[New comment posted. See below.]
France Indo China Piastre, 10, 20, 50 Cents (Fakes are possible)  1885 to 1946

I don't know where Miss Liberty's tail came from, but it sure is hard to ignore! See below for more information on Liberty's tail.

French Indo China is Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia today. They issued several denominations of coin with the tailed Liberty design on the front of the coin and the specific denomination on the back. The 10 cents is the smallest, and the piastre is a large coin the size of a US silver dollar. All these coins are made of silver with various purities (e.g., TITRE 90 = 90% pure). Some of the value of these coins comes from this precious metal they contain:

10 CENTS 1885 to 1897: 0.078 troy ounces of silver
10 CENTS 1898 to 1919: 0.073 troy ounces
10 CENTS 1920: 0.039 ounces
10 CENTS 1921 to 1937: 0.059 ounces

20 CENTS 1885 to 1895: 0.158 ounces
20 CENTS 1895 to 1897 (with POIDS 5 GR): 0.156 ounces
20 CENTS 1898 to 1916: 0.145 ounces
20 CENTS 1920: 0.077 ounces
20 CENTS 1921 to 1930: 0.098 ounces
20 CENTS 1937: 0.118 ounces

50 CENTS 1885 to 1895: 0.394 ounces
50 CENTS 1896 to 1936: 0.391 ounces
50 CENTS 1946: 0 ounces (coin is made of copper-nickel)

PIASTRE 1885 to 1895: 0.788 ounces
PIASTRE 1895 to 1928 (with POIDS 27 GR): 0.781 ounces

Multiply the ounce measurements by the current value of silver (at the time of this writing it is $17 US dollars per ounce) to compute the melt value of the coin. Find the current value of silver on the web, e.g., at

Sharp-eyed individuals will notice that the titre of some of these coins is less than 90 percent. Coin makers adjust silver purity (titre) so they can get the right amount of precious metal in a coin and still have it meet diameter and thickness requirement. Titre does not affect the 'troy ounces of silver' in the list above, because it has already been factored into the silver computation.

In addition to the melt value, the coin carries numismatic value, that is, value to coin collectors. The numismatic value varies with condition of the coin. Assuming it has no problems, like stains, scratches, spots, or cleanings, and further assuming it is in average circulated condition, add the following numismatic values to compute the catalog value of the coin:

1885 to 1889: add $15 US dollars
1892: add $120
1893 to 1895: add $40
1895 (with POIDS 2 GR): add $250
1896: add $100
1897: add $40
1898: add $100
1899 to 1903: add $8
1908: add $80
1909 to 1912: add $40
1913: add $10
1914 to 1920: add $30
1921 to 1927: add $4
1928: add $80
1929 to 1937: add $2

1885: add $40 US dollars
1887 to 1895: add $80
1895 to 1896 (with POIDS 5 GR): add $200
1897 to 1898: add $100
1899 to 1900: add $40
1909: add $230
1920: add $20
1921 to 1928: add $15
1929: add $40
1930 to 1937: add $5

1885: add $200 US dollars
1889: add (are you ready?): $4000
1894 to 1896: add $100
1936: add $5
1946 (copper-nickel coin): $4 catalog value in average circulated condition

1885 to 1889: add $80 US dollars
1890: add $2000
1893: add $80
1894 to 1900: add $40
1901 to 1909: add $4
1910: add $25
1911 to 1928: add $4

After all these calculations, you will have the catalog value of your coin in average circulated condition. Cut the additional value in half for worn coins, and multiply it by two for coins in well preserved condition and by 4 for coins in fully uncirculated condition. To find the actual value of your coin from its catalog value, go to our Important Terminology page (link at upper left).

A photo of an interesting piece was sent to CoinQuest by a visitor named Michael. It is a fake 50 cent piece made, perhaps, because the 50 cent coins can be particularly valuable. But everything is wrong about the fake. Notice in the side-by-side graphic that the image of Liberty is way too small, and that the TITRE/GRAMS inscription is completely wrong. (Not only that, French Indo China did not mint 50 cent coins in 1937!) It appears that the counterfeiters started with a 20 cent coin and tried to make a 50 cent coin out of it. They failed.

At first we told Michael that his counterfeit coin is worth zero. This may not be totally correct. Coin collectors have long collected fakes as a part of the hobby known as 'the black cabinet.' Some numismatic slabbing companies are starting to slab fakes, as reference coins. So there may be some actual value to Michael's piece. For sure, it is a good conversation item. Put it on the coffee table and see what happens when guests arrive! CoinQuest thanks Michael for use of his coin photo.

Now, about Miss Liberty's tail, a sharp-eyed reader wrote to CoinQuest and pointed out that it is not a tail at all. Close inspection reveals it is an anchor propped up behind her. I'm glad ...

