5 piastres 1936

Common. eBay market data from 2010-2025 shows consistent sales volume across multiple condition grades (VG through PMG 67), with VF-graded examples regularly selling in the $5-$15 range. The most recent VF sale (December 2023) realized $9.50, and historical pricing has remained stable in this modest range for over a decade. This indicates robust collector interest but substantial supply in the secondary market. The Pick catalog lists this as P-55c, a standard issue with no indication of limited print runs or scarcity. The absence of dramatic price appreciation or dealer premiums for this grade further confirms common status.

This 5 Piastres note was issued by Banque de l'Indochine during the 1930s, reflecting the colonial French administration of Indochina and the blend of European and Southeast Asian cultural elements. The architectural rendering of what appears to be a Khmer temple on the reverse, combined with the Vietnamese and East Asian script elements, illustrates the multicultural nature of the colonial Indochinese monetary system. The note's imagery celebrates indigenous Southeast Asian heritage while maintaining French institutional authority through the bilingual inscriptions and French engravers' credits.

The obverse features a portrait of a woman representing Southeast Asian cultural identity, wearing a distinctive blue headdress adorned with gold leaf patterns and ornate jewelry including a prominent necklace with medallion. She holds a spear or ceremonial staff decorated with leaf motifs, symbolizing authority or cultural significance. The reverse depicts Khmer architectural heritage, prominently featuring a temple structure with carved stone faces characteristic of Angkorian or classical Khmer design, flanked by palm fronds hanging from the top border. An adjacent figure wears a tall multi-tiered ornate headdress with elaborate neck jewelry, rendered in profile-frontal perspective. Both sides employ fine ornamental border patterns with geometric designs in orange and gold tones. The overall composition blends French colonial engraving tradition with indigenous Southeast Asian iconography, creating a visually striking representation of cultural synthesis under the Banque de l'Indochine's authority.

FRONT SIDE: 'BANQUE DE L'INDOCHINE' (Bank of Indochina), 'CINQ PIASTRES' (Five Piastres), 'L'ARTICLE 139 DU CODE PÉNAL PUNIT DES TRAVAUX FORCÉS CEUX QUI AURÔNT CONTREFAIT OU FALSIFIÉ LES BILLETS DE BANQUES AUTORISÉES PAR LA LOI' (Article 139 of the Penal Code punishes with forced labor those who counterfeit or falsify banknotes authorized by law), 'LE PRÉSIDENT' (The President), 'SEB. LAURENT FEC.' (Sebastian Laurent, engraver), 'E. DELOCHE SC.' (E. Deloche, sculptor/engraver). Serial number: 7884187-5, Reference: R.3154, Counter mark: 875. BACK SIDE: 'SEB. LAURENT FEC.' and 'E. DELOCHE SC.' (engraver credits repeated). East Asian script and Vietnamese text elements visible but partially unclear in transcription. All inscriptions maintain French legal notices and authentication credits.

The note exhibits classic intaglio engraving, evidenced by the fine line work visible throughout the borders, the detailed rendering of facial features, and the complex ornamental patterns. The engravers Sebastian Laurent and E. Deloche, whose credits appear on both sides, were skilled practitioners of this technique. The color scheme—achieved through chromolithographic or multi-plate printing processes—displays the characteristic saturation and registration typical of early-to-mid 20th century French colonial currency production. The security features, including the serial numbers, reference codes, and fine-line border patterns, are consistent with intaglio printing on banknote-grade paper, a standard practice for Banque de l'Indochine issues of this period.

This specific example shows serial number 7884187-5 with reference R.3154 and counter mark 875. The Pick P-55c designation indicates this is the 1936 issued variety of the 5 Piastres denomination from Banque de l'Indochine. Engraver signatures of 'SEB. LAURENT FEC.' and 'E. DELOCHE SC.' are consistent with the standard design for this issue. No visible overprints, date variations, or signature varieties are evident in the observed specimen. The note represents a standard circulation issue from this series with no documented major varieties or error types noted in the visual analysis.