Catalog
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| Issuer | Banque de l'Indo-Chine |
|---|---|
| Year | 1903-1907 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Reverse description | The reverse is printed entirely in red on a dense guilloche underprint and carries all text in Chinese characters arranged in vertical columns within ornamental cartouches. A central circular medallion is left blank, flanked by panels bearing the denomination and branch name, with additional columns of Chinese text at left and right citing the imperial edict authorising the bank and the branch locations Dong Jing (Hanoi) and An Nan (Annam). |
| Reverse lettering | 銀壹百元見字交銀 壹百元 東京 安南 壹百元 奉本國特諭東方滙理銀行 |
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| Comments |
The Banque de l'Indo-Chine held a renewable monopoly on currency issuance in French Indochina, and this high-denomination note — dual-titled in both French and a piastre equivalent — circulated at a time when the piastre was still pegged to silver, creating constant friction between the bank's Paris principals and colonial treasury officials who wanted a gold standard. The dual denomination was a practical concession to regional trade networks spanning Cochinchine, Tonkin, Annam, Laos, and Cambodia, where both terms were in use.
Bramtot was a Prix de Rome laureate; Duval handled ornamental composition. Robert's engraving was executed at the Imprimerie Nationale in Paris. Few notes from this series survive in any condition — the tropical climate was ruthless on paper stock, and the denomination meant limited everyday handling but concentrated exposure to humidity in bank strong rooms.