View source for Vietnamese cash

{{Short description|Cast round coin with square hole, currency of Vietnam from 970 to 1948}}
{{About||modern Vietnamese currency|Vietnamese đồng|the currency unit based on these cash coins|Vietnamese văn (currency unit)}}
{{Cleanup lang|article|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox currency
| currency_name_in_local = [[Chữ Hán]]: {{lang|vi|文}} (Văn)<br>[[Chữ Nôm]]: {{lang|vi|銅}} (Đồng)<br>French: Sapèque 
| image_1 = File:Thái Bình Hưng Bảo (太平興寶) 970–979 & Bảo Đại Thông Bảo (保大通寶) 1933–1945 01.jpg
| image_title_1 = First and last Vietnamese cash coins:<br>[[Thái Bình Hưng Bảo]] (太平興寶) issued during the [[Đinh dynasty]] (970–980).<br>[[Bảo Đại Thông Bảo]] (保大通寶) issued under [[Bảo Đại]] (1925–1945).
| date_of_introduction = 970
| using_countries = [[File:Long tinh flag.svg|20px]] [[History of Vietnam|Vietnam]], {{flag|French Indochina}} (until 1945), {{flag|North Vietnam}} (until 1948)
| superunit_ratio_1 = 10
| superunit_name_1 = [[Cent (currency)|Phân]] (分)
| superunit_ratio_2 = 36–60 
| superunit_name_2 = [[Vietnamese mạch|Mạch]] (陌) / [[Tiền]] (錢)
| superunit_ratio_3 = 360–600 
| superunit_name_3 = [[String of cash coins (currency unit)|Quán]] (貫) / [[French Indochinese piastre|Nguyên]] (元)<ref>Vietnamnet – Sử Việt, đọc vài quyển Chương IV "Tiền bạc, văn chương và lịch sử" (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]])</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zdic.net/zd/zi/ZdicE8ZdicB4ZdicAF.htm|title=Definition of ''guàn'' (貫)|access-date=25 August 2010}}</ref><ref>Hán-Việt từ điển của Thiều Chửu. Nhà Xuất Bản TP. Hồ chí Minh. 2002  (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]])</ref>
| superunit_ratio_4 = 20
| superunit_name_4 = [[North Vietnamese đồng|Đồng]] (銅) 
| superunit_inline_note_4 = In the Democratic Republic of Vietnam between 1947 and 1948, making them equal to 5 xu (樞).
| obsolete = yes
}}
The '''Vietnamese cash''' ([[chữ Hán]]: {{lang|vi|{{linktext|文|錢}}}} {{transliteration|vi|văn tiền}}; [[chữ Nôm]]: {{lang|vi|{{linktext|銅|錢}}}} {{transliteration|vi|đồng tiền}}; {{langx|fr|sapèque}}),{{efn|The term ''[[Chinese cash (currency unit)|văn]]'' (文) was first used in Vietnam in 1861 and the coins were referred to as ''đồng tiền'' (銅錢, copper coins) or simply as coins. Denominations of the Vietnamese cash coins were based on their weight and metal alloys and their value was determined by these aspects and their individual quality.<ref>Dai Nam Hoi Dien Su Le" (Administrative statute of Dai Nam) published by Thuận Hóa, Viet Nam 1993. (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]])</ref><ref>"Dai Nam Thuc Luc" (A veritable chronicle of Đại Nam) published by Khoa Hoc Xa Hoi, [[Hanoi]] 1962, written by the Cabinet of Nguyễn dynasty. (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]])</ref> In English these types of coins are referred to as "cash coins".}}{{efn|These coins may alternatively be referred to as ''sous'' in French, which is also the French nickname name for the French 1 [[centime]] coin making it an equivalent to the English term "[[Penny]]".<ref>[http://www.persee.fr/doc/numi_0484-8942_2011_num_6_167_3037 Le bas-monnayage annamite au ''niên hiệu'' de Gia Long (1804-1827)] by François Joyaux. Retrieved: 22 April 2018. (in French)</ref>}} also called the '''sapek''' or '''sapèque''',{{Efn|Note that the term ''sapèque'' is the French word for "cash coins" and also refers to cash coins from China, Japan, Korea, and the Ryūkyū islands. Some English language sources use the term "''sapèque''" to refer to machine-struck cash coins, while they use the term "cash coins" for those which were manufactured using traditional casting methods.}} is a [[Cast coinage|cast]] round coin with a square hole that was an official currency of [[Vietnam]] from the [[Đinh dynasty]] in 970 until the [[Nguyễn dynasty]] in 1945, and remained in circulation in [[North Vietnam]] until 1948. The same type of currency circulated in [[cash (Chinese coin)|China]], [[Japanese mon (currency)|Japan]], [[Korean mun|Korea]], and [[Ryukyuan mon|Ryūkyū]] for centuries. Though the majority of Vietnamese cash coins throughout history were copper coins, lead, iron (from 1528) and zinc (from 1740) coins also circulated alongside them often at fluctuating rates (with 1 copper cash being worth 10 zinc cash in 1882).{{sfn|Toda|1882|p=6}} Coins made from metals of lower intrinsic value were introduced because of various [[superstition]]s involving Vietnamese people burying cash coins, as the problem of people burying cash coins became too much for the government. Almost all coins issued by [[Mint (facility)|government mints]] tended to be buried mere months after they had entered circulation. The Vietnamese government began issuing coins made from an alloy of zinc, lead, and tin. As these cash coins tended to be very fragile, they would decompose faster if buried, which caused the Vietnamese people to stop burying their coins.<ref>Manuel de Rivas, ''[[:File:Idea del imperio de Annam, ó de los reinos unidos de Tunquin y Cochinchina (IA ideadelimperiode00riva).pdf|Idea del Imperio de Anam, Ó de Los Reinos Unidos de Tunquin y Cochinchina]].'' Published: 1858 [[Manila]], [[Spanish East Indies]], page 115. (in [[Castilian language|Castilian]])</ref>{{sfn|Toda|1882|p=9}}

The inscriptions of Vietnamese cash coins can be written in either the ''Viết chéo'' (曰湥 / 曰袑, top-bottom-right-left) style or the ''Viết thuận'' (曰順, clockwise, top-right-bottom-left) style.<ref>Đường Cao Tổ tuy lấy niên hiệu là ''Vũ Đức'' nhưng tiền đúc lại dùng chữ ''Khai Nguyên''. Dẫn theo "Tiền thời Cảnh Hưng, một bí ẩn lịch sử cần được khám phá" của Nguyễn Cảnh Huy; tài liệu của [http://www.dostbinhdinh.org.vn/MagazineNewsPage.asp?TinTS_ID=823&TS_ID=82 Sở Khoa học công nghệ Bình Định] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503003347/http://www.dostbinhdinh.org.vn/MagazineNewsPage.asp?TinTS_ID=823&TS_ID=82 |date = ngày 3 tháng 5 năm 2009}} cũng khẳng định tương tự: ''Khai Nguyên Thông Bảo'' do Đường Cao Tổ đúc</ref>

== Etymology ==

=== {{Lang|fr|Sapèque}} ===

The [[French language|French]] term for cash coins, {{Lang|fr|sapèque}}, comes from the [[Malay language|Malay]] terms {{Lang|ms|sa pek}} or {{Lang|ms|sa pe}} meaning 'one pe(k)' ({{Lang|ms|pek}}, or ''pie'', being a kind of currency), which in turn come from the Chinese word {{Transliteration|zh|peku}}/{{Transliteration|zh|pak}} ({{Lang|zh|百}}, [[Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary|Vietnamese reading]]: {{Lang|vi|bách}}) meaning 'one-hundred'.<ref name="AAVH-Sapèque-etymology">{{cite web|url= https://www.aavh.org/?p=1013|title= Titre : Hué, 1926 – Une pièce inédite sur la piastre (2).|date= 17 September 2013|access-date= 22 February 2021|author= Christophe|publisher= L’Association des Amis du Vieux Huế - FONDS ICONOGRAPHIQUE|language= fr|archive-date= 19 April 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210419031115/https://www.aavh.org/?p=1013|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name="Mariam-Webster-Sapèque">{{cite web|url= https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sapeque |title= sapeque (noun) - sa·peque - variants: or less commonly sapek \ səˈpek \ - plural -s.|date=22 February 2021|access-date=22 February 2021|work= [[Merriam-Webster]] (sinds 1828)|language=en}}</ref> The origin of the term might have come from the fact that cash coins were typically [[String of cash coins (currency unit)|strung together]] in strings of around a hundred pieces.<ref name="AAVH-Sapèque-etymology"/>

