Catalog
4 Tiền - Bao Dai
| Issuer | Vietnam, Empire of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1926-1945 |
| Type | Fantasy coin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a boldly rendered imperial dragon in high relief, depicted in the traditional Vietnamese rồng style, with a scaled and sinuous coiled body filling the field. The dragon's head faces left with an open jaw, flowing mane, and horns rendered in fine detail. One claw grasps a flaming pearl at the base of the design, a classic symbol of imperial power and wisdom. A small seal or mint mark character appears below the pearl near the lower rim. The field is unlettered, with no border beading, allowing the dragon motif to dominate the entire coin surface. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Bảo Đại ascended the throne in 1926 as a French-educated teenager, and the gold tiền denominations issued under his reign were minted to traditional Nguyễn dynasty specifications — a deliberate continuity with the coinage of Gia Long and Minh Mạng rather than any French colonial standard. The 4 tiền weight of approximately 16.5g traces directly to the pre-colonial Vietnamese cash system, not the metric framework France imposed elsewhere in Indochina.
Bảo Đại abdicated in August 1945 under pressure from the Việt Minh, ending both the dynasty and the series.