Coins of the French colonies 1814-1962

Coins of French colonial possessions are a rather voluminous topic, so you can't do without a separate review. Historians distinguish between two periods - the First French Colonial Empire (1546-1809) and the Second French Colonial Empire (1814-1962). The transition between them is due to the loss of overseas territories: Louisiana, Haiti and Guiana. 

 

Despite the fact that by 1943 the colonies of France occupied 9% of the land surface, and the population in them exceeded the population in the metropolis itself, coins in the late XIX - early XX centuries were issued only for 13 of its colonies:
Africa: Tunisia, Morocco, Togo, Cameroon, French Equatorial Africa, French West Africa, Madagascar,Reunion
Middle East: Syria , Lebanon
Southeast Asia: French Indochina, Tonkin, Cambodia
South America: Guadeloupe, Martinique

 

In most colonies, Franks and Centimes were in circulation, as in France itself. At the same time, in some of the colonies, local currencies bore the names of historically established monetary units in the area: hirshes/piasters (Lebanon and Syria), sapeks, cents, piasters (French Indochina).

Patronage to Tunisia was imposed by France in 1881. Government was formally carried out by local beys. In 1891, a monetary reform was carried out in Tunisia. The old Tunisian rial was accepted for exchange for 60 new Tunisian centimes. The coin foot of French Tunisia was designed in the image and likeness of coins of the Third Republic: 1, 2, 5, 10 centimes made of bronze, 50 centimes, 1 and 2 francs made of silver. Weight, diameter and sample met Latin Coin Union standards. On the obverse of the coins there are inscriptions in French, on the reverse in Arabic. Inscriptions in Arabic denote the Hijra year and the name of the ruling Bey.

 

The coin medallier is Henri Auguste Jules Patey , branded "torch" at the bottom of the year.
 

 

As in France itself, after the First World War, the franc depreciates. France with the colonies leave the Latin Monetary Union and change the conditions for minting coins . In 1918, France put into circulation in Tunisia nickel-bronze denominations of 5, 10, 25 centimes. The medalist is still the same Henri Auguste Jules Patey (brand "torch" to the right of the face value).
  

Again, as in France itself, in 1920 the requirements for the size of a five-centimeter coin were revised - it decreases in diameter from 19 to 17.5 mm. Coins of this type are considered infrequent.

 

 

Also, the issue of silver coins of senior denominations for Tunisia is temporarily stopped, they were replaced by coins made of aluminum-bronze alloy .

 

 

It is noteworthy that for the first time the name of the ruling bey is not indicated on the "good" (bon pour) francs. 

 

 During the reign of the next Bey - Muhammad VI al-Habib , coins of 5 and 25 centimes were not issued, and the only denomination of trifles - a coin of 10 centimes from nickel bronze was issued only in 1926. Despite the fact that senior denominations continued to be produced on aluminum-bronze billets, Tunisia simultaneously resumes minting denominations of 50 centimes, 1 and 2 francs on silver billets in extremely small editions.

  

 

Ahmad II ibn Ali in 1931 issued a "full-fledged" line of three small coins. Medalist Lucien Georges Bazor, branding "wing" to the right of par.

In 1939, silver denominations of 5, 10 and 20 francs were issued in Tunisia, while in France itself precious metals have not been used for minting coins in denominations of 5 francs since 1878.
 

 

With the outbreak of World War II, the Vichy government of Marshal Peten reissued coins of senior denominations in aluminum bronze, as well as trifle on zinc blanks.

 

 

The last bay of Tunisia and, then, the only king of Tunisia, Muhammad VIII al-Amin, in 1943 and 1944 produced 10 francs in extremely small editions, and in 1945 zinc 10 and 20 centimes in the design of the previous ruler, almost the entire circulation of which was sent for remelting.

 

Unlike its neighbor in North Africa, Tunisia, the French protectorate of Morocco does not have such a variety of circulating coins issued. But, at first, a small selection of small coins of the Moroccan Kingdom before the transition to centimes and francs.

The line of coins of the first issue consisted of 5 denominations of silver coins in denominations from 1/2 dirham to 10 dirham.

After the reform of 1902, denominations of mazuna and riala appeared in Morocco.

 

The weight and diameter of the coins correspond to the Latin Monetary Union.

 

The Spanish-French protectorate over Morocco was established in 1912 following the Treaty of Fez. The first coins were issued in mazoons and rials, which introduced a certain confusion in monetary circulation, since inside Morocco calculations were carried out in Spanish pesetas, French francs and their own rials.

 

In 1921, a line of three coins was issued in denominations of 25, 50 centimes and 1 franc with the legend "Empire cherifien," which literally translates as "Moroccan Empire." Coins are minted at the Paris Mint. The launch of the monetary reform carried out the transfer of the monetary system from mazuns and rials to centimes and francs. At the same time, for 1 silver rial weighing 25 g they gave 10 copper-nickel Moroccan francs, and the Moroccan franc was equated to the French franc. The same denominations, issued in 1924, distinguish from the 1921 coins the "lightning" sign on the reverse, indicating belonging to the mint in Poissy, France.