The French adopted the term {{Lang|fr|sapèque}} in [[Portuguese Macau|Macau]] and initially used it to refer to [[Cash (Chinese coin)|Chinese cash coins]] but later also applied the term for Vietnamese cash coins.<ref name="AAVH-Sapèque-etymology"/>

=== Slang names ===

In the late 19th century {{Lang|vi|Điêm}} [[slang]] spoken by the lower-class people of [[Saigon]] the term {{Lang|vi|tể}} was used to refer to cash coins; this term was an abbreviation of {{Lang|vi|Tiền}} ({{Vi-nom|錢}}).<ref>[[:File:L'Argot Annamite - M. A. Chéon (Année 1905, Volume 5, Numéro 1 p. 47 – 75).pdf|File:L'Argot Annamite - M. A. Chéon (Année 1905, Volume 5, Numéro 1)]]. - Pages 47 and 48 (in [[French language|French]]).</ref>

== Currency units ==
{{Main|Vietnamese văn (currency unit)|Tiền|Vietnamese mạch|String of cash coins (currency unit)}}

Traditionally, the basic units of Vietnamese currency were ''[[String of cash coins (currency unit)|quan]]'' ({{Vi-nom|貫}}, {{Lang|vi|quán}}), ''[[tiền]]'', and ''[[Vietnamese đồng|đồng]]''. One {{Lang|vi|quan}} was 10 {{Lang|vi|tiền}}, and one {{Lang|vi|tiền}} was between 50 and 100 {{Lang|vi|đồng}}, depending on the time period. From the reign of Emperor [[Trần Thái Tông]] onward, 1 {{Lang|vi|tiền}} was 69 {{Lang|vi|đồng}} in ordinary commercial transactions but 1 {{Lang|vi|tiền}} was 70 {{Lang|vi|đồng}} for official transactions. From the reign of Emperor [[Lê Lợi]], 1 {{Lang|vi|tiền}} was decreed to be 50 {{Lang|vi|đồng}}. During the [[Northern and Southern dynasties (Vietnam)|Northern and Southern dynasties of Vietnam]] period, beginning in 1528, coins were reduced from {{convert|24|mm}} to {{convert|23|mm}} in diameter and diluted with zinc and iron. The smaller coinage was called {{Lang|vi|tiền gián}} or {{Lang|vi|sử tiền}}, in contrast to the larger {{Lang|vi|tiền quý}} (literally, 'valuable cash') or {{Lang|vi|cổ tiền}}. One {{Lang|vi|quan tiền quý}} was equivalent to 600 {{Lang|vi|đồng}}, while 1 {{Lang|vi|quan tiền gián}} was only 360 {{Lang|vi|đồng}}.<ref name="Ta Chi Dai Truong">{{cite book|chapter=Tiền bạc, văn chương và lịch sử|title=Sử Việt, đọc vài quyển|author=Tạ Chí Đại Trường|author-link=Tạ Chí Đại Trường|publisher=Văn Mới Publishing House|year=2004|chapter-url=http://www.vcomtech.net/vn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=954:s-vit-c-vai-quyn-4&catid=38:lichsuvietnam&Itemid=527|language=vi|access-date=2019-08-23|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235419/http://www.vcomtech.net/vn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=954:s-vit-c-vai-quyn-4&catid=38:lichsuvietnam&Itemid=527|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the [[Lê dynasty|Later Lê dynasty]], 1 {{Lang|vi|tiền}} was 60 {{Lang|vi|đồng}}; therefore, 600 {{Lang|vi|đồng}} was 1 {{Lang|vi|quan}}. During the [[Yuan dynasty]], Vietnamese traders at the border with China used the rate 1 {{Lang|vi|tiền}} to 67 {{Lang|vi|đồng}}. Zinc coins began to appear in [[Dai Viet]] during the 18th century. One copper ({{Lang|vi|đồng}}) coin was worth 3 zinc ({{Lang|vi|kẽm}}) coins. Beginning with the reign of Emperor [[Gia Long]], both copper and zinc coins were in use. Originally the two coins had equal value, but eventually a copper coin rose to double the worth of a zinc coin, then triple, then sixfold, until the reign of Emperor [[Thành Thái]], it was worth ten times a zinc coin.

== History ==
[[File:Coins, Ly dynasty, 1010-1225 AD, bronze - National Museum of Vietnamese History - Hanoi, Vietnam - DSC05536.JPG|thumb|left|Various Lý dynasty cash coins on display at the National Museum of Vietnamese History, [[Hanoi]].]]

=== Đinh and Early Lê dynasties ===
{{See also|Thái Bình Hưng Bảo}}

During the ''[[Vietnam under Chinese rule|Bắc thuộc]]'' a number of [[Ancient Chinese coinage|Chinese currencies]] circulated in Vietnam, during this period precious metals like gold and silver were also used in commercial transactions but it wasn't until Vietnamese independence that the first natively produced cash coins would appear.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1">{{cite web|url= https://archives.org.vn/gioi-thieu-tai-lieu-nghiep-vu/tien-va-hoat-dong-tien-te-tai-viet-nam-truoc-nam-1945-ky-1.htm|title= Tiền và hoạt động tiền tệ tại Việt Nam trước năm 1945 (Kỳ 1: Tiền và hoạt động tiền tệ thời quân chủ Việt Nam). - 08:46 PM 27/03/2023. - Năm 1428, vua Lê Thái Tổ sau khi lên ngôi đã ngay lập tức triệu tập các đại quan trong triều để bàn về tiền tệ và ban Chiếu rằng: Tiền là thứ vô cùng cần thiết, như huyết mạch của dân vậy, không thể thiếu được. Nay muốn tiền tệ lưu thông dồi dào, thuận lòng dân cần một quy chế tiền tệ hợp lý.|date=27 March 2023|accessdate=19 May 2023|author= Nguyễn Thu Hoài|publisher= Trung tâm Lưu trữ quốc gia I (National Archives Nr. 1, Hanoi) - Cục Văn thư và Lưu trữ nhà nước (State Records And Archives Management Department Of Việt Nam).|language=vi}}</ref> The cash coins produced in Vietnam typically carried the [[Vietnamese era name|era name]] of the period it was produced in.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/>

The first Vietnamese coins were cast under the rule of the [[Đinh dynasty]] (968–981) with the introduction of the ''[[Thái Bình Hưng Bảo]]'' ({{linktext|太|平|興|寶}}) under [[Đinh Bộ Lĩnh]].<ref name="Toda-Đinh">{{cite web|url= https://art-hanoi.com/toda/11.html|title= Annam and its Minor Currency - Chapter XI. - The 吳 Ngo Family. The twelve 使君 Suquan. The 丁 Dinh Dynasty. The former 黎 Le Dynasty. - 940-1010 A.D. - The 吳 Ngo Family - 940-948.|date=1882|access-date=17 April 2020|author= [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]|publisher= Art-Hanoi|language=en}}</ref> Likewise the only inscription cast during the [[Early Lê dynasty]] period bore the inscription ''Thiên Phúc Trấn Bảo'' (天福鎮寶).<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/><ref>''Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư (Bản kỷ)'' - Quyển I (16b).</ref> However, for the next two centuries coins would remain a rarity in the daily lives of the common people, as [[barter]]ing would remain the dominant means of exchange under both the Đinh and Early Lê dynasties.<ref>Alotrip.com – We book, you travel. [https://www.alotrip.com/vietnam-video-overview/ancient-vietnamese-coins-episode-1 Ancient Vietnamese coins – Episode 1.] Published: Thursday, 12 Mar 2015 . Last updated: Thursday, 25 Jun 2015 09:01 Retrieved: 29 June 2017.</ref>

=== Lý dynasty ===

The first cash coins of the [[Lý dynasty]] produced during the reign of Emperor [[Lý Thái Tổ]] were the {{Lang|vi|Thuận Thiên Đại Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|順天大寶}}), these were among the largest early Vietnamese cash coins with a diameter of 25.5 millimeters.{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=56}}<ref>''Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư (Bản kỷ)'' - Quyển II (31a).</ref> All known variants of this cash coin feature the Chinese character {{Lang|vi|Nguyệt}} ({{Vi-nom|月}}) on the top of their reverse sides.{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=56}}

