Coincidences of Vietnam and China
cash coins legends

Francis Ng, China
Thuan D.Luc, USA
Vladimir Belyaev, Russia 		March-June, 1999
        Presented material is an attempt to make the most full list of the cash coins of Vietnam and China, which have the same legends.
        List includes only copper cash coins. Most of such coincidences have place for private coin issues and only few of such coins were issued officially by Vietname rulers. Please check Timeline and imperial coinage of Vietnam for details.

        Legend used in Vietnam origin:
Nagasaki trade coin:
    Japanese early trade coin cast in Nagasaki in the 17th century. After several requests and denials, Nagasaki was finally granted permission from Tokugawa to cast coins used for trade with the Great Viet from the 2nd year of Manji (1659) to the 2nd year of Jokyo (1685). These trade coins were inscribed with the Song's reign title such as Nguyen Phong (Yuan Feng - Genho Tsuho), Tuong Phu (Xian Fu - Shofu Genho), Tri Binh (Zhi Ping - Jihei Genho), Gia Huu (Jia You - Kayu Tsuho), Hi Ninh (Xi Ning - Kinei Genho), Thien Thanh (Tian Sheng - Tensei Genho), Thieu Thanh (Shao Sheng - Shosei Genho) and Hoang Tong. Note that at the beginning of the 17th century, coin trade between the Viet and Japan happened already and then followed by the Dutch East India, the Chinese with the Viets. Coins traded before 1659 such as Vinh Lac, Khoan Vinh were not minted in Nagasaki by the Shogunate's decree in 1659.
    Details about Nagasaki trade coins may be found in the article 'Japan early trade coin and the commercial trade between Vietnam and Japan in the 17th century' by Thuan Luc.
Commoner cast:
    Coins cast by the commoners in the Great Viet. Vietnamese official record mentionned about illegally casting coin the first time in history in 1469. Until the 17th century, coin cast illegally gradually increased in the country. At the beginning, characters on the coin were copied from the original royal Vietnamese or Chinese coins such as Nguyen Phong, Tuong Phu, Khai Nguyen, Dai Dinh. Later on strange names on the coin were made up such as Thai Binh Thanh Bao, Tuong Nguyen. In the 18th century, Nguyen Lord authorized commoners to cast coin privately in the Inner Region. According to Le Quy Don in Phu Bien tap Luc, there were more than one hundred foundries established to cast coin by the rich people. These kind of coins lead to considerable confusion for collectors about the origin of the coin.
Uncertain
    Uncertain or unidentified coins are coins whith unknown origin. Coins had cast by the Court or by the known rebels such as Thien Ung of rebel Tran Cao or even by the commoners which recorded in the history book such as Thien Minh were not classified as uncertain coins. The characters inscribed on the Vietnam coin did not prove anything. Some coins, such as Dai Dinh, cast by the Court officially and by commonners later as well. The latter had totally different style that it must be classify as uncertain. Some coins, such as Chinh Long, were open to dispute for its origin. Most uncertain coins cast by the commonners in Trinh Nguyen period.
        All Vietnamese zinc cash coins issues will be the subject of future investigations.

        Special thanks to Francois Thierry, Curator of Oriental Coins (Middle East and Far East) in French National Library, for careful checking and corrections.

