Catalog
| Issuer | Imperial Court of Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Year | 1926-1945 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central field features two sinuous dragons in high relief, each clutching or flanking a large flaming pearl, arranged symmetrically in a confronted or chasing composition typical of Nguyen dynasty imperial iconography. Two additional flaming pearls appear in the lateral fields, further emphasizing the celestial symbolism. The Chinese numeral 二 (two) appears at the top of the field, and the character 價 (value) is positioned at the bottom, together indicating the denomination of 2 Tiền. The design is bold and deeply struck, with intricate scale and flame detailing throughout. |
| Reverse script | Chinese |
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| Additional information |
Bảo Đại's reign produced remarkably little in the way of official coinage — the French colonial administration controlled monetary policy, leaving the imperial court largely ceremonial in financial matters. These gold tièn pieces were struck not for circulation but as court presentation items, their issuance tied to ritual rather than commerce. The type is poorly documented in Western references, and Zeno catalogue numbers remain among the few systematic attempts to track surviving examples.
The 1926 start date marks the beginning of Bảo Đại's reign following the death of Khải Định.