Generally cast coins produced by the Vietnamese from the reign of [[Lý Thái Tông]] and onwards were of diminutive quality compared to [[Cash (Chinese coin)|the Chinese variants]].<ref>{{cite book |last=David |first=Hartill|date=September 22, 2005|title=Cast Chinese Coins |location=[[Trafford]], United Kingdom|publisher=Trafford Publishing|isbn=978-1412054669|pages=432}}</ref> They were often produced with inferior metallic compositions and made to be thinner and lighter than the Chinese {{Transliteration|zh|wén}} due to a severe lack of copper that existed during the Lý dynasty.<ref name="Toda-Lý">{{cite web|url= https://art-hanoi.com/toda/12.html|title= Annam and its Minor Currency - Chapter XII. The 李 Ly Dynasty. - 1010-1225.|date=1882|access-date=17 April 2020|author= [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]|publisher= Art-Hanoi|language=en}}</ref> This inspired Chinese traders to recast Chinese coins for export to Vietnam, which caused an abundance of coinage to circulate in the country, prompting the Lý government to suspend the mintage of coins for five decades.<ref name="Toda-Lý"/>

=== Trần dynasty ===

The production of inferior coinage continued under the [[Trần dynasty]].<ref name="Toda-Trần">{{cite web|url= https://art-hanoi.com/toda/13.html|title= Annam and its Minor Currency - Chapter XIII. - The 陳 Tran Dynasty. - 1225-1414.|date=1882|access-date=17 April 2020|author= [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]|publisher= Art-Hanoi|language=en}}</ref> The production of both government and private cash coins happened at a large scale during the Trần period.<ref name="AAVH-Sapèque-etymology"/>

It was under the reign of emperor [[Trần Dụ Tông]] that the most cash coins were cast of this period; this was because of several calamities such as failed crops that plagued the country during his reign, which caused the Trần government to issue more coins to the populace as compensation.<ref name="Toda-Trần"/> The internal political struggles of the Trần dynasty ensured the cessation of the production of coinage, and as such, no coins were produced during the entire reigns of the last seven monarchs of the Trần dynasty.<ref name="Toda-Trần"/>

After the reign of emperor [[Trần Nghệ Tông]] the government of [[Đại Việt]] buried large reserves of cash coins in a mountain, the place of storage in this mountain later collapsed which became a contributing factor to cash coins remaining scarce after the Trần dynasty period.<ref>Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky (2009), ''Tiền cổ Việt Nam, Nhà xuất bản Giáo dục''. Page 67. (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]).</ref>

=== Hồ dynasty ===
[[File:Nhất Mân (緡壹) - Đại Trần Thông Bảo Hội Sao (鈔會寶通陳大) Replica - Howard A. Daniel III.jpg|thumb|right|A ''Đại Trần Thông Bảo Hội Sao'' (大陳通寶會鈔) banknote of 1 ''[[String of cash coins (currency unit)|mân]]'' (緡).]]

During the [[Hồ dynasty]] the usage of coins was banned by [[Hồ Quý Ly]] in 1396 in favour of the {{Lang|vi|Thông Bảo Hội Sao}} ({{linktext|通|寶|會|鈔}}) banknote series and ordered people to exchange their coinage for these banknotes (with an exchange rate of one {{Lang|vi|Quân}} of copper coins for two {{Lang|vi|Thông Bảo Hội Sao}} banknotes).<ref>Linh, Vietnamese in Vancouver [https://withlinh.com/ti%e1%bb%81n-vn/giai-do%e1%ba%a1n-phong-ki%e1%ba%bfn-968-1945/nha-tr%e1%ba%a7n/thong-b%e1%ba%a3o-h%e1%bb%99i-sao/ Thông bảo hội sao] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217202644/https://withlinh.com/ti%e1%bb%81n-vn/giai-do%e1%ba%a1n-phong-ki%e1%ba%bfn-968-1945/nha-tr%e1%ba%a7n/thong-b%e1%ba%a3o-h%e1%bb%99i-sao/ |date=2018-02-17 }}. (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]) Xin visa du lịch – Đặt phòng & vé máy bay – Hỗ trợ 24/7 Retrieved: 16 February 2018.</ref> Those who refused to exchange or continued to pay with coins would be executed and have their possessions taken by the government.<ref>''Khâm định Việt sử thông giám cương mục (Chính biên)'' - Quyển XI. Trên thực tế giai đoạn này vẫn còn niên hiệu nhà Trần nhưng vì quyền lực nằm trong tay Hồ Quý Ly nên người dân buộc phải miễn cưỡng tuân theo.</ref> Despite these harsh laws, very few people actually preferred paper money and coins remained widespread in circulation, forcing the Hồ dynasty to retract their policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/special-reports/83771/over-600-year-history-of-vietnam-banknotes.html|title=Over-600-year history of Vietnam banknotes|date=15 August 2013|access-date=29 June 2017|work=Vietnamnet|language=en|archive-date=28 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028145931/http://m.english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/special-reports/83771/over-600-year-history-of-vietnam-banknotes.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, Nhà xuất bản Khoa học xã hội, 1998, tập 2, trang 189 (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]])</ref><ref>Lịch triều hiến chương loại chí, tập 2, trang 112, Nhà xuất bản giáo dục, 2007 (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]])</ref> The {{Lang|vi|Thông Bảo Hội Sao}} banknotes of the Hồ dynasty featured designs with auspicious clouds (one {{Lang|vi|tiền}}), turtles (two {{Lang|vi|tiền}}), [[Qilin|Kỳ lân]] (three {{Lang|vi|tiền}}), [[Fenghuang|Phượng hoàng]] (five {{Lang|vi|tiền}}), and [[Vietnamese dragon|dragons]] (one {{Lang|vi|quán}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vietnam-culture.com/articles-214-34/Vietnamese-Money-Through-Time.aspx|title=Vietnamese Money Through Time|date=3 March 2014|access-date=29 June 2017|work= Vietnam Culture (Brings Vietnamese culture to the world) |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Bảo-tàng-Lịch-sử-Quốc-gia-Hồ-Quý-Ly-August-2021">{{cite web|url= http://baotanglichsu.vn/vi/Articles/3096/72397/nhung-chuyen-ky-thu-djong-tien-viet-nam-tien-giay-khong-yeu-dan-cua-ho-quy-ly.html|title= Những chuyện kỳ thú đồng tiền Việt Nam: Tiền giấy 'không yêu dân' của Hồ Quý Ly.|date=3 August 2021|access-date=7 August 2021|author= Thanhnien.vn |publisher= [[National Museum of Vietnamese History|Bảo tàng Lịch sử Quốc gia]] |language=vi}}</ref>

Under the Hồ dynasty cash coins with the inscriptions {{Lang|vi|Thánh Nguyên Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|聖元通寶}}) and {{Lang|vi|Thiệu Nguyên Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|紹元通寶}}) were introduced, but they would only be manufactured in small numbers, though the [[Later Lê dynasty]] would produce coins with the same inscriptions less than half a century later in larger quantities.<ref>Asian Numismatic Museum (Sudoku One) [http://vietnam.sudokuone.com/thieu_ny/study_ho.html Coins of the Hồ Dynasty 胡朝 1400 - 1407 AD. Thanh Nguyen and Thieu Nguyen.] by Dr. R. Allan Barker. Retrieved: 19 July 2017.</ref><ref>''Mirua Gosen''. Published: 1966. (in Japanese)</ref>

