Item number: A2831

Year: AD 1960

Material: Cupronickel

Size: 22.3 x 22.3 x 1.1 mm

Weight: 3.95 g

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2020

This is an 1 đồng coin issued in AD 1960 by the Republic of Vietnam, commonly known as “South Vietnam,” as part of its second coinage series. The coin is composed of cupronickel.

The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Ngô Đình Diệm, the first President of South Vietnam, flanked on both sides by the national designation in Vietnamese, “VIỆT-NAM CỌNG-HOÀ” (Republic of Vietnam). The reverse is adorned with a dense cluster of bamboo, symbolising resilience and national identity, with the denomination “1 ĐỒNG” inscribed on either side and the year of issue, “1960,” appearing along the lower edge.

In AD 1954, following the negotiations of the Geneva Conference, Vietnam—formerly a French colony—was divided along the 17th parallel into two separate entities, representing the opposing communist and capitalist blocs of the Cold War. In AD 1955, a referendum in the southern region led to the replacement of Emperor Bảo Đại by Ngô Đình Diệm, thus formally establishing the Republic of Vietnam.

Ngô Đình Diệm was born in AD 1901 into a prominent Catholic mandarin family. In his early career, he served within the court of Emperor Bảo Đại, which operated under significant French colonial influence, and developed a deep-seated opposition to both communism and colonialism. In AD 1951, Diệm travelled to the United States to pursue theological studies, during which he garnered the support of American policymakers and gradually emerged as a key political figure in Vietnam.

Following the establishment of the Republic of Vietnam in AD 1955, Diệm assumed the presidency and strategically placed members of his family in key positions of power—most notably his younger brother Ngô Đình Nhu, who headed the intelligence services, and Nhu’s wife Trần Lệ Xuân (Madame Nhu). Their administration became increasingly repressive, particularly toward Buddhists and political dissidents, sowing the seeds of both Diệm’s downfall and the eventual collapse of the South Vietnamese regime.

In November AD 1963, a U.S.-backed military coup led by General Dương Văn Minh resulted in the arrest and secret execution of Ngô Đình Diệm and his brother. South Vietnam subsequently descended into a cycle of repeated military coups and political instability, culminating in its fall to North Vietnam in AD 1975.

物件編號: A2831

年代: 公元 1960 年

材質: 白銅

尺寸: 22.3 x 22.3 x 1.1 mm

重量: 3.95 g

來源: 福君錢幣 2020

這是一枚公元1960年，越南共和國即俗稱的「南越」發行之第二版錢幣系列中，面額1盾的硬幣，材質為白銅。

錢幣正面是南越首任總統吳廷琰的肖像，肖像左右兩側以越南文標示國名「VIỆT-NAM CỌNG-HOÀ」(越南共和國)。錢幣背面以茂密的竹叢作為裝飾，於左右兩側標示面額「1 ĐỒNG」(1盾)，下緣則是發行年份「1960」。

公元1954年，根據《日內瓦會議》談判結果，原先作為法國殖民地的越南以北緯17度為分界線，南北分裂為冷戰格局下的共產和資本兩個不同陣營。公元1955年，南方藉由公投決定以吳廷琰取代保大的君主政體，正式宣告「越南共和國」成立。

吳廷琰出生於公元1901年，其家族為信仰天主教的官宦之家，早年曾在受到法國人高度控制的保大小朝廷服務，並且對於共產主義和殖民主義抱持相同的反感。公元1951年，吳廷琰前往美國的神學院深造並且獲得美國支持，逐步成為越南政局的重要角色。公元1955年，越南共和國成立後，吳廷琰出任首任總統其家族成員也安插至各個重要崗位，尤其是掌握情報單位的四弟吳廷瑈和其夫人陳麗春，對於佛教徒和異議人士的迫害埋下吳廷琰乃至南越政權覆亡的種子。公元1963年11月，得到美國支持的楊文明等軍官發動軍事政變，逮捕吳廷琰和吳廷瑈並秘密殺害。此後南越陷入頻繁的軍事政變，最終於公元1975年亡於北越之手。