Cambodia Banknotes: History, Notable Notes and Collecting Guide
Cambodia's currency is the riel, and its paper money holds one of the most extraordinary stories in world collecting: under the Khmer Rouge the country abolished money entirely, and a full series of 1975 banknotes was printed but never issued, surviving today as historical artifacts.
Last updated: July 2026
The riel is the official currency of Cambodia, issued by the National Bank of Cambodia and abbreviated KHR. What sets Cambodian paper money apart is history rather than face value: between 1975 and 1980 the Khmer Rouge abolished money altogether, and a series of riel notes printed in 1975 was never released, making it one of the few currencies designed but never spent. This hub covers the history of the riel, the notable and collectible notes, how to start a Cambodia collection, and where to buy.
What is the Cambodian riel and where did it come from?
The riel is Cambodia's national currency, and its history runs straight through the country's turbulent 20th century. It was introduced in the mid-1950s after Cambodia gained independence from France, replacing the French Indochinese piastre that had circulated across the region. The first riel notes of the Kingdom of Cambodia leaned on the imagery that still defines the country, above all the temple complex of Angkor Wat.
The defining chapter came in April 1975, when the Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh and set out to remake Cambodia as an agrarian society with no cities, no markets, and no money. The regime, which called the country Democratic Kampuchea, abolished currency entirely and reportedly dynamited the National Bank building in the capital. For roughly five years, from 1975 to 1980, Cambodia functioned without any circulating money at all. Those years also brought catastrophic human suffering under the regime, and collectors treat the era's artifacts as sober historical documents rather than curiosities.
Money returned only after the Khmer Rouge were driven from power. In 1980 the new authorities reintroduced the riel through the National Bank of Cambodia, and the modern series of colorful, affordable notes dates from that revival. Cambodia's monetary trauma was abolition rather than runaway inflation, which sets it apart from the hyperinflation stories collected elsewhere. For those, see our every hyperinflation ranked guide.
Which Cambodian banknotes are most collectible?
The marquee Cambodian collectible is the 1975 series printed under Democratic Kampuchea and never issued. Designed with revolutionary scenes of soldiers, workers, and farm labor, these notes were ready to circulate when the regime abolished money instead, so they left the printer but never a wallet. Surviving examples are documented in standard banknote catalogs and are prized precisely because they are money that was never money. Alongside them, earlier Kingdom of Cambodia and Khmer Republic notes carry classic Angkor Wat and royal imagery, while the modern National Bank of Cambodia riel offers an inexpensive, current set.
| Era or series | Period | Notable feature | Why collectors seek it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom of Cambodia riel | 1955 to 1970 | The first riel notes, with Angkor Wat and royal imagery | Classic temple designs and the origin of the currency. |
| Khmer Republic riel | 1970 to 1975 | Republican-era notes issued before the fall of Phnom Penh | A short-lived era that ended abruptly in 1975. |
| Democratic Kampuchea series | Printed 1975, never issued | Khmer Rouge notes with revolutionary scenes | The marquee collectible: money designed but never spent. |
| Modern National Bank of Cambodia riel | 1980 to present | The reintroduced riel, with Angkor Wat and temple motifs | Affordable, colorful, and current issue. |
Because the 1975 unissued notes are historically singular, condition and a documented source matter enormously, and this is one area where certification and careful provenance are worth seeking. The modern riel, by contrast, is easy to find in crisp Uncirculated condition at a low entry price.
How do you start collecting Cambodian banknotes?
Two very different paths open up. For history, the 1975 Democratic Kampuchea series is the centerpiece, a small set that tells an outsized story, and it rewards buying from a dealer that documents provenance. For an affordable start, the modern National Bank of Cambodia riel is widely available in Uncirculated condition, the top of the letter-grade ladder that runs UNC, AU, XF, VF, F, VG, G. Uncirculated means the note was never folded or handled in commerce.
A note on value: outside the historic 1975 series, most modern riel notes have modest worth in US-dollar terms, and the riel trades at a large number of units per dollar. Collect Cambodia for its extraordinary history and its temple imagery, not for appreciation.
If you want independent confirmation of grade or authenticity, look for notes certified by PMG or PCGS, which authenticate a note and assign a grade on a 1 to 70 scale before sealing it in a tamper-evident holder. Our banknote grading guide explains how those grades work and when certification is worth it.
Where can you buy Cambodian banknotes?
Buy from a source-first dealer that stands behind authenticity and documents where its notes come from, which matters most for a historically loaded issue like the 1975 series. Planet Banknote stocks Cambodian riel notes and ships them with documentation rather than fixing a single market price, because inventory and grades change. You can browse current listings on our Cambodia banknotes page, and if you are new to world paper money, the how to collect world banknotes guide walks through building a collection from the first note.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cambodian riel?
The riel is the official currency of Cambodia, issued by the National Bank of Cambodia and abbreviated KHR. It was introduced in the mid-1950s after independence from France, replacing the French Indochinese piastre. Cambodian notes are known for Angkor Wat and royal imagery, and today the riel circulates alongside the US dollar, which Cambodians use widely in everyday transactions.
Did the Khmer Rouge really abolish money in Cambodia?
Yes. After the Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh in April 1975, the regime abolished money entirely as part of its plan to remake the country as an agrarian society. For roughly five years, from 1975 to 1980, Cambodia had no circulating currency at all. Money was reintroduced only after the regime was driven from power, when the National Bank of Cambodia issued a new riel in 1980.
Why are there 1975 Cambodian banknotes that were never issued?
The Khmer Rouge government printed a series of riel notes in 1975, designed with revolutionary scenes, but abolished money before the notes were ever released into circulation. As a result the notes left the printer but never entered daily use. These printed but unissued notes survive today and are documented in standard banknote catalogs, which makes them one of the most historically striking collectibles in world paper money.
What makes Cambodian banknotes collectible?
History and imagery. The 1975 Democratic Kampuchea series is prized as money that was designed but never spent, while earlier Kingdom of Cambodia notes and the modern National Bank of Cambodia riel carry Angkor Wat and royal designs that are central to the country's identity. Collectors approach the Khmer Rouge era's notes as sober historical documents of a dark chapter rather than ordinary curiosities.
Is the riel still used in Cambodia today?
Yes. The riel is Cambodia's official currency, issued by the National Bank of Cambodia, and modern notes are current, colorful, and inexpensive. In everyday life the US dollar also circulates widely alongside the riel, so the two are used together. For collectors, the modern riel is easy to find in crisp Uncirculated condition at a low entry price.
Planet Banknote is a family-owned dealership in Sarasota, Florida, founded in 2021. Every note is sourced direct from mints, central banks, and authorized distributors, inspected through our Planet Banknote Verified process, and ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity. US orders ship free via USPS Priority, and every order includes a free bonus gift.