(sold for $19.0)

1879, French Cochin China. Scarce Bronze 2 Sapeque (Cash) Coin. XF+

Mint Year: 1879 Reference: KM-2. Condition: A nice XF+ Mint Mark: A (Paris Mint) Denomination: 2 Sapeque (cash) Diameter: 20mm Material: Bronze Weight: 2.03gm

Obverse: Square hole, surrounded by legend. Mint initial (A) and date (1879), flanked by privy marks of the Paris mint below. Legend: COCHINECHINE FRANCAISE (bee) 1879 (anchor)

Reverse: Square hole, surrounded by eight chinese characters.

Bid with Confidence!

Cochinchina (Vietnamese: Nam Kỳ, Khmer: Kampuchea Krom) is a region encompassing the southern third of Vietnam whose principal city is Saigon or Prey Nokor in Khmer. It was a French colony from 1862 to 1954. The later state of South Vietnam was created in 1954 by combining Cochinchina with southern Annam. In Vietnamese, the region is called Nam Bộ. Historically, it was Gia Định (1779–1832), Nam Kỳ (1834–1945), Nam Bộ (1945–48), Nam phần (1948–56), Nam Việt (1956–75), and later Miền Nam. In French, it was called la colonie de Cochinchine.

In the 17th century, Vietnam was divided between the Trịnh Lords to the north and the Nguyễn Lords to the south. The northern section was called Tonkin by Europeans, and the southern part called Cochinchina by most Europeans and Quinam by the Dutch.

During the French colonial period, the label moved further south, and came to refer to the southernmost part of Vietnam, controlled by Cambodia in prior centuries, and lying to its southeast. Its capital was at Saigon. The two other parts of Vietnam at the time were known as Annam and Tonkin.