Independence Monument—Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Posted by: 
Ianatlarge
N 11° 33.390 E 104° 55.692
48P E 492171 N 1277514
The Cambodian Independence Monument and a lion, as depicted on the 100 Riel Cambodian banknote.
Waymark Code: WMD6A5
Location: Cambodia
Date Posted: 11/25/2011
Views: 15
One of the iconic images of the Kingdom of Cambodia and its capital, the City Of Phnom Penh, is the Independence Monument (Vimean Ekareach). This monument was dedicated in 1958 and commemorates the liberation of Cambodian from the then French colonial empire, an event which occurred five years earlier in 1953. The monument stands on a traffic circle at the intersection of Norodom Boulevard and Sihanouk Boulevard, in the more prestigious area of the city, not too far from the Mekong River, and the palace of the King.
The monument was designed, in the first flush of post-independence enthusiasm, by the accomplished Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann (who designed much of the public architecture of Cambodia of the 1950s and 1960s). It pays homage to the singularly famous, Cambodian world heritage, temple complex of Angkor Wat. Informally, it is referred to as 'The Pineapple'.
The Monument is the public centrepiece for most national celebrations. It is also a 'must see' tourist attraction of the city. At night it sometimes brightly lit rendering it an attractive spectacle, and it is surrounded by a fountain.
Cambodian currency has had a history second to few. In 1953, following independence, the Riel was first issued, however, the Kymer Rouge, who ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1980, abolished money. In 1980 the embryonic Cambodian government (backed by Vietnam) reintroduced the riel. In the early 1990s the UN peace keepers brought sizeable quantities of foreign currency, particularly US dollars into the Kingdom. To this day the US dollar is the main currency. The riel is used only for small change.
The Independence Monument is depicted on the obverse of the Cambodian 100 Riel note. One hundred Riel is worth approximately us2 cents. My understanding is that this note was introduced in 2001. A statue of a lion sits on the northern approach to the Monument. It is from this perspective that the Monument is displayed. From approximately 10m north of the lion. The arrangement of the lion and Monument, as they appear on the banknote, seem slightly askew as as compared to real life. A small amount of artistic license was included in the banknote to render it more aesthetically pleasing. This is a busy area of the city. It takes a few minutes for a break in the passing traffic to manifest.
Money Issuing Country: Cambodia
Currency: Riel banknote
Denomination: 100
Type of Money: Bank note
Relevant Website: [Web Link]
Law and Order:
Yes!
Date of Issue: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
To post a visit log for this category, you must visit the actual site of the waymark. Post at least one photo that you personally took of the site if at all possible. If you cannot provide a photo for some reason, your visit will still be welcome.
You do NOT need to be a numismatic collector to visit the waymark site, nor do you have to provide a photo of the piece of money. Just having a copy of it in question, however, is not sufficient; you must personally visit the site.