=== Later Lê, Mạc, and Revival Lê dynasties ===

After [[Lê Thái Tổ]] came to power in 1428 by ousting out the [[Ming dynasty]] ending the [[Fourth Chinese domination of Vietnam]], the [[Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư]] reports that in 1429 it was proposed to reintroduce paper money, but this idea was rejected.<ref>Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, chính biên quyển 10.</ref> Lê Thái Tổ enacted new policies to improve the quality of the manufacturing of coinage leading to the production of coins with both excellent craftsmanship and metal compositions that rivaled that of the best [[Ming dynasty coinage|contemporary Chinese coinage]].<ref>Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]])</ref><ref name="Toda-Later-Lê-1">{{cite web|url= https://art-hanoi.com/toda/16.html|title= XVI. - The 黎 Le Dynasty. - 1428-1785.|date=1882|access-date=23 February 2021|author= [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]|publisher= Art-Hanoi|language=en}}</ref> After ascending the throne, Lê Thái Tổ immediately summoned the great officials in the court to discuss the production of money and issued a ''Chiếu'' which stated that:<ref>Đại Việt thông sử - Quyển II - Đệ Nhị kỷ (56a-b).</ref> "Money is an extremely necessary thing, like the lifeblood of the people, indispensable. Our country minted a few coins, but the copper coins were destroyed a lot by the Ming people, only about one percent remained. Now the domestic consumption is in short supply, in order for the currency to circulate in abundance, to please the people, it is necessary to have a reasonable monetary regulation. So it is impossible not to discuss soon, I will consider implementing."<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/>{{Efn|Quote in Vietnamese: "Tiền là thứ vô cùng cần thiết, như huyết mạch của dân vậy, không thể thiếu được. Nước ta đúc tiền đã ít, mà tiền đồng lại bị người Minh tiêu hủy rất nhiều, chỉ còn chừng một phần trăm thôi. Nay việc tiêu dùng trong nước thiếu thốn, muốn tiền tệ lưu thông dồi dào, thuận lòng dân cần một quy chế tiền tệ hợp lý. Vậy không thể không sớm bàn định tâu lên, Trẫm sẽ cân nhắc thi hành."}} After that, the ''Thuận Thiên Nguyên Bảo'' (順天元寶) was minted, according to the regulations, 50 ''đồng'' is 1 ''tiền''.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/>

The [[Mạc dynasty]], which usurped power between the years 1528 to 1592, also minted its own coinage but they began to use zinc and iron, which were cheaper metals, and they further allowed private coinage to develop which decreased the quality of the coinage.<ref name="AAVH-Sapèque-etymology"/> After the Lê dynasty returned to power they tried to combat these monetary practices, but the shortage of copper (as the mines where the copper came from were mostly in areas controlled by China) and the division of the country between the two rival lordships (or principalities) of the [[Trịnh lords|Trịnh]] and [[Nguyễn lords]] made these measures ineffective.<ref name="AAVH-Sapèque-etymology"/>

Between 1633 and 1637 the [[Dutch East India Company]] sold 105,835 strings of 960 cash coins (or 101,600,640 {{Lang|vi|văn}}) to the Nguyễn lords in [[Ming dynasty coinage#Yong Le Tong Bao|Vĩnh Lạc Thông Bảo]] ({{linktext|永|樂|通|寶}}), and [[Kan'ei Tsūhō|Khoan Vĩnh Thông Bảo]] ({{linktext|寬|永|通|寶}}) coins. This was because the Japanese had [[Sakoku|restricted trade]], forcing the Southern Vietnamese traders to purchase their copper coins from the [[Dutch Republic]] rather than from Japanese merchants as before. This trade lead to a surplus of copper in the territory of the Nguyễn lords, allowing them to use the metal (which at the time was scarce in the north) for more practical applications such as nails and door hinges.<ref name="Việt-Touch-Dutch">Việt Touch [http://www.viettouch.com/numis/index.htm VIET NAM COINS & PAPER NOTES.] AUTHOR: Thuan D. Luc COLLECTION: Bao Tung Nguyen Retrieved: 24 June 2017.</ref><ref>Dutch-Asiatic trade 1620–1740 by Kristof Glamann, Danish Science Press published.</ref><ref>Japanese coins in Southern Vietnam and the Dutch East India Company 1633–1638 by Dr. A van Aelst</ref> After this, [[Nagasaki trade coins]], which were specifically minted for the Vietnamese market, also started being traded and circulating in the northern parts of Vietnam where the smaller coins would often be melted down for utensils and only circulated in Hanoi, while larger Nagasaki trade coins circulated all over Vietnam.<ref name="Việt-Touch-Dutch"/>

From the Dương Hòa era (1635–1643) under [[Lê Thần Tông]] until 1675 no coins were cast due to the political turmoil. At the turn of the 18th century [[Lê Dụ Tông]] opened a number of copper mines and renewed the production of high quality coinage.<ref name="Toda-Later-Lê-1"/> During the {{Lang|vi|Vĩnh Thịnh}} ({{Vi-nom|永盛}}, 1706–1719) period of Lê Dụ Tông the first large-format cash coins were issued; they had a diameter of 50.5&nbsp;mm and a weight of 33.13 grams.<ref name="AAVH-Sapèque-etymology"/>

According to the ''Đại Nam thực lục tiền biên'' from the reign of ''Túc Tông'' (lord [[Nguyễn Phúc Chú]]) the Nguyễn lords started producing copper cash coins.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/> And later during the reign of the ''Thế tông Hiếu vũ Hoàng đế'' (lord [[Nguyễn Phúc Khoát]]) the Nguyễn lords started minting white zinc coins, they opened a mint at Lương Quán, where they minted cash coins in the form of the ''Tường Phù'' cash coins of the [[Song dynasty]].<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/> According to their regulations it was strictly forbidden to mint privately.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/> After minting more money, they produced the ''Thiên Minh Thông Bảo'' cash coins.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/>

From 1719 the production of cast copper coins ceased for two decades and taxes were more heavily lifted on the [[Hoa people|Chinese population]] as [[Mandarin (bureaucrat)|Mandarins]] could receive a promotion in rank for every 600 strings of cash (or 600,000 coins).<ref name="Toda-Later-Lê-1"/>

Under [[Lê Hiển Tông]] a large variety of {{Lang|vi|Cảnh Hưng}} ({{linktext|景|興}}) coins were cast with varying descriptions on the obverse.<ref name="Toda-Later-Lê-2">{{cite web|url= https://art-hanoi.com/toda/16_.html|title= XVI. - The 黎 Le Dynasty. - 1428-1785. (Continued)|date=1882|access-date=23 February 2021|author= [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]|publisher= Art-Hanoi|language=en}}</ref><ref>Travel is easier with Linh [https://withlinh.com/ti%e1%bb%81n-vn/giai-do%e1%ba%a1n-phong-ki%e1%ba%bfn-968-1945/nha-h%e1%ba%adu-le-le-trung-h%c6%b0ng/ Nhà Hậu Lê (Lê Trung Hưng).]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]) Xin visa du lịch – Đặt phòng & vé máy bay – Hỗ trợ 24/7 Retrieved: 22 June 2017.</ref> In fact it is thought that more variations of the {{Lang|vi|Cảnh Hưng}} coin exist than of any other Oriental cash coin in history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/roberts/coins/Canhhungcoins.html |title=Canh Hung coins |date=24 October 2003|access-date=23 June 2017|work= Luke Roberts at the [[University of California, Santa Barbara|Department of History – University of California at Santa Barbara]] |language=en}}</ref> There were also new large {{Lang|vi|Cảnh Hưng}} coins introduced with denominations of 50 and 100 {{Lang|vi|văn}}<ref name="Toda-Later-Lê-2"/> and from 1740, various [[Provinces of Vietnam|provincial]] [[mint mark]]s were added on the reverses of coins.<ref name="Toda-Later-Lê-2"/> Currently there are around 80 known different kinds of {{Lang|vi|Cảnh Hưng}} coins. This diversity exists because the Lê government was in dire need of coins to pay for its expenditures, while it needed to collect more taxes in coins, so it began to mint a lot of coins. Later to fulfill this need, the Lê legalised the previously detrimental workshops that were minting inferior coins in 1760 in order to meet the market's high demand for coinage; this backfired as the people found the huge variety in quality and quantity confusing.<ref>Alotrip.com – We book, you travel. [https://www.alotrip.com/vietnam-video-overview/ancient-vietnamese-coins-episode-2 Ancient Vietnamese coins – Episode 2.] Published: Thursday, 12 Mar 2015 . Last updated: Monday, 01 Jun 2015 14:22. Retrieved: 29 June 2017.</ref><ref name="Toda-Later-Lê-2"/>

In 1775, after capturing [[Thuận Hóa]] from the Nguyễn lords, [[Trịnh Sâm]] stipulated that 3 zinc cash coins from [[Đàng Trong|Nam Hà]] would be accepted for 1 zinc cash coin from [[Đàng Ngoài|Bắc Hà]].<ref>Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky (2009), ''Tiền cổ Việt Nam, Nhà xuất bản Giáo dục''. Page 78. (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]).</ref>

