CAMBODIA - CAMBODIA Norodom I (1860-1904). One franc coin, Frappe spéciale (SP) 1860, Brussels (Würden). Av. NORODOM I KING OF CAMBODIA. Bare head left, below signature C. WURDEN and (date). Rv. A FRANC. Legend and coat of arms of Cambodia. Lec.52; Silver - 23 mm - 6 h Top Pop: this is the only graded example! PCGS SP61 (82998637). Fluted edge and Special Strike (SP). With a slightly heterogeneous dark patina. Very rare in piéfort. Superb at Fleur de coin. Norodom I, born Ang Voddey in 1834, spent his youth studying in Bangkok in order to strengthen the links between the Khmer kingdom and Siam, which then exercised suzerainty over Cambodia. When his father Ang Duong succeeded him (1841-1860), Norodom was obliged to go to Bangkok to find a Siamese army to help him secure his power. At the same time, the King drew closer to the French, who were in the process of investing in Cochinchina and the Mekong in order to find an outlet to China. Norodom became the first monarch of the French protectorate of Cambodia, with a protectorate treaty signed on 11 August 1863. This treaty guaranteed French aid in the event of external aggression. In exchange, French nationals were granted the right to settle and the freedom to practise the Christian religion. From then on, Norodom was obliged to seek help from the French, particularly during revolts when he had to ask French troops to intervene in order to save his throne. He made several attempts to counter French influence, but in June 1884, gunboats took up position in front of the royal palace in Phnom Penh and Norodom was forced to sign an agreement strengthening the protectorate by giving management of internal affairs to the French. In the years that followed, Norodom reluctantly carried out the representative functions still assigned to him. In 1896, the Resident General de Vernéville, fed up with the monarch's unwillingness, decided to replace the King, whom he accused of being in poor health, and proposed that Sisowath, another of Ang Duong's sons, should take the throne without delay. The arrival of Paul Doumer, recently appointed Governor General, enabled the King to remain in power, while de Vernéville was transferred. The King's health declined in 1904, following a tumour in his jaw, from which he died on 25 April 1904. His remains were cremated in the royal necropolis at Oudong in early 1906. From his 45 wives, Norodom left 27 sons and 34 daughters, who became the Norodom royal family.