The new coin museum of Phnom Penh

The Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, inaugurated the Preah Srey Icanavaraman Museum in Phnom Penh yesterday morning, named after a king, a hero from the Chenla era (6th-802 AD), or the Kingdom's Economic and Monetary Museum. This museum traces Cambodia's fiduciary and commercial history from the Funan era (1st-7th century) and allows visitors to explore current monetary and economic issues from Cambodia's perspective. The building is located near Wat Phnom Hill in the Khmer capital. 

Recent excavations in the city of Angkor Borei, near Takeo, a well-known capital of the Funan kingdom, have highlighted the economic aspect of the Funan civilization. This city, connected to the port of Óc Eo in present-day Vietnam, facilitated the import of goods for maritime trade. The docks of Óc Eo were constantly frequented due to their strategic location. This city was situated at the maritime crossroads of China, Malaysia, and Southern India. Boats at the time only navigated along the coast, and Óc Eo was very convenient for all traders who came to stop, display their wares, sell trinkets and other exported knick-knacks, or collect items from the sea or during stops.

The discovery of monetary treasures in the capital of Angkor Borei proves that many of these exchanges were monetized. The Funan transactions lasted for centuries and mark the starting point of the history narrated in the Preah Srey Icanavaraman Museum.

Two floors, two ambiances

The museum is divided into two distinct floors to allow visitors to learn more about the historical aspect of regional currency and then reflect on Cambodia's current economic situation. The first floor covers the entire monetary history of the various kingdoms and states of Cambodia, starting with Funan, followed by Chenla, the Angkorian Empire, the impact of wars on the country's wealth, the protectorate period, and more. Documents from the era, newspaper articles, accounts, coins, and banknotes are exhibited here.

The second floor lays the foundations of the new post-Khmer Rouge economy and provides information on Cambodia’s current monetary and economic policies, and its fiduciary standing in the world. The evolution of agriculture, the importance of China in Cambodia's economy, education in this sector, the role of the US dollar and the riel, are some of the topics discussed on this floor.

Thibault Bourru