=== Tây Sơn dynasty ===

Under [[Nguyễn Nhạc]] the description of {{Lang|vi|Thất}} ''[[Vietnamese units of measurement#Weight|Phân]]'' ({{linktext|七|分}}) was first added to the reverses of some coins indicating their weight; this continued under the [[Nguyễn dynasty]].<ref name="Toda-Tây-Sơn">{{cite web|url= https://art-hanoi.com/toda/19.html|title= Annam and its Minor Currency - Chapter XIX. - The 西山 Tay-son Rebellion. 1764-1801.|date=1882|access-date=17 April 2020|author= [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]|publisher= Art-Hanoi|language=en}}</ref> Under the reign of [[Nguyễn Huệ]], {{Lang|vi|Quang Trung Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|光中通寶}}) cash coins were produced made in two different types of metal, one series of [[copper]] and one series of [[tin]], as well as alloys between the two or copper coins of [[red copper]].<ref name="Toda-Tây-Sơn"/>

According to the ''Đại Nam thực lục tiền biên'' while fighting the Tây Sơn dynasty, the ''[[Gia Long|Thế tổ Cao Hoàng đế]]'' issued cash coins with the inscription ''Gia Hưng Thông Bảo'' (嘉興通寶) in 1796.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/><ref>[[Đại Nam thực lục]] (Chính biên) - Quyển 46 (Thực lục về Thế tổ Cao Hoàng đế).</ref>

=== Nguyễn dynasty ===

During the Nguyễn dynasty period in addition to their circulating zinc, lead, and copper-alloy cash coins the government also produced silver and gold cash coins.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ">{{cite web|url= https://www.archives.org.vn/gioi-thieu-tai-lieu-nghiep-vu/trieu-nguyen-voi-chinh-sach-duc-va-luu-thong-tien-te.htm|title= Triều Nguyễn với chính sách đúc và lưu thông tiền tệ. - 06:21 AM 01/04/2016. - Nói về sự phát triển tiền tệ dưới triều Nguyễn, có thể khẳng định đây là một triều đại tiền tệ phát triển rất phong phú. Ngoài những đồng tiền căn bản là tiền đồng và tiền kẽm, còn có cả vàng, bạc dùng trong lưu thông.|date=1 April 2016|access-date=4 February 2022|author= Ths. Hoàng Nguyệt (Thạc sĩ Hoàng Nguyệt)|publisher= Trung tâm Lưu trữ quốc gia I (National Archives Nr. 1, Hanoi) - Cục Văn thư và Lưu trữ nhà nước (State Records And Archives Management Department Of Việt Nam).|language=vi}}</ref>

==== Independent Nguyễn dynasty and French Cochinchina ====
{{Main|Tự Đức Thông Bảo|Tự Đức Bảo Sao}}

Under the [[Gia Long]] Emperor three kinds of cash coins were produced in smaller denominations made of copper, lead, and zinc.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức">Art-Hanoi [http://art-hanoi.com/library/articlethierry.pdf CURRENCY TYPES AND THEIR FACE VALUES DURING THE TỰ ĐỨC ERA.] This is a translation of the article "Monnaies et circulation monetairé au Vietnam dans l'ère Tự Đức (1848–1883) by François Thierry Published in Revue Numismatique 1999 (volume # 154).  Pgs 267-313. This translation is from pages 274-297. Translator: Craig Greenbaum. Retrieved: 24 July 2017.</ref> According to the book ''Đại Nam thực lục chính biên'' the first cash coins with the inscription Gia Long Thông Bảo (嘉隆通寶) were cast in the year Gia Long 2 (1803).<ref>''Đại Nam thực lục (Chính biên)'' - Quyển 46 (Thực lục về Thế tổ Cao Hoàng đế).</ref> He officially appointed the ''Bảo tuyền cục'' to be in charge of minting cash coins at Tây Long gate outside the city of [[Huế]].<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/> In the year Gia Long 12 the Ministry of Revenue was tasked with producing 7 ''phân'' zinc cash coins, 1 string of zinc cash coins were ordered to weigh 2 ''cân'' 10 ''lạng'' on average, and when exchanged into copper-alloy cash coins 125 strings of zinc cash coins were valued at 100 strings of copper-alloy cash coins.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/> Under the Gia Long Emperor mints were opened in [[Bắc Thành]] (Hanoi) and [[Gia Định]] (Hồ Chí Minh City).<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> In the year Gia Long 13 (1814) another 6 ''phân'' zinc cash coin was produced at the ''Bảo tuyền cục Bắc Thành'' and ordered them to imitate the minting techniques of the Qing.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/> At that time, the casting ratio included 500 ''cân'' of red copper, 415 ''cân'' of zinc, 65 ''cân'' of lead, and 20 ''cân'' of tin.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/>

The cash coins of the Tây Sơn dynasty were initially only allowed to circulate for 5 years after the ascension of Gia Long.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> According to a document from the year Gia Long 16 (1817) the [[government of the Nguyễn dynasty]] ordered for the destruction of all "fake cash coins" from circulation explaining that the prior currency situation was chaotic.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> The "fake cash coins" were still allowed to circulate in the year Gia Long 15 and must now be destroyed.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> All payments and salaries for public services and government employees must be expressed in zinc cash coins, government employees must collect all "fake cash coins" they have and store it in a government warehouse to later be melted down and exchanged for the newly minted zinc cash coins.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> The zinc cash coins were also ordered to circulate in the Southern regions and merchants were ordered to carry them with them whenever they would engage in trade to promote their circulation.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/>

Throughout most of the Nguyễn dynasty period, the government tried to exclude money it termed ''Tiền cấm'' (錢禁, "Forbidden money") from circulation.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}} The ''Tiền cấm'' included the following three categories:{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}}

* 1: [[Tây Sơn dynasty coinage]], because of the Nguyễn dynasty's dislike of the Tây Sơn dynasty, which it viewed as illegitimate, it tried to exclude its coinage from circulation.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}} But because of the extensive issuance of cash coins during this period it wasn't until 1822 that the Nguyễn could successfully discourage their circulation by fixing an exchange rate of 2 Tây Sơn dynasty copper-alloy cash coins for 1 Nguyễn dynasty zinc cash coin.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}}
* 2: [[Black market|Black money]], including stolen money.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}}
* 3: Inferior quality money created by Chinese merchants, these cash coins were often of inferior quality and contained a high percentage of lead.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}}

According to the ''Đại Nam Thực lục chính biên'', there were several different types of Gia Long Thông Bảo cash coins cast.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> A bronze cash coin with the inscription ''Thất phần'' (七分) in [[seal script]] on its reverse, a thicker zinc cash coin with the inscription ''Nhất phần'' on its reverse, and a copper-alloy cash coin with dots on its reverse side symbolising the sun and moon.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> The 7 phần zinc cash coins started being made from the year Gia Long 12 (1813) onwards.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/>

[[File:Gia Long Thông Bảo (嘉隆通寶 )- Thất Phân (七分) copper and zinc 01.jpg|thumb|left|Copper-alloy and zinc cash coins issued under the reign of the [[Gia Long]] Emperor.]]
[[File:Tự Đức thông bảo, 1848-1883 AD - Museum of Vietnamese History - Ho Chi Minh City - DSC05938.JPG|thumb|left|"[[Tự Đức Thông Bảo]]" ({{linktext|嗣|德|通|寶}}) coins of varying denominations, on display at the Museum of Vietnamese History, [[Ho Chi Minh City]].]]

