Catalog
5 Tiền - Bao Dai
| Issuer | Vietnam, Empire of |
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| Year | 1926-1945 |
| Type | Fantasy coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field features a large flaming pearl motif rendered as a stylized sunburst with radiating flames, flanked by four large Chinese characters arranged in the cardinal positions around the central device. Two small suspension holes are visible at the top and bottom of the coin, suggesting ritual or ornamental use. The characters are deeply struck in high relief against a plain field. The overall design reflects traditional Vietnamese imperial aesthetic conventions of the Nguyễn dynasty. |
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| Obverse script | Chinese |
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| Additional information |
Bảo Đại's imperial coinage occupies an awkward position in Vietnamese monetary history — struck under French Indochinese authority, these pieces were never fully autonomous issues but rather sanctioned ceremonial productions permitted by the colonial administration. The Nguyễn dynasty's last emperor ascended the throne in 1926 at age twelve, having spent his formative years educated in France, and French officials retained effective control over economic policy throughout his reign.
The X# classification signals this is a non-circulation piece — likely a presentation or gift issue rather than commerce coinage. The Zeno reference places it within a small, reasonably well-documented group of imperial Vietnamese silver, though provenance for individual specimens is rarely traceable.