Item number: A2978

Year: AD 1787

Material: Brass

Size: 24.0 x 24.0 x 0.6 mm

Weight: 3.1 g

Provenance: Spink 2023

This is a “Minh Đức Thông Bảo” coin, cast and circulated by Emperor Thái Đức (Nguyễn Văn Nhạc) in the ninth year of the Thái Đức era (AD 1787), made of brass.

The coin follows the traditional form of the Sinosphere: a round coin with a square central hole. The obverse bears the inscription “Minh Đức Thông Bảo” in regular script, read top to bottom, right to left. The calligraphy is relatively small; the upper right radical of the character “Thông” is written as “マ”, and the radical “辶” on the left is simplified with two dots and one short stroke, while the final stroke bends downward. All four characters are connected to the inner rim and the square hole. The reverse carries the inscription “Vạn Tuế” (“Long Live”) in wild cursive script. This type of coin was issued as a tribute coin during the reign of Nguyễn Văn Nhạc under the title Thái Đức Emperor of the Tây Sơn regime.

In the mid-18th century, the nominal rule of the Later Lê Restoration was held by the Lê emperors, while real political power in the north was exercised by the Trịnh lords. In the south, the Nguyễn lords effectively controlled the region as the de facto rulers of the quasi-independent kingdom of Quảng Nam. This situation of north-south division had lasted for over two centuries. Due to the prolonged military stalemate between the north and the south, successive Nguyễn lords turned to expansion toward the west and the south, interfering in Cambodia (present-day Cambodia), and launching campaigns against the Cham people and Siam (present-day Thailand). Regardless of whether the fronts were in the north, west, or south, military mobilisation and logistics often relied on the Tây Sơn region, eventually becoming a root cause of local uprisings.

The Tây Sơn uprising was initiated in AD 1771 by three brothers—Nguyễn Văn Nhạc, Nguyễn Văn Lữ, and Nguyễn Văn Huệ—in the Tây Sơn region. They revolted against the Nguyễn lords of Quảng Nam, condemning their corruption and incompetence. Supported by mountain-dwelling communities hardened by years of warfare, the Tây Sơn forces swiftly captured Quy Nhơn and Quảng Ngãi, destabilising the long-standing north-south division. In AD 1775, the capital of Quảng Nam, Phú Xuân (modern-day Huế), fell. In AD 1777, Nguyễn Văn Huệ captured Gia Định, ending the Nguyễn lineage, while a collateral descendant, Nguyễn Phúc Ánh, fled into exile. In AD 1778, Nguyễn Văn Nhạc proclaimed himself the King of Tây Sơn at Trà Bàn (present-day Quy Nhơn) and adopted the era name Thái Đức.

Nguyễn Văn Nhạc’s political philosophy was deeply influenced by traditional Confucianism. He emphasised propriety and ritual order, and his governance was more conservative compared to that of his younger brother, Nguyễn Văn Huệ, with less success in internal reform and military efficiency. Although nominally the head of the Tây Sơn regime, actual military and political power largely resided in the hands of Nguyễn Văn Huệ. In AD 1786, Nguyễn Văn Huệ launched a campaign northward and overthrew the Trịnh regime. This imbalance of power led to internal tensions among the brothers. In AD 1787, Nguyễn Văn Nhạc declared himself Central Emperor and formally enfeoffed Nguyễn Văn Lữ and Nguyễn Văn Huệ as King of Eastern Định and King of Northern Bình respectively—a gesture of division cloaked as feudal delegation. However, conflicts could not be avoided; Nguyễn Văn Huệ even led troops against Quy Nhơn. Though reconciliation followed, the rift remained irreparable.

From that point forward, Nguyễn Văn Nhạc’s influence and authority steadily waned. He was increasingly unable to counter Nguyễn Phúc Ánh’s persistent attempts to restore the Nguyễn regime along the coastal regions. In AD 1788, Nguyễn Văn Huệ defeated the Qing army that had come to aid the Lê dynasty and proclaimed himself Emperor Quang Trung in Phú Xuân, effectively eclipsing Nguyễn Văn Nhạc’s rule. Although Nguyễn Văn Nhạc continued to call himself the Central Emperor, his power was marginalized.

In AD 1793, Phú Xuân was besieged by Nguyễn Phúc Ánh’s navy with support from French volunteers. Nguyễn Quang Toản, son of Nguyễn Văn Huệ, sent reinforcements to lift the siege, but they remained stationed at the city and refused to depart. Feeling humiliated and powerless in the face of this insubordination, Nguyễn Văn Nhạc died in grief.

物件編號: A2978

年代: 公元 1787 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 24.0 x 24.0 x 0.6 mm

重量: 3.1 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

這是一枚由泰德帝阮文岳，其於年號泰德九年(公元1787年)，所鑄行之「明德通寶」，黃銅質。

錢幣形制為漢文化圈傳統之方孔圓錢。錢面錢文「明德通寶」楷書，由上而下、由右至左對讀，字體較小。「通」字右上寫為「マ」旁；「通」字「辶」旁左側點與折筆略寫為二點一撇，底捺折筆；四字均接穿連輪。錢幕錢文為「萬歲」狂草。為西山王阮文岳稱泰德帝之年所鑄之頌語錢。

十八世紀中葉，以黎中興朝之黎氏為名義上的皇帝，實則以掌握北方中樞的權臣鄭主；和鎮守順化，實則割據南方廣南國的阮主，所形成的南北分裂之勢，已逾二百年。由於南北戰線的長年僵持，歷代阮主皆向西、南尋求擴張。向西干涉高棉(今柬埔寨)，向南征伐占人與暹羅(今泰國)。而不論北部、西部、南部戰線，皆就近向西山地區索取軍事動員與後勤物資的支援，成為民變爆發的遠因。

西山朝由阮文岳(Nguyễn Văn Nhạc)、阮文侶與阮文惠三兄弟於公元1771年在西山地區起兵，反對廣南阮氏的貪腐與無能。在經年歷戰的山民支持下，迅速佔領歸仁、廣義等地，動搖越南南北分裂的格局。公元1775年，廣南國都城富春(今順化)陷落。公元1777年阮文惠陷嘉定，末代阮主亡，支脈阮福映流亡。公元1778年阮岳於闍槃(今歸仁)稱西山王，改元泰德。阮文岳政治理念受傳統儒學影響較深，重視名分與朝儀，統治風格相較其弟更為保守，對內改革與軍政效率不及阮文惠。雖為西山政權的名義元首，實際軍政大權多掌握於阮文惠手中。公元1786年，阮文惠北上攻滅鄭主。由於權力失衡，兄弟間產生矛盾。公元1787年，阮文岳稱中央皇帝，分封阮文侶與阮文惠為東定王與北平王，名為分封，實則裂土。但無法阻止衝突，阮文惠一度出兵攻打歸仁，雙方雖後來和解，但裂痕難以彌補。此後阮文岳的地位與實權日益衰退，面對阮福映於沿海為復國一再的挑戰逐漸力不從心。公元1788年，阮文惠擊敗清援黎軍，於富春稱光中帝，等同架空阮文岳。阮文岳雖仍自稱中央皇帝，權力卻逐漸被邊緣化。公元1793年，富春遭阮福映水軍與法國志願軍圍攻，阮文惠子阮光纘遣軍解圍，然而據城不走，阮文岳憤死。