Coin

Vietnamese gold coin (1 Lang,10 Tien) with Confucian verses in classical Chinese comparing the enduring reputation of meritorious behavior to precious metals. Circular with a square central hole, the coin follows the traditional form of Chinese coinage which had become standard throughout East Asia. The coin bears the name of Tu Duc 嗣德, fourth emperor of the Nguyen 阮 dynasty of Vietnam, and so dates to his reign: 1847-1883. An edict of 1837 called for the minting of 100,000 coins bearing Confucian slogans drawn from early Chinese literature. Although the text on this coin is not found among those moral maxims specified in the 1837 edict, it nevertheless reflects the same program for the promotion of orthodox Chinese Confucianism by the Nguyen dynasty. The edict of 1837 specified coins made of base metals rather than gold. The fact that this coin is made of gold, and refers in its inscription to honoring merit, suggests that it may have been given as a gift to recognize loyal services to the dynasty by a senior official. Other examples are known of silver and gold coins with the same text, from the same reign of Tu Duc and from that of his father Emperor Thieu Tri 紹治 (r. 1841-1847).

The inscriptions on the obverse read: “Coin of Emperor Tự Đức” (嗣德通寶Tự Đức Thông Bảo) and “Ten thousand generations will reap the benefits” (萬世永賴Vạn thế vĩnh lại).

On the reverse we find a rhyming verse in four lines of five syllables constructed from quotations from Chinese Confucian texts.

玦澒千年化

盪鏐萬世傳

酬勳彰有德

所寶者惟賢

The jue-stone and cinnabar are transformed over a thousand years,

The finest gold is handed down for ten-thousand generations.

Honors are bestowed to magnify the virtuous,

Since what is truly treasured is a wise minister.