VIETNAM
    For the first 1000 years Vietnamese coins followed Chinese models.  Many were frank imitations of Chinese coins down to the actual year titles.  A feature of this series is the late 18th-19th century practice of making lightweight counterfeits of old Vietnamese and any kind of Chinese year titles for use across the border in China.  The older coins are mostly "normal" size.
    Early in 2007 nice and genuine Vietnamese coins became apparent in the market.  The new batch started appearing in 2004 maybe, and now us dealers have some quantity from multiple sources.  Past experience informs me that a "normal" sequence for these flows of coins into the market is that they do the bell-curve-skewed-to-the-right form.  That is to say that it gets better and better, then tapers off and dies more abruptly than it built.  At the end is junk and some fakes.  Get em while they're here.

VIETNAM, Anterior Le Dynasty, 980-1010 AD, Thien Phuc Tran Bao, 984-989 AD, N-39A, T3, Le top rev., VG $80.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, Anterior Le Dynasty, 980-1010 AD, Thien Phuc Tran Bao, 984-989 AD, N-39A, T3, Le top rev., aF $92.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, TRAN Dynasty, 1225-1400, Nguyen Phong Thong Bao, 1251-58, B13.2, N-31d, T-nl, seal 24mm, aVF $62.00 sold 9/14/2007
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, LATER LE Dynasty, 1428-1527, Thuan Thien Nguyen Bao, 1428-33, B29.1, seal script, F $21.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, LATER LE Dynasty, 1428-1527, Dai Bao Thong Bao, 1440-43, B31, N-20, T-53, 24mm, F $35.00 sold
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, LATER LE Dynasty, 1428-1527, Thai Hoa Thong Bao, 1443-54, B32, N-11, T-261, 24mm, VF $21.00 sold
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, LATER LE Dynasty, 1428-1527, Thien Hung Thong Bao, 1459-60, B34.1, N-46, 24mm, VF $41.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

276-277. VIETNAM, RESTORED LE Dynasty, 1428-1527, Canh Thong Thong Bao, 1498-1505, B-37.1, N-247, 24mm VF+ $51.00 sold 5/5/2014
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, LATER LE rebel, Phat Phap Tang Bao, 1517, B43.1, N-137, F $36.00 sold 9/14/2007
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, MAC Dynasty, 1527-92, Minh Duc Thong Bao, 1527-29, B45.2, N-126, F $45.00 sold 9/14/2007
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, RESTORED LE Dynasty, 1428-1527, Nguyen Hoa Thong Bao, 1533-48, B58.1, N-25c, T-64, square top Bao 23mm, aF $21.00 sold 12/18/2009
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, TAYSON Dynasty, 1788-1802, Thai Duc Thong Bao, 1777-92, K39.1, B91.1, Van Tue rev., aVF $31.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, LE Dynasty in North, 1573-1788, Chieu Thong Thong Bao, 1787-89, silver alloy, B80.13, K123v, C31.3av, N-176a, Son R (Sontay), F $160.00 sold 9/14/2007
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, LE Dynasty in North, 1573-1788, Chieu Thong Thong Bao, 1787-89, silver(y) alloy, B80.9, Chinh bottom rev., open head Thong, VF $63.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

274-262. VIETNAM, LE Dynasty in North, 1573-1788, Chieu Thong Thong Bao, 1787-89, silver(y) alloy, B80.14, K122, C31.3, Son bottom rev. (Sontay), VF $55.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, LE Dynasty in North, 1573-1788, Chieu Thong Thong Bao, 1787-89, silver(y) alloy, B80.14, K122, C31.3, Son bottom rev. (Sontay), F $46.25
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

276-293. VIETNAM, LE Dynasty in North, 1573-1788, Chieu Thong Thong Bao, 1787-89, silver(y) alloy, B80.15, Trung bottom, aF $36.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, LE Dynasty in North, 1573-1788, Chieu Thong Thong Bao, 1787-89, silver(y) alloy, B80.19, K121, C31.2, Thai bottom rev., crusty F $103.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, NGUYEN Dynasty in south, 1558-1778, Thai Binh Thong Bao, 1725-38, 22mm zinc, B83.13, N-52, square head Thong, casting flaw, F $13.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

274-275. VIETNAM, NGUYEN rebel Khoi, 1831-34, Nguyen Long Thong Bao, 1832-33, B113.2v, K251, double rim rev., F/G $75.00 sold 2/25/2010
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, TAYSON Dynasty, 1788-1802, Canh Thinh Thong Bao, 1792-1801, C-nl, double obv., 25mm, small split on rim, aF $65.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

277-325. VIETNAM, Canh Long Thong Bao, 1789, B98.2, C34.1, An Nam horizontally, cast to pay Chinese troops supporting deposed Chieu Thong, F+ $150.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VNS1a) VIETNAM, stack of sea salvaged cash from an Indonesian shipwreck.  They seem to be most or all Minh Mang (1820-42) zinc coins.  Stacks are ~30-40mm tall,  encrusted, $30.00
VNS1a) similar, double stack, $55.00
Picture shows samples, not necessarily what you'll get.  Click for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, Minh Mang Thong Bao, 1820-41, 60 van, B142, K-nl, 8 character poem rev.: Quoc Thai Dan An Phong Dieu Vu Thuan (someone translate it for me?), VF $195.00 sold 1/15/2009
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, NGUYEN Dynasty, 1802-1945, Tu Duc Thong Bao, 1848-83, zinc phan, B103.11, K-nl?, C-nl?,  blank rev., 23mm, VG $16.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, NGUYEN Dynasty, 1802-1945, Dong Khanh Thong Bao, 1885-88, B106.2, K301, 27mm, 4.5g, 2-dot closed head Thong, VF $66.00 sold 4/21/2009
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, anonymous, late 19-early 20th c., 5 lang silver bar, MA-4540v, assay stamps on sides, no location named, 187.6g, VF $225.00 sold 9/24/2009
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, anonymous, late 19-early 20th c., 10 lang silver bar, MA-4540v, assay stamps on sides, no location named, 377g, VF $200.00 sold
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, UNCERTAIN, Chinh Long Nguyen Bao, B117.1, Barker discusses a possible 12th c. attribution but doubts it, this coin is 22mm, 2.7g, seems of similar fabric to Mac in Cao Bang, VF $35.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, Unofficial, Thien Hi Thong Bao, N-47B, S-479 (Chinese), 17th c.?, seal script, 24mm, in the Chinese context this was considered a rare coin worth $100+, at this time, however, it is generally agreed that it is Vietnamese, aF $75.00 sold
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, Unofficial, Minh Thong Dinh Bao, B-nl, N-120, 17th c.?,  24mm, aVF $27.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, Unofficial, Tri Thanh Nguyen Bao, 1414-28, N-129, T-45, relaxed orthodox script, 24mm, VG $22.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, Unofficial, Huyen Tho Bao Bao, prob. 15th c., N-61, S-581, 24mm, F $70.00 sold
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

VIETNAM, Unofficial, Tong Nguyen Thong Bao, N-116, 17th c.?,  24mm, aVF $24.00 sold
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
   

home
email
Bob Reis
POB 26303
Raleigh NC 27611 USA
phone: (919) 787-0881
(8:30AM-10:30PM EST only please)
fax: (888) 503-8308
how to order