CNG 100, Lot: 600. Estimate $750. Sold for $2200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CAMBODIA, French Protectorate. Norodom I. 1860-1904. Souvenir AV 50 Centimes (18mm, 3.94 g, 6h). Uncertain mint (Birmingham, Brussels, or Phnom Pehn). Dated 1860, though struck circa 1875-1899. Bare head left / Coat-of-arms; SOUVENIR below. Cf. MCF 5; cf. Friedberg 5; cf. KM (X) 5b. EF, lustrous. Very rare.

From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams, purchased from M. Louis Teller, September 1985.

The coinage of Norodom I is traditionally divided into “original” and “restrike” issues struck at Birmingham, Brussels, or Phnom Penh. However, examination of mint records suggests that the date 1860 in fact represents the accession date of the ruler and not, as is custom, the date of issue. It is likely that the first issues of the series were struck in 1875, when new presses were delivered to Cambodia, and continued to be struck sporadically in both the native Cambodian and European mints until the late 19th century. The series has yet to be studied closely enough to allow individual issues to be assigned to the various mints, but it would appear that at least the pieces struck from very worn dies can be attributed to Cambodia.