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7 Tiền - Minh Mạng Thông Bảo
| Issuer | Empire of Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Year | 1820-1841 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Cast |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese (traditional, regular script) |
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| Reverse description | A sinuous imperial dragon in high relief occupies the entire reverse field, rendered in the traditional Vietnamese court style with a scaly, dotted body coiled dynamically and the head facing left with an open mouth and flowing whiskers. The dragon's claws are outstretched and its tail curls toward the lower right, surrounded by stylized cloud and flame motifs. The bold, deeply cast design fills the field to the serrated border, which runs continuously around the coin's circumference. The large dragon variant (KM#190) features a more prominent, expansive body, while the small dragon variant (KM#191) presents a comparatively compact figure. |
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| Additional information |
Minh Mạng, who reigned from 1820 to 1841, was the most administratively ambitious of the Nguyễn emperors — he reorganized Vietnam's provinces, suppressed Catholic missionaries with increasing severity, and overhauled the imperial coinage system inherited from his father Gia Long. The 7 tiền denomination sat near the top of the silver coin hierarchy, issued in quantities that reflected state ceremony and tributary exchange rather than everyday commerce.
KM#190 and KM#191 represent distinct varieties within this type, differing in calligraphic rendering of the cash inscription — a distinction that mattered to contemporary officials receiving them as salary payments from the imperial treasury.