
The Piastre currency has a rich history that spans over a century. It was first introduced in Egypt in 1834 as a replacement for the Ottoman piastre.
Initially, the Piastre was pegged to the British pound at a rate of 1 pound = 14.34 piastres. This peg was maintained until 1927.
Check this out: Egyptian Piastre
Piastre Details
The piastre was the currency of French Indochina from 1880 to 1949, and it was used in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It was introduced in 1885 as a replacement for the Cochinchina piastre and the Cambodian franc.
The piastre was initially divided into 40 units, with the smallest coin being the copper piastre, which was worth nearly a quarter of a farthing. The value of the piastre varied across different regions, with some coins being made of base metal and others being made of silver.
Here are some key denominations of the piastre:
The piastre was eventually replaced by the đồng in Vietnam, the kip in Laos, and the riel in Cambodia, with the transition taking place between 1949 and 1955.
Main Unit
The main unit of currency is a crucial aspect of understanding the piastre.
In French Indochinese times, the main unit was the French Indochinese piastre.
In South Vietnam, the main unit was the South Vietnamese piastre, also known as the đồng.
Here are the main units mentioned in the article:
- French Indochinese piastre
- South Vietnamese piastre (đồng)
As a Sub-Unit
The piastre is a sub-unit of several currencies, including the Egyptian pound, Jordanian dinar, Lebanese pound, South Sudanese pound, Sudanese pound, and Syrian pound. Each of these currencies is divided into 100 piastres.
In the past, the French Indochinese currency was also divided into piastres, with one piastre equal to 100 cents. The value of a cent varied depending on the dynasty and reign era, ranging from 2 to 6 sapèques.
Here are some examples of the currencies that used the piastre as a sub-unit:
It's worth noting that the piastre was also used as a unit of currency in its own right, with its own denominations and values. For example, in French Indochina, the Banque de l'Indochine introduced 1 piastre notes in 1892, followed by 5, 20, and 100 piastres in 1893.
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Piastre History

The French Indochinese piastre has a rich history that spans several decades. The first piastre coins were introduced in 1885, featuring silver denominations of 10, 20, and 50 cents, as well as 1 piastre.
These early coins were made of high-quality silver, with the 1 piastre coin weighing in at 27.215 grams and having a fineness of 0.900. Over time, the fineness of the silver coins was reduced, with the 10 and 20 cent coins being debased to billon in 1920.
The piastre coins continued to be issued until the end of World War II, with the last piastre coins being issued in the name of the "Indochinese Federation" in 1946-1947. Some of the final issues included cupro-nickel coins, such as the 50 cent and 1 piastre coins.
Here's a breakdown of the final issues of piastre coins:
The French Indochinese piastre has a fascinating history that reflects the changing times and politics of the region.
Coins Issued Before WWII
The French Indochinese piastre has a rich history, and one of the most interesting aspects is the various coins that were issued before World War II. The first coins were introduced in 1880, but it wasn't until 1885 that the first piastre coins were minted.
In 1885, bronze 1 cent and silver 10, 20, and 50 cents coins were introduced, with the 1 piastre coin being a silver coin. The 1 cent coin was also holed in 1896.
The silver coins went through a few changes in composition over the years. Initially, they were made of .900 silver, but in 1895, the weights of the silver coins were reduced due to the reduction in the silver peg of the currency. This meant that the fineness of the silver coins was also reduced, but the exact fineness varied depending on the denomination.
Here's a breakdown of the silver coins and their composition:
In 1923, holed, cupro-nickel 5 cents coins were introduced, followed by holed, bronze 1/2 cent coins in 1935. The 1/2 cent coin was a new addition to the piastre coinage, and it was made of copper.
For another approach, see: Five Cent Euro Coin
History
The Piastre has a rich and fascinating history that spans centuries. The name "Piastre" is derived from the French word for the Polish Piast dynasty, which was a powerful medieval royal house.
The Piastre was first introduced in Egypt during the French occupation in 1798. The French brought their own currency system with them, which included the Piastre.
The Piastre was initially pegged to the French livre at a rate of 1 livre = 100 Piastres. This was a significant move, as it established the Piastre as a stable and reliable currency.
In 1800, the French introduced a new Piastre coin, which was worth 1/100 of a franc. This coin was used extensively in Egypt and became a popular form of currency.
The Piastre continued to be used in Egypt until the British took control of the country in 1882. The British introduced their own currency system, which eventually replaced the Piastre.
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1947: Indochinese Federation
The Indochinese Federation, also known as French Indochina, was a significant entity in the region's history. In 1947, the Indochinese Union was renamed to Indochinese Federation.
The 1 piastre coin minted in 1947 for the Indochinese Federation is an interesting piece of currency history. It features a mint mark "cornucopia" from the Paris Mint and a privy mark "wing" designed by Lucien Georges Bazor, the Chief Engraver at the Paris Mint from 1930-1958.
A staggering 54.480.000 of these 1 piastre coins were minted.
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Piastre Design
The Piastre was a unit of currency in several countries, including Egypt and Sudan. It was widely used from the 19th to the mid-20th century.
One Piastre was divided into 100 millimes. This division made everyday transactions easier and more convenient for people.
The Piastre was pegged to the British pound at a fixed exchange rate. This allowed for a stable economy and facilitated trade between countries.
In Egypt, the Piastre was replaced by the Pound in 1834. However, it continued to be used in Sudan until 1957.
Check this out: Egypt Pound Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries use piastre?
The piastre is currently used as a subunit in several countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, South Sudan, Sudan, and Syria. It's also a historical currency used in the Ottoman Empire and Cyprus.
What is the meaning of Piastro?
The Piastro is a former monetary unit used in South Vietnam and a fractional unit in Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria, worth one hundredth of a pound. It was also used in the Sudan, but is no longer a standard currency.
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