Vietnam - Tonkin. 1/600 Piastre 1905, KM 1, Lec# 3, Gad 1789# 1, Zinc 25 mm, weight 2,2 g., Condition XF

Tonkin - French Protectorate (1884-1945) 
Tonkin was a French protectorate from the time of the Sino-French War of 1884-1885, and later became part of North Vietnam. Only one type of coin was issued, commonly known as the Sapèque, which was intended to replace the Vietnamese and Chinese coins commonly used in the region. The new coins were similar in shape and style, but proved unpopular with the population and, as a result, most of them never entered circulation.