50 Riel #98

Front

Angkor Wat, the 12th-century temple complex near Siem Reap built by Khmer King Suryavarman II, the largest religious monument in the world and Cambodia's most iconic national symbol. The temple appears as a masterpiece of classical Khmer architecture with its distinctive five towers representing Mount Meru, home of the gods in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. This image has appeared on nearly every series of Cambodian currency since independence, symbolizing national pride and cultural heritage.

Back

Traditional Cambodian fishing boats on the Tonlé Sap or Mekong River, depicting the daily life and subsistence economy of rural Cambodia. The scene shows fishermen in their characteristic long wooden boats with nets, reflecting the central importance of fishing to Cambodian society and the riverine culture that has sustained the Khmer people for millennia. The Tonlé Sap lake and river system is one of the most productive freshwater fisheries in the world.

History

First Riel series issued by the Banque Nationale du Cambodge following independence from France in 1953, replacing the Indochinese piastre at par. The riel circulated from 1956 through the Khmer Republic period until 1975, when the Khmer Rouge regime abolished money entirely. This 50 riels note represents the middle denominations of the series. The currency was reintroduced in 1980 after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. Notes from this series are widely collected as they represent Cambodia's first national currency and the pre-war period.