Item number: A2833

Year: AD 1966

Material: Cupronickel

Size: 24.3 x 24.3 x 1.0 mm

Weight: 4.05 g

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2020

This is a 5 đồng coin issued in AD 1966 by the Republic of Vietnam, commonly known as “South Vietnam,” as part of its third coinage series. The coin is composed of cupronickel and features a distinctive octagonal scallop shape.

The obverse of the coin features an image of rice, one of Vietnam’s most important agricultural products. The issuing authority, “Ngân Hàng Quốc Gia Việt Nam” (National Bank of Vietnam), is inscribed along the upper edge, while the year of issue, “1966,” appears at the bottom. The reverse bears the denomination “5 ĐỒNG” at the centre in Vietnamese, with the national name “VIỆT-NAM CỌNG-HOÀ” (Republic of Vietnam) inscribed along the upper 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. However, shortly after its founding, the Republic faced persistent insurgencies from the Việt Cộng, a guerrilla organisation backed by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam).

Beginning in AD 1963, the United States significantly increased its military aid and intervention in South Vietnam, escalating the Vietnam War into an increasingly intense and protracted conflict. In the same year, a military coup led by General Dương Văn Minh resulted in the assassination of President Ngô Đình Diệm. This marked the beginning of political instability characterised by frequent leadership changes in South Vietnam, ultimately sowing the seeds of its downfall and eventual annexation by North Vietnam a decade later.

物件編號: A2833

年代: 公元 1966 年

材質: 白銅

尺寸: 24.3 x 24.3 x 1.0 mm

重量: 4.05 g

來源: 福君錢幣 2020

這是一枚公元1966年，越南共和國即俗稱的「南越」發行之第三版錢幣系列中，面額5盾的硬幣，材質為白銅，造型為特殊的八角海扇形。

錢幣正面以越南盛產的重要作物水稻作為裝飾，上緣是發行單位「Ngân Hàng Quốc Gia Việt Nam」(越南國家銀行)，下方標示發行年份「1966」。錢幣背面的正中央以越南文標示面額「5 ĐỒNG」(5盾)，上緣則是國名「VIỆT-NAM CỌNG-HOÀ」(越南共和國)。

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。然而越南共和國成立之後，於國內不斷受到獲得越南民主共和國(北越) 支持的反對組織「越共」游擊戰的騷擾。

公元1963年起，美國加大對於南越的軍事援助和干涉，使得越戰的情勢逐漸升高和白熱化。另一方面，當年的11月，南越內部也發生軍事政變，吳廷琰遭到楊文明領導的叛軍殺害。自此南越政權陷入領導人更迭的不穩定局勢，也埋下十年之後遭到北越吞併的失敗種子。