A chapter from "Prisoner of War and Concentration Camp Money of the 20th Century" is published on this site by a kind permission of its author, Lance K. Campbell.
See POW notes in our collection...
A number of prisoner-of-war issues were said to have been produced for the use of prisoners of war captured by the Viet Minh during the fighting in French Indo-China with the French from 1946-1954. Unfortunately these issues have proven to be fantasies. The notes were actually produced in Europe during the early 1950s by a formerly respected member of the numismatic community. Some sources indicate that the proceeds from the sale of the notes went to aid the Viet Minh.
Several types were produced. No specific camp is mentioned on any of the notes. All have a portrait of Ho Chi Minh on the face along with the denomination.
TYPE 1 This type was produced in black on heavy card stock of various colors depending on the denomination. A signature is at the lower left except for one type of 100 dong that lacks the signature. The text translates, "Vietnam, For the Captured Enemy." All measure approximately 90x78mm. Since the notes never actually circulated, most are found in about uncirculated or uncirculated condition. All are fantasies.
| No. | Description | VG | VF | Unc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9025 | 1/4 dong, green | - | - | 15 |
| 9026 | 1/2 dong, gray | - | - | 15 |
| 9027 | 1 dong, gray | - | - | 15 |
| 9028 | 5 dong, tan | - | - | 15 |
| 9029 | 10 dong, gray | - | - | 15 |
| 9030 | 20 dong, lilac | - | - | 15 |
| 9031 | 50 dong, green | - | - | 15 |
| 9032 | 100 dong, purple | |||
| a. with signature | - | - | 15 | |
| b. no signature | - | - | 15 | |
| 9033 | 500 dong, white | - | - | 15 |
TYPE 2 Type 2 is similar to type 1 except that the notes have a broad diagonal stripe that bisects the vignette on the face. Additionally, they lack a signature. The majority of the notes were printed on heavy card stock. Some were printed on light card stock. In the listing below the color of the note is followed by the color of the stripe. All measure approximately 90x78mm. Notes are normally found in about uncirculated or uncirculated condition. All are fantasies.
| No. | Description | VG | VF | Unc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9044 | 1/20 dong, green/red | - | - | 15 |
| 9045 | 1/10 dong, green/violet | - | - | 15 |
| 9046 | 1/4 dong, green/blue | - | - | 15 |
| 9047 | 1/2 dong | |||
| a. green/green | - | - | 15 | |
| b. tan/green | - | - | 15 | |
| c. light brown/green | - | - | 15 | |
| 9048 | 1 dong, green/yellow | - | - | 15 |
| 9049 | 5 dong | |||
| a. heavy card stock, gray/red | - | - | 15 | |
| b. paper, gray/red | - | - | 15 | |
| 9050 | 10 dong | |||
| a. heavy card stock, gray/violet | - | - | 15 | |
| b. paper, gray/violet | - | - | 15 | |
| 9051 | 20 dong, gray/blue | - | - | 15 |
| 9052 | 50 dong | |||
| a. heavy card stock, gray/green | - | - | 15 | |
| b. paper, gray/green | - | - | 15 | |
| 9053 | 100 dong | |||
| a. heavy card stock, gray/yellow | - | - | 15 | |
| b. paper, gray/yellow | - | - | 15 | |
| 9054 | 250 dong, gray/violet | - | - | 15 |
TYPE 3 Type 3 is of a similar size and has a vignette to types 1 and 2. The major difference is than the vignette is considerably smaller (45x3lmm) and border is much larger. Additionally, this type lacks a signature and the diagonal stripe. Notes are approximately 90x78mm. Notes are normally found in uncirculated or uncirculated condition. All are fantasies.
