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Nông Văn Vân
Nguyên Long Thông Bảo
農文雲
元隆通寶
Item number: A3011
Year: AD 1833
Material: Bronze
Size: 22.0 x 21.8 x 0.5 mm
Weight: 1.85 g
Provenance: Spink 2023
This is a “Nguyên Long Thông Bảo” coin cast in bronze by the rebel leader Nông Văn Vân, who originated from Cao Bằng Province, near the Sino-Vietnamese border. The coin was issued during his uprising against the Nguyễn dynasty in the 14th year of Emperor Minh Mạng’s reign (AD 1833). Nông Văn Vân minted this coin as part of his effort to legitimise his rebellion against the central court.
The coin follows the traditional Chinese-influenced square-holed cash coin design. On the obverse, the four Chinese characters “Nguyên Long Thông Bảo” (元隆通寶) are engraved in regular script (kaishu, arranged in the sequence of top, bottom, right, and left. The character “Nguyên” (元) at the top exhibits a slightly flowing, semi-cursive style, giving it a more dynamic appearance.
The reverse side bears no inscriptions or decorative motifs, but a faint concentric circle can still be discerned, likely serving as a decorative border or guide mark from the original casting process.
Nông Văn Vân belonged to the Tày ethnic group, which is predominantly concentrated in northern Vietnam and ethnically distinct from the Kinh majority that dominated the Nguyễn dynasty. His family held hereditary positions as local chieftains (tù quan) in Cao Bằng Province, and Nông Văn Vân himself inherited his father’s official post.
During the reign of Emperor Minh Mạng, tensions escalated between the imperial court and local communities as the Nguyễn administration began replacing hereditary native officials with centrally appointed bureaucratic administrators (lưu quan). This policy deeply antagonised local elites, including Nông Văn Vân.
In AD 1833 (14th year of the Minh Mạng), a major rebellion broke out in southern Vietnam led by Lê Văn Khôi, who happened to be Nông Văn Vân’s brother-in-law. In the wake of this southern uprising, and perhaps fearing implication or seizing a political opportunity, Nông Văn Vân also rose in rebellion.
He initially achieved significant success—capturing the provincial capital of Cao Bằng and laying siege to Lạng Sơn, alarming the Nguyễn court. However, imperial forces were soon dispatched to reclaim the territory. Nông Văn Vân fled to neighbouring Guangxi in the Qing Empire, where he recuperated before attempting a return. In AD 1834, during a renewed campaign, he was surrounded by imperial troops and perished in a forest fire. His severed head was sent to the imperial capital of Huế, where it was publicly displayed as a warning to others.