Obverse legend China Vietnam Comments
reading origin reading origin
Qian Yuan Zhong Bao Qian Yuan Zhong Bao Tang, 758
 Can Nguyen Trong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N177
    Qian Long Tong Bao Qian Long Tong Bao Qing, 1736-1796
    		 Can Long Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N200
    Jing De Yung Bao Jing De Yuan Bao Northern Sung, 1004-1007
    		 Canh Duc Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N248
    Jing You Yung Bao Jing You Yuan Bao Northern Sung, 1034-1037
    		 Canh Huu Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N242
    Bao Zhi Dao Yuan Bao Northern Sung, 995-997
    		 Chi Dao Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N110
    Bao Zhi Yuan Tong Bao Yuan, 1264-1294
    		 Chi Nguyen Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N109
    Bao Zhao Wu Tong Bao Ming rebel, 1678
    		 Chieu Vo Thong Bao
  • Le 1680
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N168
    Bao Zheng He Tong Bao Northern Song, 1111-1117
    		 Chinh Hoa Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N
    Bao Zheng Long Yuan Bao Jin, 1158
    		 Chinh Long Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
    		•  N68
    Zhou Yuan Tong Bao Zhou Yuan Tong Bao Later Zhou, 955
    		 Chu Nguyen Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N119
    Bao Da An Yuan Bao Liao, 1085-1094
    		 Dai An Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N8
    Bao Da An Tong Bao Western Xia, 1075-1085
    		 Dai An Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N9
    Bao Da Ding Tong Bao Jin, 1178
    		 Dai Dinh Thong Bao
  • Ly 1138
  • Tran 1369
  • Uncertain
    		•  N13
    Bao Dao Guang Tong Bao Qing, 1821-1850
    		 Dao Quang Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N282
    Bao Duan Ping Yuan Bao Southern Sung, 1234-1236
    		 Doan Binh Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N305
    Bao Tang Guo Tong Bao Southern Tang, 958-960
    		 Duong Quoc Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N192
    Bao Jia You Yuan Bao Northern Sung, 1056-1063
    		 Gia Huu Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N290
    Bao Jia You Tong Bao Northern Sung, 1056-1063
    		 Gia Huu Thong Bao
  • Nagasaki trade coin, Kayu Tsuho
    		•
    Jia Tong Bao Jia Qing Tong Bao Qing, 1796-1820 Gia Khanh Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N297
    Jia Tai Tong Bao Jia Tai Tong Bao Southern Sung, 1201-1204 Gia Thai Thong Bao
  • Le, 1573
    		•  N293
    Jia Tai Yuan Bao Jia Tai Yuan Bao Gia Thai Nguyen Bao N
    Bao Xian Ping Yuan Bao Northern Sung, 998-1004 Ham Binh Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N157
    Bao Xi Ning Yuan Bao Northern Sung, 1068-1077 Hi Ninh Nguyen Bao
  • Nagasaki trade coin, Kinei Genho
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N304
    Bao Hong Guang Tong Bao Ming rebel, 1645 Hoang Quang Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N89
    Bao Huang Song Tong Bao Northern Song, 1038-1039
    Southern Song, 1253-1258    		 Hoang Tong Thong Bao
  • Nagasaki
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N145
    Bao Hong Zhi Zhi Bao Ming, 1503 Hoang Tri Chi Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N90
    Bao Hong Hua Tong Bao Ming rebel, 1679 Hong Hoa Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N151
    Bao Hong Wu Tong Bao Ming, 1368 Hong Vu Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N152
    Kai Yuan Tong Bao Kai Yuan Tong Bao Tang, 621
    Taiping rebellion, 1854    		 Khai Nguyen Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N228
    Bao Kang Xi Tong Bao Qing, 1662-1722 Khang Hi Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N191
    Bao Jian Zhong Tong Bao Tang Kien Trung Thong Bao
  • Tran, 1225-1231
    		•  clockwise reading is genuine
    cross reading is fake (Ting Fu Pao)N
    Bao Li Yong Tong Bao Ming rebel, 1670 ? Loi Dung Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N115
    Bao Long Qing Tong Bao Ming, 1570 Long Khanh Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N274
    Bao Ming Dao Yuan Bao Northern Song, 1032-1033 Minh Dao Nguyen Bao
  • Ly, 1028
    		•  N124
    Bao Yuan De Tong Bao Western Xia, 1119-1126 Nguyen Duc Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N30
    Bao Yuan You Tong Bao Northern Song, 1086-1093 Nguyen Huu Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N26
    Bao Yuan Feng Tong Bao Northern Song, 1078-1085 Nguyen Phong Thong Bao
  • Tran, 1251
  • Nagasaki trade coin, Genho Tsuho
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N31
    Bao Yuan Fu Tong Bao Northern Song, 1098-1100 Nguyen Phu Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N27
