In 1953, after several decades of using the French Indochinese piastre, Cambodia became independent and once again started issuing its own coins in riels. The first coins were in fractions of riels — 10 centimes, 20 centimes, and 50 centimes. Six years later, in 1959, Cambodia produced these same coins, but changed the denomination (and thus, slightly, the design) to sen.
The first full riel coins wouldn’t be made until 1970, but as the government fell soon afterwards, they were released in limited numbers, if at all. In 1974, several large-value proofs were made: 5,000 riels and 10,000 riels of silver, and 50,000 riels and 100,000 riels (in gold). All but the 100,000-riel gold proof had two different designs.
A 5-sen coin was made in 1979, and in 1988 some riel coins were issued (4 riels and up, made of copper and nickel). In recent years, banknotes have proven much more popular and useful for daily purchases among Cambodians, and coins are generally not used. However, there have been several uncirculated proof coins released by Cambodia, aimed at the international collectors’ market. These coins and other riel and sen coins of Cambodia for sale can be found in the current listings. See also the sections for Cambodian franc, centime, and piastre coins, and the nineteenth century tical coins.