 

Below is a complete selection of silver denominations issued in 1928 and 1933 during the reign of Sultan Muhammad V, Sidi Mohammed bin Yusuf.

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In 1945, small coins in denominations of 50 centimes, 1 and 2 francs were issued from aluminum-bronze alloy.

Togoland and Cameroon before the First World War were protectorates of the German Empire. With the outbreak of war, the combined Franco-British forces occupied these territories: in 1914 Togoland, in 1916 German Cameroon. In 1922, France and Britain received mandates from the League of Nations to govern these territories and already in 1924 the first coins were issued. Coins have a similar design, differing only in the name of the territory. The line included coins in denominations of 50 centimes, 1 and 2 francs, issued in Paris. On the obverse, the coin depicts Marianne in a wreath over a Phrygian cap. Designer Henri Auguste Jules Patey.
 

The French colonized this uninhabited island in the Indian Ocean in the 17th century. During the Third Republic, coins were issued only once - in 1896. Medallier Jean Lagrange.
 

In Syria, for a long time the former part of the Ottoman Empire, the main monetary unit was the Ottoman lira. After the collapse of the Empire, in 1920 the Syrian Arab Kingdom was formed, headed by King Faisal. The Ottoman lira was replaced by the Egyptian pound.

 

 France soon invades the territory of the Syrian Kingdom and overthrows Faisal . French General Gouraud divides Syria into six territory-states: Damascus, Aleppo, Jabal al-Druz, Alawite State, Sanjak Alexandretta, and Greater Lebanon. In order to prevent the circulation of foreign currencies in its mandated territories, the French government in 1920, through the Banque de Syrie (the French branch of the Ottoman Bank), introduced a new monetary unit, the Lebanese-Syrian pound, equal to 20 French francs, and in 1921 put into circulation a coin of denomination in the ½ of Syrian piastre with the corresponding legend. This is the only coin issued in that period.

 

 

By the way, in Arabic the coin is called a hirsch, which etymologically refers us to the names of small Ottoman coins. After World War II, the Arabic spelling on coins was changed from hirsch (ررش) to kirsch (قرش). 

 

The League of Nations in 1923 gave France a mandate to govern the territories of Greater Syria, valid until 1943. All territories, with the exception of Greater Lebanon, were first united into the Syrian Federation, and then in 1924 into a single state - Syria. In 1926, 1929, the first coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5 piastres were issued. The inscription changed to "Etat de Syrie" (State of Syria).

 

 

Silver 10, 25 and 50 piastres were also released.

 

 

Syria became a Republic in 1930. However, coins with the new name of the state "Republique Syrienne" were issued only in 1935.1936. These were nickel-brass piastre ½. The remaining denominations continued to be issued with the same name.

 

 

In 1940, the piastre was reissued on zinc blanks, and a new 2 ½ piastre coin made of aluminum-bronze alloy was also issued.

 

 

In 1941, after the occupation of Syria by British troops, the local currency rate until 1946 was re-tied to the English pound sterling. In the same year, two coins were issued, described in the corresponding section.

Separated from Great Syria in 1920, Great Lebanon also began to be ruled by France under a mandate issued by the League of Nations. In 1924, the same branch of the Ottoman Bank, by then already renamed the Bank of Syria and Lebanon (Banque de Syria et du Liban), received the right to issue coins for Lebanon for the next 15 years. Note that the coins of both Syria and Lebanon could be mutually used without restrictions in both mandated territories. 

 

Below is a selection of the first coins of Great Lebanon, issued in 1924.

 

 

In 1925, coins were issued in a new design. The former legend is the State of Great Lebanon (État du Grand Liban). 

 

 

On coins in 2 and 5 piasters, the plot with Lebanese cedar on the obverse was supplemented with an antique ship on the reverse.

 

 

In 1929, silver 10, 25 and 50 piastres were also issued.

 

 

In 1926, the state was renamed the "Lebanese Republic" (Republique Libanaise), but the legend on the coins changed only in 1934.

 

 

Just like in Syria, in Lebanon in 1940 a new denomination was released - 2 ½ piasters.

 

 

In addition, in 1940, 1941 in the same design, but on zinc blanks, coins in denominations of ½ and 1 piastre were reissued.

 

Lebanese piasters of the period of English occupation in World War II were produced in a design similar to Syrian.

In 1875, France and Dainam (Vietnam) signed a treaty that determined the borders and status of colonial French rule in the Vietnamese provinces captured by the French, including the Kohinhin colony. 

 

In 1878, by a corresponding order on the territory of French possessions in Indochina, the Indochina piastre was proclaimed the official monetary unit, the right to issue which was vested in the private French Bank of Indochina. The weight and size of the piastre had to match the characteristics of the Mexican peso (8 reais), which was very popular in Indochina at that time as a means of payment. In 1895, the circulation of the Mexican peso was officially banned.

 

The coin series of French Cochinchina included 2 sappers, ¼, ½, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, 1 piastre.