    Bao Guang Xu Tong Bao Qing, 1875-1908 Quang Tu Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N100
    Tai Ping Tong Bao Tai Ping Tong Bao Northern Sung, 976-984
    XIXth century secret societies The Heaven and Earth, The Small Knife issues    		 Thai Binh Thong Bao
  • Nguyen Lord period
    		•  N52
    Tai Ping Sheng Bao Tai Ping Sheng Bao Taiping rebellion, 1851 Thai Binh Thanh Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N53
    Bao Tai Chang Tong Bao Ming, 1621-1627 Thai Xuong Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N178
    Bao Sheng Song Yuan Bao Northern Song, 1101 Thanh Tong Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N284
    Bao Tian Xi Tong Bao Northern Song, 1017-1021 Thien Hi Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N47
    Bao Tian Qi Tong Bao Ming, 1621-1627
    Yuan rebel, 1358    		 Thien Khai Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N36
    Bao Tian Qing Tong Bao Western Xia, 1194-1205 Thien Khanh Thong Bao
  • Tran, 1427
    		•  N44
    Bao Tian Sheng Yuan Bao Northern Song, 1023-1031 Thien Thanh Nguyen Bao
  • Nagasaki trade coin, Tensho Genho
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N42
    Bao Tian Cheng Yuan Bao Western Xia, 1149-1169 Thien Thinh Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N35
    Bao Shao Sheng Yuan Bao Northern Song, 1094-1097 Thieu Thanh Nguyen Bao
  • Nagasaki trade coin, Shosei Genho
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N214
    Bao Chun Xi Yuan Bao Southern Song, 1174 Thuan Hi Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N196
    Chun Hua Yuan Bao Chun Hua Yuan Bao Northern Sung, 990-994
    		 Thuan Hoa Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N195
    Shun Tian Yuan Bao Shun Tian Yuan Bao Tang, 759
    		 Thuan Thien Nguyen Bao
  • Le, 1428
    		•  Chinese coin was issued only in big cash, easily distinguished from Vietnamese
    N236
    Bao Shun Zhi Tong Bao Qing, 1644-1662 Thuan Tri Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N238
    Bao Zhi Ping Yuan Bao Northern Song, 1064-1067 Tri Binh Nguyen Bao
  • Nagasaki trade coin,
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N130
    Bao Zhi Ping Tong Bao Northern Song, 1064-1067 Tri Binh Thong Bao
  • Ly, 1205
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N131
    Bao Song Yuan Tong Bao Northern Sung, 960-976
    		 Tong Nguyen Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N
    Bao Xuan De Tong Bao Ming, 1433
    		 Tuen Duc Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N166
    Bao Xuan He Yuan Bao Northern Song, 1119-1125
    		 Tuen Hoa Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•
    Bao Xuan He Tong Bao Northern Song, 1119-1125
    		 Tuen Hoa Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N165
    Bao Xian Fu Yuan Bao Northern Sung, 1008-1017
    		 Tuong Phu Nguyen Bao
  • Nagasaki trade coin, Shofu Genho
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N185
    Bao Xian Fu Tong Bao Northern Sung, 1008-1017
    		 Tuong Phu Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N186
    Bao Wan Li Tong Bao Ming, 1576
    		 Van Lich Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N270
    Bao Yong Le Tong Bao Ming, 1403-1424
    		 Vinh Lac Thong Bao
  • Nagasaki
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N88
    Bao Yong Li Tong Bao Ming rebel, 1647-1661
    		 Vinh Lich Thong Bao
  • Nagasaki
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N84
    Bao Yong Chang Tong Bao Ming rebel, 1644
    		 Vinh Xuong Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  N82
    Some references mentioned that below coins can have Vietnamese origin.
    Bao Zhu Guo Yuan Bao Liao
    		 Tro Quoc Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
    		•  in Miura Gosen's collection
    Now confirmed that it is Liao coin
    N117
    Bao Da Tang Tong Bao Southern Tang, 958-960
    		 Dai Duong Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
    		•  in Miura Gosen's collection N18
    Bao Da Kang Tong Bao Liao, 1075-1084
    		 Dai Khang Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
    		•  in Miura Gosen's collection N17
    Bao Da Yuan Tong Bao Yuan, 1310
    		 Dai Nguyen Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
    		•  in Miura Gosen's collection N3
    Bao Mu Guo Yuan Bao Liao
    		 Mau Quoc Nguyen Bao
  • Uncertain
    		•  in Albert Schroeder's collection
    see Tro Quoc Nguyen Bao
    N118
    Bao Ying Gan Tong Bao Northern Song rebel, 994
    		 Ung Cam Thong Bao
  • Uncertain
  • Commoner cast
    		•  in Miura Gosen & Schroeder's collections N311