French Indochina (previously spelled as French Indo-China), officially known as the Indochinese Union after 1887 and the Indochinese Federation after 1947, 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. The capital was moved from Saigon (in Cochinchina) to Hanoi (Tonkin) in 1902 and again to Da Lat (Annam) in 1939. In 1945 it was moved back to Hanoi.
After the Fall of France during World War II, the colony was administered by the Vichy government and was under Japanese occupation until March 1945, when the Japanese overthrew the colonial regime. Beginning in May 1941, the Viet Minh, a communist army led by Hồ Chí Minh, began a revolt against the Japanese. In August 1945 they declared Vietnamese independence and extended the war, known as the First Indochina War, against France.
In Saigon, the anti-Communist State of Vietnam, led by former Emperor Bảo Đại, was granted independence in 1949. On 9 November 1953, the Kingdom of Laos and the Kingdom of Cambodia became independent. Following the Geneva Accord of 1954, the French evacuated Vietnam and French Indochina came to an end.
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. The capital was moved from Saigon (in Cochinchina) to Hanoi (Tonkin) in 1902 and again to Da Lat (Annam) in 1939. In 1945 it was moved back to Hanoi.
After the Fall of France during World War II, the colony was administered by the Vichy government and was under Japanese occupation until March 1945, when the Japanese overthrew the colonial regime. Beginning in May 1941, the Viet Minh, a communist army led by Hồ Chí Minh, began a revolt against the Japanese. In August 1945 they declared Vietnamese independence and extended the war, known as the First Indochina War, against France.
In Saigon, the anti-Communist State of Vietnam, led by former Emperor Bảo Đại, was granted independence in 1949. On 9 November 1953, the Kingdom of Laos and the Kingdom of Cambodia became independent. Following the Geneva Accord of 1954, the French evacuated Vietnam and French Indochina came to an end.
5 Centimes, KM#18.1a
Lettering :
RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE
LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ
A.PATEY
Translation:
French Republic
Liberty Equality Brotherhood
Rev : Center hole divides denomination, wreath surrounds, date below
Lettering :
INDOCHINE FRANÇAISE
5 CENT.
1938
Translation:
French Indochina
Details :
Smooth Edge
Engravers: Henri-Auguste Patey
KM#18.1a
Schön#17a
20 Centimes, KM#23a.1
Lettering :
REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISEP.TURIN
.1939.
Translation:
French Republic
Rev : Rice plant divides denomination
Lettering :
INDOCHINE FRANÇAISE
20 CENT.
Translation:
French Indochina
Details :
Reeded Edge
Engravers: Pierre Turin
KM#23a.1
References :
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indochina
- Standard Catalog of World Coins - Krause Publication
- Weltmünzkatalog by Gerhard Schön, Günter Schön