Since the reign of the Gia Long Emperor, zinc cash coins ({{Vi-nom|銅鐱}}, {{Lang|vi|Đồng kẽm}}) had replaced the usage of copper and brass cash coins and formed the basis of the Vietnamese currency system.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/> Under Gia Long the standard 1 văn denomination coins weighed seven {{Lang|vi|phần}} and under the [[Minh Mạng]] Emperor six {{Lang|vi|phần}} (approximately 2.28 grams) which would remain the standard for future rulers.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/> Zinc cash coins produced in Hanoi under the [[Tự Đức]] Emperor had the mint mark {{Lang|vi|Hà Nội}} ({{linktext|河|內}}) on them, with there being another mint in [[Sơn Tây]] ({{linktext|山|西}}).<ref name="Toda-Nguyễn">{{cite web|url= https://art-hanoi.com/toda/20.html|title= Annam and its Minor Currency - Chapter XX. Chinese intervention in Tunquin, and the 阮 Nguyen Dynasty.|date=1882|access-date=17 April 2020|author= [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]|publisher= Art-Hanoi|language=en}}</ref>

From the Gia Long until the [[Thiệu Trị]] periods 1 copper-alloy cash coin was valued at 1.2 to 1.3 zinc cash coins, from the Tự Đức onwards they were valued at 1.3 to 1.4 zinc cash coins each.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=89-90}}

From 1837 during the first year of the reign of the Minh Mạng Emperor, ''[[Vietnamese mạch|Mạch]]'' ({{Vi-nom|陌}}) brass cash coins were issued; these cash coins feature Minh Mạng Thông Bảo ({{Vi-nom|明命通寶}}) on their obverses but have eight characters on their reverses. One {{Lang|vi|Mạch}} coins would be continued under subsequent rulers of the Nguyễn dynasty.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/>

Regarding the circulation of both zinc and copper-alloy cash coins in the country the Minh Mạng Emperor wrote:<ref>''Khâm định Đại Nam hội điển sự lệ'' - Quyển 53 - Bộ Hộ (Pháp luật - Tiền tệ).</ref> "Our country mints two types of cash coins, copper cash coins (''tiền đồng'') and zinc cash coins (''tiền kẽm''). Zinc cash coins are used for consumption, the rich don't dare to hoard them, but the people in neighbouring countries do not dare to bring them back to their country. It's not only beneficial for the people but also for the country. However, if there are no copper cash coins, who will know the name of our country in the future. Therefore, we should not be left without copper cash coins."<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/>{{Efn|Vietnamese quote: "Nước ta đúc tiền có hai hạng, tiền đồng và tiền kẽm. Tiền kẽm đưa ra tiêu dùng, các nhà giàu không dám tích trữ mà người nước láng giềng đi lại buôn bán cũng không dám mang về nước họ, như vậy chẳng những lợi cho dân mà còn lợi cho nước nữa. Tuy nhiên nếu không có tiền đồng, thời sau này ai mà biết được đại hiệu của nước ta. Vậy tiền đồng cũng không nên để thiếu."}}

In 1849 the Tự Đức Emperor was forced to legalise the private production of zinc cash coins as too many illegal mints kept being established throughout both Đại Nam and China.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}} These privately minted zinc cash coins were allowed as long as they circulated according to their correct weights.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}}

However, in 1871 the production of zinc cash coins stopped as many mines were being blocked by Chinese [[Piracy|pirates]] and the continued production of these coins would be too expensive.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/> Other reasons for the discontinuation of zinc cash coins despite them being indispensable to the general populace were because they were heavy compared to their nominal value and the metal was quite brittle.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/> Following the establishment of the [[French colony of Cochinchina]] the chaotic monetary situation of Đại Nam severely worsened as [[Qing dynasty|Qing Chinese]] merchants quickly took advantage of it and started producing poor quality cash coins to bring to the colony where no regulations against their activities existed.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}} The Tự Đức Emperor tried to search Qing merchant ships, make outposts block their entry, and ban Qing Chinese merchants from bringing in too much money.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}} Though by 1879 the Nguyễn court was forced to accept the copper-alloy ''Hành dị dạng tiền'' (deformed money) at a value of 3 zinc cash coins, provided that the cash coin in question was quite similar in quality to the indigenous Vietnamese currency.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=102—103}}

To the French, zinc coinage also presented a huge inconvenience since the colonisation of Cochinchina in 1859 as the exchange between [[French franc]]s and zinc {{Lang|vi|văn}} meant that a large number of zinc coins were exchanged for the French franc.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/> Zinc cash coins often broke during transportation as the strings that kept them together would often snap. The coins would fall on the ground and a great number of them would break into pieces; these coins were also less resistant to oxidation, causing them to corrode faster than other coinages.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/>

{{Quote box
 | quote  ="Another serious disadvantage consisted in the total absence of token coinages other than the inconvenient sapèque one of zinc: one needed an artillery van to go exchange 1,000 francs in ligatures for the one sapèques, since it had the weight of a barrel and half.... and at the market, the chicken weighed some times less than its price in currency." 
| source =- J. Silvestre, [[:File:Vietnamese coinage and medals (Monnaies et de Médailles de l'Annam et de la Cochinchine Française) by J. Silvestre (1883).pdf|Monnaies et de Médailles de l'Annam et de la Cochinchine Française (1883)]]. 
| width  = 75%
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}}

Prior to 1849 brass coins had become an extreme rarity and only circulated in the provinces surrounding the capital cities of Vietnam, but under Tự Đức new regulations and (uniform) standards for copper cash coins were created to help promote their usage.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/> Between 1868 and 1872 brass coins were only around 50% copper, and 50% zinc.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/> Due to the natural scarcity of copper in Vietnam the country always lacked the resources to produce sufficient copper coinage for circulation.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/>

Under Tự Đức large coins with the denomination of 60 {{Lang|vi|văn}} were introduced. These coins were ordered to circulate at a value of 1 ''[[Vietnamese tiền|tiền]]'', but their intrinsic value was significantly lower so they were badly received; the production of these coins was quickly discontinued in favour of 20, 30, 40, and 50 [[Vietnamese văn (currency unit)|văn]] coins known as {{Lang|vi|Đồng Sao}}. In 1870 [[Tự Đức Bảo Sao]] cash coins of 2, 3, 8, and 9 {{Lang|vi|Mạch}} were issued.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.charm.ru/coins/vn/tuduc900van.shtml#ref1|title= Vietnamese Coin – Tự Đức Bao Sao 9 Mach.|date=30 November 2001|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Vladimir Belyaev (Charm.ru – Chinese Coinage Website)|language=en}}</ref><ref>François Thierry de Crussol, ''Catalogue des monnaies Vietnamiennes'', Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, 1987. (in French)</ref> Large denomination coins were mostly used for tax collection as their relatively low intrinsic value lowered their spending power on the market.<ref>H.A. Ramsden, ''The high value issues of the Tự Đức series of Annamese coins'', East Asia Journal, vol. 2, 55-62, 1995.</ref><ref>Tang Guo Yen, Chang Shi Chuan Yuenan lishi huobi (in Vietnamese Lich suu dong tien Vietnam – The Vietnamese historical currency), 1993, published by the Yunnan and Guangxi Numismatic Society (in [[Mandarin Chinese]]).</ref>

In 1882, at the time when [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]'s ''Annam and its minor currency'' was published, only two government mints remained in operation: one in [[Hanoi]], and one in [[Huế]].{{sfn|Toda|1882|p=6}} However, private mints were allowed to cast cash coins with the permission of the government, and a large number of cash coins were also imported from abroad as at that time the [[Portuguese Macau|Portuguese colony of Macau]] had six mints with twelve furnaces producing 600,000 cash coins for Vietnam on a daily basis.{{sfn|Toda|1882|p=6}}

Cash coins circulated in the 19th century along with silver and gold bars, as well as silver and gold coins weighed in ''[[Vietnamese tiền|tiền]]''.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/> Denominations up to ten {{Lang|vi|tiền}} were minted, with the seven {{Lang|vi|tiền}} coins in gold and silver being similar in size and weight to the Spanish eight [[Spanish real|real]] and eight [[Spanish escudo|escudo]] pieces.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/> These coins continued to be minted into the 20th century, albeit increasingly supplanted by French colonial coinage.<ref name="Thierry-Tự-Đức"/>

