Item number: A3164

Year: AD 1820-1841

Material: Bronze

Size: 21.9 x 21.8 x 0.6 mm

Weight: 1.85 g

Provenance: Spink 2023

This is a “Minh Mang Tongbao” bronze coin minted during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang (AD 1820–1841) of the Nguyễn Dynasty in Vietnam. The inscription follows the traditional practise of using the era name for coinage.

The coin follows the square-holed design influenced by Chinese monetary tradition. The obverse bears the four Chinese characters “明命通寶” (Minh Mang Tongbao), inscribed in the traditional top-bottom-right-left sequence.

The reverse side of the coin imitates the style of its suzerain, the Qing Empire, featuring Manchu script inscriptions on the left and right sides: “ᠪᠣᠣ ᠶᡠᠸᠠᠨ” (Boo Yuwan), which translates to “Bao Yuan”—a mint name commonly found on Qing coinage.

However, since the Nguyễn dynasty—despite its nominal submission to the Qing Empire—never officially included Manchu script on its currency, this coin was most likely privately cast by civilians or local entities rather than by state authorities.

During the reign of Emperor Minh Mang, Vietnam reached its historical peak in terms of territorial expansion, conquering territories that are now part of Cambodia and Laos, among others. However, conflicts also arose with neighbouring regional power Siam (now Thailand). Concurrently, Minh Mang faced rebellions from Catholics within his country. In response, he ordered the execution of French missionaries, which contributed to his image in France as a tyrant.

物件編號: A3164

年代: 公元 1820-1841 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 21.9 x 21.8 x 0.6 mm

重量: 1.85 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

這是一枚公元1820至1841年間，越南阮朝的明命帝在位期間，以年號鑄造的「明命通寶」青銅錢。

錢幣外觀為受到中華文化影響的方孔錢，正面按照「上下右左」順序，依序刻有「明命通寶」四個漢字。「明命」是皇帝年號；「通寶」則是中國自唐朝以來採納的錢幣稱呼。錢幣背面則是模仿宗主國清帝國，於左右兩側鐫刻滿文「ᠪᠣᠣ ᠶᡠᠸᠠᠨ」(寶源)。阮朝官方並未因為臣屬於清帝國而在錢幣上鑄造滿文，代表這枚錢幣應該為民間私下所鑄造。

明命帝的統治期間，越南版圖達到歷史上的巔峰，不僅征服今日柬埔寨和寮國等地，亦跟相鄰的區域強權暹羅不斷發生衝突。同一時間，面對國內天主教徒的叛亂，明命帝為此下令處決法國傳教士，使他在法國得到暴君的形象。