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9 Tien - Tự Đức
| Issuer | Empire of Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Year | 1848-1883 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Tiền (1400-1945) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central field bears four Chữ Hán characters arranged in cruciform reading 'Tự Đức Thông Bảo' (自德通寶), the reign title and currency legend of Emperor Tự Đức. A stylized multi-petalled lotus or daisy rosette occupies the centre between the four characters. The entire design is enclosed within a decorative border composed of an inner ring of overlapping crescent-scale motifs and an outer beaded rim. |
|---|---|
| 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, but his reign was defined by compounding catastrophe: French forces seized Saigon in 1859, and by 1867 the southern provinces were lost entirely. The court at Huế continued striking silver in traditional denominations — the tien being a weight-based unit rather than a face-value construct — even as the empire's fiscal and territorial authority contracted around it.
At 34.2 grams, the 9 tien sits just below a full lạng, a deliberate weight relationship used in court transactions and tribute payments rather than everyday commerce. These pieces circulated primarily within the imperial administration.