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3 Tiền - Tự Đức
| Issuer | Nguyen Dynasty Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1848-1883 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 3 Tien |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Four large Chu Nom characters arranged in cruciform pattern within the field, reading 'Tự Đức Thông Bảo' (自德通寶), denoting the reign title and currency designation. A radiate sun motif with a central boss occupies the centre of the composition, its rays extending outward between the four legend characters. The field is plain and unadorned beyond the central devices, and the entire design is bounded by an ornate border of alternating beads and short radial bars. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | 嗣德通寶 |
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| Additional information |
Tự Đức reigned longer than any other Nguyễn emperor — 35 years — but presided over one of the dynasty's most turbulent periods, including the French seizure of Cochinchina in 1862 and the steady erosion of Vietnamese sovereignty that followed. Gold coinage of this reign was produced for court ceremonial use and tributary exchange rather than general circulation, which is why surviving examples show minimal wear regardless of grade.
The imperial mint at Huế operated under strict metallurgical oversight, and gold pieces were cast rather than struck — a distinction that affects surface texture and edge finish in ways that sometimes mislead collectors trained on European milled coinage.