12/14/2023 (#2) - 安南 嗣德年造 銀條 (x1) - 1.5 Tien (1 Quan?)

anthonyrowenaqb

分享PCGS入盒子的 安南 "嗣德年造" (1848-1883) 銀條。
1.5 Tien = 1 Quan (in Type!)

• AU 58 (1/2) (Specimen A)
• Schroeder 340
• Krause KM 481
  

anthonyrowenaqb

ANNAM (Nguyen Dynasty): 1.5 Tien Ingot Coinage | Emperor Tu Duc | PCGS AU 58 | Rare and Desirable Type with Sharp Tone and Nice Cast Details. Pop 2/1

Today’s coin is a rare and beautiful coin from Vietnam and was minted during the Nguyen Dynasty; specifically, it was minted during the rule of Emperor Tu Duc (1848-1883). To be honest, the silver and gold issues of Vietnam, whether they were cast or milled (to imitate the Spanish 8 reales and the Piastres) are rare, though maybe, they are underrated in the East Asian market. For instance, check out the 7 Tien from Emperor Minh Mang, which were large, crown-sized, dragon coins from the 1840s that predated the Chinese and Korean dragons.

Now, my type of coin is considered by the Standard Catalog of World Coins as “bullion silver bars,” where the authors note that “all of the bars are here are inscribed with their weight, except the 10 lang banana bars, and many contain a date or name of the province in which they were made” (1272). Also, the SCWC notes their weights hover around 5.00-5.20 grams. The denomination is 1½ or 1.5 Tien, so it is quite a small bar in the lower end of the denomination series.

The obverse of this coin has the emperor’s name in Chinese characters (Chữ Hán). Specifically, the characters are “嗣德年造” which means “Made in the Reigning Year of Tu Duc (the emperor).” The reverse has the currency denomination or “weight;” which is “價錢壹貫” or “Gia Tien Nhat Quan” which can be roughly translated as “value in (cash?) coins, 1 ligature (or one, stringed roll). We see that one of the coinage system is to have the silver ingot equated to rolls of copper cash coins!

This piece is a beautiful, toned, and strongly struck silver bar. It is graded PCGS AU 58, which is nearly mint state, in a slightly older holder. There is only a PCGS population of 4, with 2 higher in MS 62. The toning is so original, perhaps a cabinet tone, with purples and maroons. Also, check the edge design, which has some patterning. Sharply struck piece with well centering; no damage or gouges. Clear Chữ Hán.

References: Krause KM 481, Schroeder 340. PCGS#989431

anthonyrowenaqb

毛毛雨1234

按中国王朝的货币比率应该是：一串=100枚平钱，一贯=10串平钱，那么一贯就等于1000枚平钱；按照银与平钱的比率计算方法，这枚安南银锭应该是一两重的银锭。

anthonyrowenaqb

毛毛雨1234 发表于 2024-4-18 21:28
按中国王朝的货币比率应该是：一串=100枚平钱，一贯=10串平钱，那么一贯就等于1000枚平钱；按照银与平钱的 ...

我也觉得啊！

毛毛雨1234

anthonyrowenaqb 发表于 2024-4-19 05:12
我也觉得啊！

这安南也挺有意思，银锭上直接标注一两银不就完了吗。