mintmarks:
• Cornucopia (bottom-left cornucopia, the logo of the Paris Mint)
• A (bottom-center, Paris Mint)
• Fasces, tube of bundled poles with axe (bottom-right, privy mark of Jean Lagrange, Chief Engraver at the Paris Mint from 1880-1896)

REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE
A A.B
1888

Reverse

Depicts a rectangular cartouche with value in 4 stacked Cheese characters "100 (Cent) of Piastre part 1" dividing Western value, inside a dotted circle, colony name above, weight "0 pounds 10 grams" between dots below.

INDO-CHINE FRANÇAISE

1 分 C


· POIDS 10 GR ·

Edge
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 9.91 g
Diameter 31 mm
Thickness 1.6 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Paris Mint (A)

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