Image: Thái Bình Hưng Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01

Description: Vietnam (Annam) Cash Coins Annam has a long history of manufacturing cash coins. This page includes some examples of the official mintings of the various rulers. However, note that Southeast Asia has very rich tradition of private and semi-private mintings. The private mintings of coins are so diverse that amongst East Asian cash collectors many coins of unknown provenance are arbitrarily assigned to Annam cash catalogues and lists. Many coins in the "private" mint section of Annam catalogues were likely made in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and other regions. There exists a very handy online reference tool for Vietnam coins at http://art-hanoi.com/toda/online.html. and also a very good page (in French) devoted to Vietnam coins at http://www.transasiart.com/Numismatique/numismatique.htm run by the expert Francois Thierry. According to Touyou kosen zuroku (Anasendou 1977) the government minted coins of Annam start around the year 970 with the Dai Binh Hung Bao which is a rare coin. The next in the series is the Thien Phuc Tran Bao minted from 980-1010 and which is relatively common. The last cash coins minted by the main government of Annam was in 1929. There are 59 basic issues of coins over this long period, not counting the many variants. Below are a few examples. Private mintings probably were common until much later, as cash coins circulated until relatively recently in Southeast Asia. Thien Bing Hung Bao This coin was minted between 970 and 979. It is the first coin in the official series of Annamese dynastic coins. The Hung character of this coin is very unorthodox. On the reverse side above the hole is the character Dinh 丁 which is the name of the dynasty which lasted briefly from 968-981. 23.5 mm x 1 mm 太平興宝　背上丁
Title: Thái Bình Hưng Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01
Credit: Vietnam (Annam) Cash Coins (University of California at Santa Barbara).
Author: Dr. Luke Shepherd Roberts
License: Attribution