Cambodia, French protectorate, 10 Centimes – 1860

Description

In the 20th century, Cambodia had become a kingdom to the discretion of its neighbors. Thailand had incorporated the border region, including Angkor, and Vietnam threatened the orienta border. Under these conditions, and since France had established a colony in the Cochinchina in 1862, in 1863, King Norodom and that could not be proclaimed by keeping Siam the symbols of real power, signed a protection agreement with France, to avoid More Siam interference. Siam accepted the French protectorate in exchange for maintaining the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap. The two provinces would be returned to Cambodia for a border agreement in 1907. These first mints of 1860 were actually coined around 1875 in a private workshop in Brussels. The wedges and a press were delivered to Norodom i that coined more pieces in Phonm Penh. These first pieces never circulated, and in reality the king gave them them on the great occasions of the kingdom. In 1899 on the occasion of the Queen Mother”s incineration, the king used these pieces dated 1860.