Coins issued by the Paris Mint. The design was developed by the medal Desier-Albert Barr (monogram A.B.). On the obverse of the 1 cent coin is a seated "Liberty" with fascine. To the left of it are rice shoots, to the right is an anchor, symbolizing the main activities of the colony . Coins for French Cochinchina were issued from 1875 to 1885.
 

In 1887, all French colonies in Indochina became part of the "Indochina Union." This union lasted until 1954, and during this time several types of coins were issued. The smallest denomination of coins of French Indochina is 2 sappes, which is 1⁄250 Indochinese piastre. The square hole resembles Chinese coins more than French ones. On the obverse is the name of the state and the year of issue in French, on the reverse is the denomination and inscriptions in Chinese.
 

The design of the one-cent type one coin issued for French Indochina follows that of the coin shown above issued for Cochinchina. Coins differ only in the name of the state. 
 

The plot on the obverse of other coins of the line from 10 cents to 1 piastre is identical.

 

 

In 1896, one-cent coins were issued in a new design developed by the medalist Jean-Baptist-Daniel Dupuis. The plot on the obverse is made "based on" the plot on 5 and 10 centimes, produced for circulation in the Republic in 1898-1921. This time, the "Republic" does not protect the baby, but shelters the native.
 

Beginning in 1908, cents became slightly smaller in diameter while maintaining the plot .

 

In circulation in 1935-1940, 1/2 cent coins resemble the French trifle 5, 10, 25 centimes of the circulation period 1914-1939. The designer is the same - medalist Edmond Emil Lindayyo.
 

Another French medalist, Henri Auguste Jules Patey, developed the design of 5 cents coins, which were issued from 1923 to 1939 and had two varieties due to different materials used for blanks.
 

The plot of the one-cent coin, developed by Desier-Albert Barr, was also used on silver coins of all denominations - from 10 cents to 1 piastre, issued until 1939.
 

In 1939, 10 and 20 cent coins were issued on nickel and copper-nickel blanks instead of silver in a new design from the medalist Pierre Turen. Both denominations have varieties in materials (nickel or copper-nickel alloy), edge performance (smooth, ribbed or protected), magnetic properties of the workpiece and some other details.
 

World War II French Indochina coins are described here. In the post-war period (1945-1946), a line of coins in denominations of 5, 10, 20 cents on aluminum, 50 cents on nickel-bronze and 1 piastre on copper-nickel blanks was put into circulation.

 

1 piastre comes out with the legend "Indochina Federation."

 

The territories of Tonkin (North Vietnam) were declared a French protectorate following the Franco-Chinese War of 1884. Despite the fact that the Indochinese piastre was in circulation on the territory of the protectorate, in 1905 a coin in denomination of 1 sapek (1/600 piastre) was issued specifically for it.

 

Their coins appeared in Cambodia only at the end of the first half of the 19th century. Prior to this, coins of neighbors were used - Siam (Thailand) and Burma. The coin system of Cambodia, based on the coin system of Siam, included a basic unit of tikal, which was 4 salungs, 8 fuangs, 32 pe or 64 attam. If there was no particular diversity in the middle and senior denominations, then coins in denominations of 2 pe were issued in several versions and differ in the images of animals and plants on one side of the coin: rooster, hamsa bird, snake, horse, goat, lotus, etc.

 

At the time, Cambodia was influenced by Siam and Daiviet (Vietnam). Warlike neighbors constantly made attempts to conquer Cambodia, which had lost its former power, therefore, trying to avoid the conquest of his country by Siam, King of Cambodia Norod I signed a secret protectorate treaty with France in 1863. In 1864, French troops entered the Cambodian capital city of Phnom Penh and raised their flag over the royal palace. So independence was lost for a period of 90 years. In 1885, the Protectorate of Cambodia became part of the Indochina Federation and became essentially a French colony.

 

 

Already under the protectorate of France, in 1875 a line of coins with the date "1860" and the profile of King Norodom I in denominations of 5 and 10 centimes of bronze, 25, 50 centimes, 1, 2, 4 francs of silver was issued at the mint of Brussels. Some experts doubt the presence of a line of these coins in circulation.

 

The first coins for the French colonies in South America: Guadeloupe, Martinique and Santo Domingo (Hispaniola Island, now Haiti Island) were issued at the beginning of the 18th century. As in the metropolis, the coins of the first colonial issues were called denier and salt. In 1804, France left Hispaniola because of the uprising of slaves that began there, which later proclaimed the Republic of Haiti on the western part of the island. Guadeloupe and Martinique are overseas territories of France to this day.
 

In 1825-1830 and in 1839-1844, France issued coins for Guadeloupe and Martinique with the legend "Colonies Francaises" (Colonies of France).
 

"Special" coins for each of the colonies were issued later: in 1897, 1922 for Martinique (medalist Alfred Borrell) and in 1903, 1921 for Guadeloupe (Medalist Henri Auguste Jules Patey).

Coins for French Martinique were also issued in 1897 and 1922 with a line of two denominations of 50 centimes and 1 franc. The obverse of the coin depicts the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte - Josephine de Beauharnais. The medalist was the sculptor Alfred Borrell.