Watch List notes:

CAMBODIA. 4 Tical, CS 1209 (1847). Udong Mint. Ang Duang (1841-59). PCGS AU-50 Secure Holder.

55 mm; 61.22 gms. KM-38; Dav-146; V.G.-4655B (this piece cited); Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin-March 1982 pg. 88/9 #1(plate coin). EXTREMELY RARE, only two known. Hamza bird left in high relief, legend around with three line inscription at center above Hamza, dated in Buddhist era, Saka era, Chula Sakarat and traditional Khmer; Reverse: Stylized rendition of Angkor Wat with five towers in high relief, inscription in doorways.

Leading up to becoming a French Protectorate, Cambodia was constantly under threat from its neighbors to the east and west, Annam and Siam respectively. In 1841 while in captivity in Bangkok, Ang Duong was named King of Cambodia by Rama III at the request of various Cambodian Chieftains and in an attempt to counter the Annamese intervention. In 1847 with support from the Siamese military, King Ang Duong was able to gain sufficient control over his country and entered into a tributary treaty with both Siam and Annam. Both financially drained they withdrew their forces from Cambodia and in 1848 King Ang Duong was coronated at Udong with a traditional Cambodian ceremony surrounded by his supporters and Siamese and Annamese political advisers. Ang Duong was king until his death in 1860, he presided over 12 years of peace and did much to improve his country.

King Ang Duong had a passion for everything European and mechanical and as such commissioned W.P. Hammond & Co. of Birmingham, England through Jose Almeida & Sons of Singapore to procure dies and machinery from Birmingham to produce his new coinage in European style. In 1852 through a local artisan he had a mock up design carved in Ivory of what he wished his new coins to look like and sent it to Birmingham where it was used to make an exact copy as seen in the Illustrated London News January 15, 1853. The reason for these new European style coins was not out of necessity, but rather for his fascination of all things European. When the minting equipment arrived it contained three sets of dies 1/4 Tical, 1 Tical and 4 Tical and excellent presses designed to be powered by animal. Unfortunately, no assembly instructions were included on how to setup these new machines and they sat unused. Nearly a year after the new minting equipment arrived, the king hired a Thai who had some knowledge of machinery to install them. Subsequently they were incorrectly installed so that they could only be used by hand where they could be better regulated. Ultimately, the king was unhappy with the results of these presses and ordered new equipment in mid-April 1854 from T.K. Whistler and his brother, who happened to be an agent for Jose Almeida & Sons from Ralph Heaton & Sons, Birmingham.

The present example was undoubtedly produced in 1853 from the minting equipment procured from W.P Hammond with the date 1847 traditionally thought to represent King Ang Duong's ascension to the throne. However, by 1847 he had already been named king by Rama III of Siam in 1841, but had not had his coronation in Udong until 1848. The date 1847 could represent when King Ang Duong returned to his home and had taken control of his country.

When searching for other examples of this extreme rarity we were able to locate more patterns struck in white metal of this series for this denomination then actual circulation issues. Though several of the patterns located were of the adopted design the circulation issues seemed to elude us. The only other example we were able to locate of a circulation strike is the one plated in the KM book which is lower grade and inaccurately re-engraved. This piece being far superior of the two known examples. Lovely organic grey toning with highlights amongst the devices.

Estimate: $40000.00- $60000.00