| No. | Description | VG | VF | Unc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9065 | 1 dong | |||
| a. gray | - | - | 18 | |
| b. yellow | - | - | 18 | |
| c. white | - | - | 18 | |
| d. violet | - | - | 18 | |
| 9066 | 2 dong, violet | - | - | 18 |
| 9067 | 5 dong | |||
| a. gray | ||||
| (1) bust on right | - | - | 18 | |
| (2) bust on left | - | - | 18 | |
| b. violet | - | - | 18 | |
| c. yellow | - | - | 18 | |
| 9068 | 10 dong | |||
| a. gray | - | - | 18 | |
| b. cream | - | - | 18 | |
| c. violet | - | - | 18 | |
| 9069 | 20 dong, violet | - | - | 18 |
| 9070 | 25 dong | |||
| a. gray | - | - | 18 | |
| b. yellow | - | - | 18 | |
| 9071 | 50 dong | |||
| a. gray | - | - | 18 | |
| b. tan | - | - | 18 | |
| c. violet | - | - | 18 | |
| 9072 | 100 dong | |||
| a. gray | - | - | 18 | |
| b. violet | - | - | 18 | |
| 9073 | 200 dong, gray | - | - | 18 |
| 9074 | 500 dong | |||
| a. cream | - | - | 18 | |
| b. green | - | - | 18 | |
| c. violet | - | - | 18 |
TYPE 4 Similar to type 3 but with the excess border cut away. All measure approximately 55x40. All are made of paper. The numerical value is printed In red. Notes are normally found in about uncirculated or uncirculated condition. All are fantasies.
| No. | Description | VG | VF | Unc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9078 | 5 dong, green on tan | - | - | 18 |
| 9080 | 25 dong | - | - | 18 |
TYPE 5 This type, also a fantasy, is of a different design than the previous type. These notes were overprinted on pages from books containing Chinese characters. The Chinese characters can still be clearly seen in the background. Printed on thin paper, they have a portrait of Ho Chi Minh and a hammer and sickle, as well as the denomination written in Chinese. On the highest denomination, the 500-dong note, a dragon is present instead of the hammer and sickle. Most notes are found In about uncirculated or uncirculated condition although some have been mishandled.
| No. | Description | VG | VF | Unc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9085 | 1 dong | - | - | 15 |
| 9086 | 2 dong | - | - | 15 |
| 9087 | 5 dong | - | - | 15 |
| 9088 | 10 dong | - | - | 15 |
| 9089 | 50 dong | - | - | 15 |
| 9090 | 100 dong | - | - | 15 |
| 9091 | 500 dong | - | - | 15 |
TYPE 6 Another fantasy issue of a different design. Pieces of pages from Chinese books were cut to an approximate size of 55x3Omm and overprinted with a portrait of Ho Chi Minh on the face and their value, in Chinese characters, on the back. All are paper and printed in black ink. No text other than the denomination. Most notes are found in about uncirculated or uncirculated condition although some have been mishandled.
| No. | Description | VG | VF | Unc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9095 | 1 dong | - | - | 30 |
| 9096 | 5 dong | - | - | 30 |
| 9097 | 10 dong | - | - | 30 |
A number of genuine South Vietnamese notes were overprinted with a statement indicating their use by prisoners of war (Viet Cong or North Vietnamese) captured by Republic of Vietnam forces. While the basic notes are genuine, there is some doubt as to whether or not the overprinted notes actually circulated in prisonerof-war camps. However, evidence has recently surfaced to add credence to their validity. Several different overprints have been reported.
Type 1. PHIEU TU BINH (on first line, 51mm)
CHI-NHANH SAIGON (on second line, 35mm)
VIET-NAM CONG-HOA (on third line, 39mm)
Type 2. PHIEU TU BINH (on first line, 48mm)
CHI-NHANH SAIGON (on second line, 45mm)
VIET NAM CONG HOA (on third line, 42mm)
Type 3. TU BINH
Type 4. PHIEU TU BINH
Type 5. TU BINH SAIGON
| No. | Description | VG | VF | Unc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9110 | 1 dong | |||
| a. type 4 overstarnp on P1 | - | 50 | 85 | |
| b. type 1 overstarnp on P11 | - | 50 | 85 | |
| 9111 | 2 dong | |||
| a. type 1 overstarnp on P12 | - | 50 | 85 | |
| b. type 2 overstarnp on P12 | - | - | - | |
 | ||||
| 9112 | 5 dong | |||
| a. type 1 overstarnp on P13 | - | - | - | |
| b. type 2 overstarnp on P13 | - | - | - | |
| b. type 5 overstarnp on P2 | - | 50 | 85 | |
 | ||||
| 9113 | 10 dong | |||
| a. type 1 overstarnp on P5 | - | 60 | 100 | |
| b. type 3 overstarnp on P5 | - | 75 | 120 | |
