BOOK REVIEW: MONNAIE ET JETONS DE L’INDOCHINE FRANÇAISE

Éditions Victor Gadoury present Jean Lecompte’s new book on coins and tokens of French Indochina

There are just very few numismatic markets like the Asian market which has grown incredibly within the last years. French colonial coins are now the highlights of a sale, as many new collectors from the Indochina Peninsular are interested in testimonies of their own history. These new collectors have started to build very ambitious collections, which has triggered a boom of coins and tokens from Indochina. Éditions Victor Gadoury is taking this into account. Until now there was one catalogue featuring all coins and tokens of the French colonies. Now this reference book has been divided into three – considerable more extensive – volumes. The first volume, coins and tokens of French Indochina has just been published.

This book is not only meant for the French collector. All the historical and numismatic texts are bilingual: French and English. In addition the author adds a glossary, which helps to understand easily the technical data given in the catalogue.

The following regions are treated in the catalogue: Annam, the kingdom of Cambodia, the French trading posts in China (Kwang-Chou-Wan, Shanghai, Tianjin), Cochinchina, Indochina, Laos, Siam, Tonkin, Vietnam.

Each chapter is introduced by a bilingual historical commentary on the region. The catalogue of all coins and tokens follows. Each region is equipped with its own numbering. Most of the coin types are illustrated in color. You will also find all technical data there as well as the mintage. Some remarkable medals illustrate the text, too. The prices are given for three to five conditions depending on the coin type.

Bibliographic data: Jean Lecompte, Monnaies et Jetons de L’Indochine Française. Éditions Victor Gadoury, Monaco 2013. Hardcover. Stichbinding. 20,5 x 14,5 cm. 168 pages fully illustrated in color. ISBN 978-2-906602-42-7. 49 Euro. You can order directly at www.gadoury.com

To read the earlier E-Sylum article with Serge Pelletier's review, see: BOOK REVIEW: MONNAIE ET JETONS DE L’INDOCHINE FRANÇAISE (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n45a07.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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