Coin: 2412 , Genre: Colonizers and Colonies
Requested by: william ashley, Sat, 26-Dec-2009 10:49:49 GMT
Answered by: Paul, Sun, 05-May-2013 20:12:42 GMT
Updated by CoinQuest. Apprasial ok. Use the current value of silver., Thu, 26-Feb-2015 02:44:50 GMT
Requester description: 1930 Lady that looks like statue of liberty sitting down holding something in right hand woman has a tail. The front has that device and says repcblique. On the back has a picture similar to a wheat mark and says indo-chine francaise. Titre 0,680 poids 2gr.7. In the middle on the back it says 10 cent. And underneath the 10 cent has a little tiny a.
Tags: france indo china piastre 10 20 50 cents cent fakes counterfeit gaul francaises francais french rf francaise francie franciaise franciase fance francai fran fracaise shinese chin chine chian chinese chineese peny pennys pennies penny replica counterfet fake counterfiet reproductions repro reproduction counterfeits replicas forgery lady woman statue liberty sitting sit down hand tail front repcblique republic wheat mark titre poids gr 2 7 empress lsdy femal women female feminine womans girls females womens ladys princess girl ladies sits tailed tails repub repbulique republik repuika republ republicas republicia reipvblicae repubblica reublico republiove republiek repvbliqve republica republique rupublica repvbblica republika replucique rebublique repvblica replublica republicans republka repvblique repbublic wheatie weat wheats deutschemark marke dutchemark markt deuchmark marks marc marck spike spiked spikes anchor wreath greenery wreathed rief reif reef wreathe wreat garland wreth wreah wreaths


I have an 1896 piaster coin could mine be gold? - mike
Click 'Search' and look for your coin. If you cannot find it, click 'Free Appraisal' and complete the questionnaire. - CoinQuest (Paul)

just found in excel condition-republique franciase 1897 rear-indochine francaise titre 0.900 poids 27 gr -in center 'piastre di commerce'
Where would I find the value of this excellent coin? - stan williams
You can get a coin catalog or read this page. - CoinQuest (Paul)

Why do you only date the piastres to 1922? Did they stop making them out of silver at that time, or is it something else? - Chris
Hi Chris -- Piastres after 1922 use different patterns than the one shown. We only include coins that people request. If you, or anyone else, is looking for a page on post-1922 piastres, please request one. - CoinQuest (Paul)

I have a TITRE 0.680.POIDS5GR.4 I is the 50 CENT, It is dated 1937 very clearly but I didn't see that date on the list. The last 50 cent was 1936. Can you help? Thank you,
Michael Wallen - Michael Wallen
It's possible that you have a fake coin -- the weight and purity that you've stated are those of a 20 cent coin, and I'm not aware of any 1937 50 cent coins that exist in this category. - CoinQuest (Todd)

Hello, I have a 1903 France Indo Chine 20¢ coin. I don't know if it is real because it has 0.680 5GR 4 - Chase
You have a sharp eye, Chase. Your coin must be a fake because genuine 20 cents from 1903 are 0.835 pure silver, so their inscription reads TITRE 0.835 POIDS 5GR4. Too bad. The counterfeiters are out in force these days. - CoinQuest (Paul)

I opened a roll of (US) dollar coins and spotted a silver colored one. Thinking it was a Susan B, Anthony I slid it in my pocket. Turns out to be 1921 20 cent. It's pretty worn and has a hole drilled right next to lady Liberty's crown. Was it common for people to use these as necklace or bracelet adornments? What value reduction due to this condition? Thanks - Big River Pete
In the condition you've described, it's pretty much only worth the silver value at this point. It was very common for people to wear coins as jewelry accessories (or perhaps for sentimental reasons), and is still done today - though not nearly as often. Very cool coin to find that way! - CoinQuest (Todd)

I have a 1823 Piastre. why cant I find any that are that old? Is it counter fit? And if it isn't what is it worth? - Mike
Hi Mike - you're right to be suspicious, as none of these coins were struck before 1885. Here's how I see it. If your coin is cruddy, worn, scratched up and such, there's a good chance that the metal was simply damaged in such a way as to change the '9' in '1923' into what looks like '1823'. But the problem them becomes that there were no such coins struck in 1923 either! There were enough to go around from earlier years, and the production didn't pick up again until 1924. So if this is the case, the '3' would have to be damaged as well. Perhaps it once read '1928' and two of the numbers were damaged? It's a thin possibility, but if your coin is all cruddy and dinged up as I suggested, it's very real. Now, the second possibility is, as you suggest yourself, that the coin could be counterfeit. If so, I'd expect it to be underweight, have a porous surface, and maybe even be attracted to a magnet. If you would like us to have a look at your coin, there's a 'Contact' link on the top right of the 'Home' page of CoinQuest that you can get used to start an email exchange. - CoinQuest (Chris)

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