Item number: A3172

Year: AD 1820-1841

Material: Zinc

Size: 25.3 x 25.5 x 0.9 mm

Weight: 4.05 g

Provenance: Spink 2023

This is a “Minh Mang Tongbao” zinc 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 is plain, with no inscriptions or decorative elements.

During the reign of Emperor Minh Mang, a large quantity of zinc coins was minted. The primary rationale behind this policy was that zinc coins had no intrinsic value outside the country’s borders and lacked long-term value as a store of wealth. This ensured that zinc currency would circulate more widely within the domestic market. As a result, the issuance of zinc coins during the Minh Mang era significantly exceeded that of bronze coins. However, because zinc is less durable and more prone to corrosion than bronze, surviving examples of zinc coins from this period are considerably rarer today.

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: A3172

年代: 公元 1820-1841 年

材質: 白鉛(鋅)

尺寸: 25.3 x 25.5 x 0.9 mm

重量: 4.05 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」白鉛錢。

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。錢幣背面為光背，沒有任何圖案或文字。

明命帝在任期間，大量鑄造白鉛錢。主要目的是白鉛錢幣離開國境沒有價值，且欠缺長期儲蓄的價值，使得白鉛錢得以在國內市場上廣泛流通，因此明命年間的白鉛發行量較青銅多。不過由於白鉛保存不易容易破損，使得現今遺留下來的白鉛較青銅罕見。

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。