During the middle of the 1880s there was a shortage of cash coins in the Qing dynasty province of [[Guangdong]], to remedy this Chinese bankers who were active in Vietnam at the time started buying up zinc Vietnamese cash coins to export to Guangdong.<ref name="The-Luck-of-Third-Street-2008">{{cite journal|url= https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03377105|title= The Luck of Third Street: Archaeology of Chinatown, San Bernardino, California.|date=2008|accessdate=6 August 2023|author= Julia G. Costello, Kevin Hallaran, Keith Warren, & Margie Akin |journal= [[Historical Archaeology (journal)|Historical Archaeology]]|volume= 42|issue= 3|pages= 136–151|doi= 10.1007/BF03377105|language=en|url-access= subscription}}</ref> During the narrowly defined period ranging from around 1885 to about the 1890s a large quantities of zinc Vietnamese cash coins circulated in the Guangdong Province.<ref name="The-Luck-of-Third-Street-2008"/> However, like the then-scarce Chinese cash coins, the Vietnamese cash coins brought to Guangdong would be sold and exported to [[Chinese-Americans|overseas Chinese communities in the United States]] for a profit causing the demand for small denomination cash coins to remain high.<ref name="The-Luck-of-Third-Street-2008"/> It wasn't until 1889 when the [[Guangzhou Mint]] started mass-producing high-quality machine-struck brass cash coins that the Vietnamese cash coins would disappear from circulation in Guangdong.<ref name="The-Luck-of-Third-Street-2008"/>

The Chinese abandonment of the Vietnamese zinc cash coins in Guangdong was both rapid and absolute and by the 1890s indigenous machine-struck cash coins made of brass had fully replaced them, as everyone (even those in Vietnam) always preferred the copper-alloy (including brass) cash coins to those made of zinc.<ref name="The-Luck-of-Third-Street-2008"/> Likewise, Chinese customers in the [[United States|American]] state of [[California]] would have been similarly discriminating quickly ending the demand for zinc Vietnamese cash coins outside of Vietnam.<ref name="The-Luck-of-Third-Street-2008"/> This is also why Vietnamese cash coins are occasionally found in Chinese and [[overseas Chinese]] coin hoards dating to the 1880s and later (but never before as up until that point Vietnamese cash coins exclusively circulated in Vietnam).<ref name="The-Luck-of-Third-Street-2008"/>

The Vietnamese cash coins found in Guangdong from this period (and among overseas Guangdongers) range from the Gia Long to the Tự Đức period.<ref name="The-Luck-of-Third-Street-2008"/>

After the introduction of [[Cochinchina Piastre|modern coinage]] by the French in 1878, cash coins remained in general circulation in [[French Cochinchina]].<ref name="Lemire">{{cite web|url= http://www.historicvietnam.com/saigon-cholon-in-1868/|title= Saigon-Cholon in 1868, by Charles Lemire.|date=29 December 2015|access-date=4 March 2019|author=|publisher= First published in the 1869 journal Annales des voyages, de la géographie, de l’histoire et de l’archéologie, edited by Victor-Adolphe Malte-Brun, Charles Lemire’s article “Coup d’oeil sur la Cochinchine Française et le Cambodge” gives us a fascinating portrait of Saigon-Chợ Lớn less than 10 years after the arrival of the French.|language=en}}</ref>

Initially the French attempted to supplement cash coins in circulation by punching round holes into French 1 centime coins and shipping a large amount of them to French Cochinchina, but these coins did not see much circulation and the Cochinchinese people largely rejected them.<ref name="JEAN2I"/>

On 7 April and 22 April 1879, the governor of French Cochinchina had decreed that the new designs for coins with {{Lang|fr|Cochinchine Française}} on them would be accepted with the denominations 2 {{Lang|fr|sapèques}} (cash coins), 1 cent, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, and the piastre.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=31}} All coins except for the piastre were allowed to be issued, which allowed for [[Spanish dollar]]s and [[Mexican real]]s to continue circulating.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=31}} The [[Paris Mint]] produced the new [[Milled coinage|machine-struck]] 2 {{Lang|fr|sapèques}} {{Lang|fr|Cochinchine Française}} cash coins.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=31}} These French-produced [[bronze]] cash coins weighed 2 grams and were valued at {{frac|1|500}} piastre. They saw considerably more circulation than the previous French attempt at creating cash coins, but were still largely disliked by the Cochinchinese people.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=31}} The local population still preferred their own {{Lang|vi|Tự Đức Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|嗣德通寶}}) cash coins despite only being valued at {{frac|1|1000}} piastre.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=31}}

==== Under French rule ====
{{Main|Cochinchina piastre|French Indochinese piastre|Khải Định Thông Bảo|Bảo Đại Thông Bảo}} 
[[File:Un paysan annamite portant une ligature de sapèques (monnaie du pays) - 1919 - Tétart, René (Cropped) 02.png|thumb|right|A rural man carrying a [[String of cash coins (currency unit)|string of cash coins]] (1919).]] 
[[File:Femmes chams comptant des sapèques (1919) Tétart, René (Cropped).png|thumb|right|Two [[Cham people|ethnic Cham]] women counting cash coins (1919).]]

In the year 1883 the [[Treaty of Huế (1883)|Harmand Treaty]] was signed, which was replaced in 1884 with the [[Treaty of Huế (1884)|Patenôtre Treaty]]. These treaties were created following the [[Tonkin campaign|French conquest of Đại Nam]], which established the [[Annam (French protectorate)|French protectorates of Annam]] and [[Tonkin (French protectorate)|Tonkin]]. While these two countries were in a subordinate relationship with [[France]], they were still nominally ruled by the Nguyễn Empire and the old currency system continued to be used and produced by the [[government of the Nguyễn dynasty]] there. Despite the later introduction of the [[French Indochinese piastre]], zinc and copper-alloy cash coins would continue to circulate among the Vietnamese populace throughout the country as the primary form of coinage, as the majority of the population lived in [[extreme poverty]] until 1945 (and 1948 in some areas). They were valued at the rates of about 500–600 cash coins for one piastre.<ref name="L'Éveil-économique-de-l'Indochin-September-1928">{{cite web|url= https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5586105p/f13.item.r=Sap%C3%A8ques.zoom|title= L'Éveil économique de l'Indochine : bulletin hebdomadaire / directeur : H. Cucherousset, rédacteur en chef.|date=9 September 1928|access-date=19 January 2022|author= Cucherousset, Henri (1879-1936). Directeur de publication|publisher= [[Gallica]] ([[Bibliothèque nationale de France]])|language=fr}}</ref>{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=29}} The need for coins was only a minor part in the lives of most Vietnamese people at the time, as bartering remained more common since all coins were bartered on the market according to their current intrinsic values.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=29}}<ref name="JEAN2I"/>

During the [[Kiến Phúc]] period (2 December 1883 – 31 July 1884), the regent [[Nguyễn Văn Tường]] accepted bribes from Qing Chinese merchants to allow them to bring their ''tiền sềnh'' (錢浧, "extraordinary money") depicting the reign era of the Tự Đức Emperor into the country.{{Sfn|Việt Nam sử lược|p=223-224}} Nguyễn Văn Tường forced people to accept and spend this bad quality Chinese imitation money, those who refused to accept it could face the penalty of arrest.{{Sfn|Việt Nam sử lược|p=223-224}} This money is described as being "very ugly, too thin, and extremely light" (weighing only about 1 gram), according to descriptions it was so light in fact that these cash coins can float on water.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=19}}{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=103}} [[Roman Catholic missionaries]] active in Đại Nam took advantage of bad condition of this new money to propagate the idea that it was a sign that the Nguyễn dynasty was in decline.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=19}}{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=103}} These cash coins have sometimes been mistaken for the 17th and 18th century ''[[Tiền gián]]'' (with the inscriptions of Thiên Thánh Nguyên Bảo and An Pháp Nguyên Bảo).{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=19}} However, these earlier low quality money was still heavier and more valuable than the nearly worthless ''tiền sềnh'' brought into the country by merchants from the Qing dynasty by the end of the 19th century.{{Sfn|Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky, sách đã dẫn|p=103}}

Following the establishment of [[French Indochina]], a new version of the French 2 {{Lang|fr|sapèques}} was produced from 1887 to 1902, which was also valued at {{frac|1|500}} piastre and was likely forced on the Vietnamese when they were paid for their goods and services by the French, as the preference still was for indigenous cash coins.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=31}}

Under French administration the Nguyễn government issued the {{Lang|vi|Kiến Phúc Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|建福通寶}}), {{Lang|vi|Hàm Nghi Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|咸宜通寶}}), {{Lang|vi|Đồng Khánh Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|同慶通寶}}), {{Lang|vi|Thành Thái Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|成泰通寶}}), {{Lang|vi|Duy Tân Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|維新通寶}}) cash coins of different metal compositions and weights.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=32}} Each of these cash coins had their own value against the French Indochinese piastre.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=32}} Because the exchange values between the native cash coins and silver piastres were confusing, the local Vietnamese people were often cheated by the money changers during this period.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=32}}

