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Nguyen Dynasty
Tu Duc Tong Bao
(Full Size)
阮朝
嗣德通寶
(官方版)
Item number: M134
Year: AD 1847-1883
Material: Silver
Size: 33.4 x 33.4 x 2.0 mm
Weight: 13.2 g
Provenance: Spink 2023
This is a medal called “Tu Duc Tong Bao,” awarded during the reign of Emperor Tu Duc of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam, from AD 1847 to AD 1883. The silver medal is circular in shape, with a central sun motif on the obverse side. Around the sun, in the “top-bottom-right-left” sequence, are four Chinese characters engraved: “Tu Duc Tong Bao.” “Tu Duc” represents the emperor’s reign title, while “Tong Bao” refers to the currency used in China since the Tang Dynasty. This type of currency was adopted by East Asian cultures including Vietnam, Korea, and Japan, showing the deep influence of Chinese culture on Vietnam. On the reverse side of the medal is a five-clawed dragon rising amidst clouds, symbolising the emperor. The dragon’s left front claw holds a dragon pearl. Unfortunately, due to its age, the dragon’s head in the upper left corner is damaged, making its features less distinct.
The “Tu Duc Tong Bao” medal bears a striking resemblance to coins, leading to its local designation in Vietnam as “Tien” and its designation by the French colonialists as the “Coin of Honour.” The presence of the characters “Tong Bao” on the medal often leads collectors to mistake it for a coin. But there is still the possibility for precious metal-made “Tien” to be used as circulating currency. The presence of slanted lines is the primary characteristic indicating its use as circulating currency. Therefore, the presence of slanted lines on this “Tu Duc Tong Bao” leads us to not rule out its potential as currency. Currencies during the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam were heavily influenced by Chinese practises. Commonly circulated coins were made of cheap metals like copper or zinc and typically featured square holes. Precious metals like gold or silver were often shaped into rectangular ingots called “Nen,” with the reign title printed in Chinese characters on top. In the 18th century, during the influx of Spanish and Mexican silver dollars into the Far East, Vietnam initially continued the practise of recasting them into “Nen,” before gradually introducing silver or gold “Tien.”
During the Nguyen Dynasty, gold and silver “Tiens” were typically minted by the royal court to honour and appease civil and military officials. Additionally, on special occasions such as New Year, the Song Shan Festival dedicated to elders, or the emperor’s 50th, 60th, and 70th birthdays, “Tien” coins were also awarded as commemorative and reward tokens. For square-holed “Tien” coins, recipients could directly thread a rope through the central hole for wearing, often adorned with tassells as decorations. For “Tiens” like the “Tu Duc Tong Bao,” which lacked the central hole, those wishing to add decorations would often create holes along the upper and lower edges.
Before the Nguyen Dynasty ruled Vietnam, there may have been a similar system of awards and medals, but there is a lack of precise records about it. It was not until the arrival of the French in Vietnam in AD 1840 that Europeans first documented a medal reward system resembling Western practises in the imperial court of Hue during the Nguyen Dynasty.
Based on the metal material, one can roughly determine the rank of the “Tien.” The highest rank, known as “Kim Tien” (Gold Tien), has four levels. In the early period of the Nguyen Dynasty, they were made of real gold, but later they gradually shifted to gold plating or basic metals. The next level, “Ngan Tien” (Silver Tien), sometimes follows European practises by indicating rank differences, but many “Silver Tiens” mainly display the regnal year of the emperor without specific rank distinctions.
During the reign of Emperor Tu Duc, Vietnam began to face increasing encroachment from the south by the French, marking a crucial turning point in Vietnam’s modern history. In July AD 1883, shortly after Emperor Tu Duc’s passing, the Nguyen Dynasty plunged into internal turmoil. Seising this opportunity, France escalated its military actions against Vietnam, leading to a conflict with Vietnam’s suzerain, the Qing Empire, in December of the same year. This conflict culminated in the Sino-French War, which lasted until AD 1887. Despite several victories for the Qing forces in Vietnam, they were ultimately forced to acknowledge French control over Vietnam through diplomatic negotiations.
As a result, Vietnam became a colony of France. The royal family of Nguyen Dynasty became puppets of foreign powers, a situation that persisted until the last emperor, Bao Dai, abdicated in AD 1945.