Item number: A1217

Year: AD 1086-1400

Material: Bronze

Size: 24.5 x 24.5 x 1.2 mm

Weight: 3.7 g

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This is a “Yuanyou Tongbao” coin minted in Vietnam during the transitional period between the Lý Dynasty and the Trần Dynasty, modelled after the currency of the Northern Song Dynasty’s seventh emperor, Song Zhezong. It imitates the style of coins issued under Zhezong’s first era name, “Yuanyou.”

The coin follows the typical design of a square-holed cash coin, featuring a broad outer rim. On the obverse side, the four Chinese characters “Yuanyou Tongbao” are inscribed in seal script, arranged in a clockwise order. The seal script used in the Chinese version is traditionally attributed to the renowned Northern Song statesman Sima Guang. However, the characters for “祐” (You) and “通” (Tong) in the Vietnamese version exhibit noticeable stylistic differences from their Chinese counterparts. The reverse side of the coin is blank, with no inscriptions or designs, and shows significant signs of wear and erosion.

Historically, Vietnam, particularly the northern regions bordering Guangxi, was heavily influenced by various Chinese dynasties and, at times, came under their direct control. The Lý dynasty, established in the 11th century, received official recognition from the Song dynasty as the Kingdom of Annam. In addition to minting its own coinage, the Lý dynasty also produced imitations of Song coins for domestic circulation and overseas trade. This practise of imitating Song coinage persisted into the Trần dynasty, maintaining its influence on the region’s monetary system.

物件編號: A1217

年代: 公元 1086-1400 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 24.5 x 24.5 x 1.2 mm

重量: 3.7 g

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚越南橫跨李朝至陳朝之際，模仿北宋的第七位皇帝宋哲宗，以其使用的第一個年號鑄造的「元祐通寶」。

錢幣形制為典型的方孔錢，有一個肥大的外廓。錢幣正面按順時針順序，依序以篆書書法鐫刻漢字「元祐通寶」四字。中國版本的篆書據傳出自北宋名臣司馬光之筆，越南版本「祐」和「通」兩字的字體跟中國版本有明顯差異。錢幣背面為光背，沒有任何文字或圖案，並且有明顯的磨蝕痕跡。

越南在歷史上尤其是跟廣西接壤的北越地區，長期受到北方各個不同中華王朝的影響和統治。創建於公元11世紀的李朝得到宋朝冊封為「安南國」，一方面鑄造自身的錢幣之外，亦有仿鑄宋朝錢幣於國內流通或進行海外貿易。仿鑄宋朝錢幣的慣習於陳朝仍持續延續。