The {{Lang|vi|Kiến Phúc Thông Bảo}} was mixed with iron when it was minted and featured blank reverse sides.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> Several batches of {{Lang|vi|Kiến Phúc Thông Bảo}} cash coins were produced, but due to the fact that the [[French Army]] was putting pressure on the Huế Court the throne changed hands several times and the rule of the {{Lang|vi|Kiến Phúc}} Emperor was very brief, so not much attention to the economy was paid by government.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> Because of these factors only a very small number of {{Lang|vi|Kiến Phúc Thông Bảo}} cash coins were minted which confirm the new Emperor's reign era name, but they didn't have a large effect on the money in circulation as their quantity was too small to make a difference.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> The {{Lang|vi|Hàm Nghi Thông Bảo}} cash coins were likewise only minted in small quantities due to his short reign.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> These cash coins were made from copper-alloys and have the inscription "Lục Văn" (六文) on their reverse indicating their denomination.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/>

During the reign of the [[Đồng Khánh]] Emperor two series of {{Lang|vi|Đồng Khánh Thông Bảo}} cash coins were minted;<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> the first series were cast in 1776 with a diameter of 26 millimeters, and the second series in 1887 with a diameter of 23 millimeters.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/> All cash coins from this era had blank reverse sides.<ref name="Triều-Nguyễn-với-chính-sách-đúc-và-lưu-thông-tiền-tệ"/>

In 1894, the ''Note sur la circulation monétaire et les moyens d'échange dans les colonies françaises et pays de protectorat, d'après les documents officiels recueillis par l'administration des colonies'' reported that aside from the piastre and zinc and copper-alloy cash coins other indigenous currencies circulated in the Nguyễn dynasty, these included a silver cash coin which was valued at 2 [[String of cash coins (currency unit)|strings]] each, a silver [[sycee]] weighing 1 ''[[Tael|Lượng]]'' was valued at 12 strings, a silver ''Nen'' was valued at 140 strings, a gold ''Lượng'' valued at 300 strings, and a gold ''Nen'' valued at 3000 strings.<ref name="French-Overseas-Currencies-1894">{{cite web|url= https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1473560.r=Sap%C3%A8ques?rk=321890;0#visuAccordion|title= Note sur la circulation monétaire et les moyens d'échange dans les colonies françaises et pays de protectorat, d'après les documents officiels recueillis par l'administration des colonies.|date=1894|access-date=22 January 2022|author= [[Ministry of the Overseas (France)|Ministry of the Colonies]]|publisher= The [[government of France]]|language=fr}}</ref> It was reported that Asian merchants used conventional silver bars made from melted coins that were withdrawn from circulation, these were valued at 15 piastres.<ref name="French-Overseas-Currencies-1894"/> In Tonkin zinc cash coins remained in circulation while they only continued to circulate in some regions of Annam.<ref name="French-Overseas-Currencies-1894"/>

In 1894 a string of cash coins in Tonkin was composed of 600 zinc cash coins divided into rows of 10 coins each (called a ''tiền''), while in Annam a string was composed of 100 copper-alloy cash coins divided into rows of 10.<ref name="French-Overseas-Currencies-1894"/> At the time 8~10 strings of cash coins were worth a piastre.<ref name="French-Overseas-Currencies-1894"/> In the [[French protectorate of Cambodia]] a string would contain 450 to 500 Vietnamese cash coins, with 8 cash coins being valued at 1 cent.<ref name="French-Overseas-Currencies-1894"/>

On 1 August 1898 it was reported in the {{Lang|fr|Bulletin Economique De L’Indo-Chine article; Le Monnaie De L’Annam}} that the [[Huế]] Mint was closed in 1887, and in 1894 the casting of cash coins had started at the [[Thanh Hóa]] Mint.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=32}} Between the years 1889 and 1890 the Huế Mint produced 1321 strings of 600 small brass {{Lang|vi|Thành Thái Thông Bảo}} cash coins.<ref name="TransAsiart-Thành-Thái-Thông-Bảo">{{cite web|url= http://www.transasiart.com/Numismatique/numismatique_vietnam/thanhthai/nvnngn07.htm|title= Bas monnayage de Thành Thái 成泰 (1889-1907) - Brass coinage of Thành Thái era (1889-1907).|date=14 September 2015|access-date=26 April 2020|author= [[François Thierry (numismatist)|François Thierry de Crussol]] (蒂埃里)|publisher= TransAsiart|language=fr}}</ref> These small brass cash coins were valued at six zinc cash coins.<ref name="TransAsiart-Thành-Thái-Thông-Bảo"/> In the year 1893, large brass {{Lang|vi|Thành Thái Thông Bảo}} cash coins with a denomination of ten ''[[Vietnamese văn (currency unit)|văn]]'' ({{Vi-nom|十文}}, {{Lang|vi|thập văn}}), or ten zinc cash coins, started being produced by the Huế Mint.<ref name="TransAsiart-Thành-Thái-Thông-Bảo"/> The production of {{Lang|vi|Thành Thái Thông Bảo}} cash coins were resumed at the Thanh Hóa Mint between the years 1894 and 1899.<ref name="TransAsiart-Thành-Thái-Thông-Bảo"/> Under Emperor [[Thành Thái]] gold and silver coinages were also produced.<ref name="TransAsiart-Thành-Thái-Thông-Bảo"/>

In the year 1902 the French ceased production of machine-struck cash coins at the Paris Mint and completely deferred the production of cash coins back to the government of the Nguyễn dynasty.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=32}} There were people in Hanoi and Saigon that still preferred the French machine-struck cash coins, so a committee was set up in Hanoi that created a machine-struck zinc cash coin valued at {{frac|1|600}} piastre dated 1905 but issued in 1906.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=32}} However, this series of cash coins was not well received by either the local or the French population as the coins were brittle, prone to corrosion, and easily broken, so their production was quickly halted.{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=32}}

In order to try to standardise the exchange rate between the French Indochinese piastre and cash coins, the [[List of administrators of the French protectorate of Tonkin|Resident-Superior of the French protectorate of Tonkin]] fixed the local Tonkinese exchange rates every month. This was done to prevent rampant speculation by Chinese merchants and Nguyễn dynasty mandarins.<ref name="Docteur Hocquard">Docteur Hocquard, Une Campagne au Tonkin (Paris, Arléa, 1999), p.177. (in [[French language|French]]).</ref> [[Money changer]]s generally tended to value the piastre based on its weight in silver, but also according to the perfection of its strike, and even according to the purity of its silver.<ref name="Docteur Hocquard"/> The official exchange rates were not rigorously applied and the money changers often estimated their own values to individual piastre coins.<ref name="Docteur Hocquard"/>

In order to combat deflation both the Government-General of French Indochina and the imperial government of the Nguyễn dynasty fixed the exchange rate of the newly introduced [[Khải Định Thông Bảo]] at 6 zinc cash coins according to an ordonnance entitled ''Fixing the exchange of the new cash coins bearing the reign era of Khải Định'' (Fixant la valeur d'échange de la nouvelle sapèque portant la chiffre de Règne Khai-Dinh) signed on 01-09-[[Khải Định]] 5 (12 October 1920) by five of the [[Six Ministries of the Nguyễn dynasty|six ministers of the Nguyễn dynasty]], the Khải Định Emperor, and the Governor-General of French Indochina [[Maurice Long (politician)|Maurice Long]].<ref name="Khải-Định-Thông-Bảo-Tonkin-1920">Government-General of French Indochina and the imperial government of the Nguyễn dynasty - [https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k938230d/f926.item.r=sap%C3%A8que Ordonnance Royalle - Fixant la valeur d'échange de la nouvelle sapèque portant la chiffre de Règne Khai-Dinh]. Published: 01-09-[[Khải Định]] 5 (12 October 1920). Retrieved: 25 April 2023. (in [[French language|French]]).</ref> The imperial ordonnance noted that in the French protectorate of Tonkin the Gia Long Thông Bảo (嘉隆通寶) and the Minh Mạng Thông Bảo (明命通寶) as well as zinc cash coins were unanimously accepted, while the Thiệu Trị Thông Bảo (紹治通寶) and the Tự Đức Thông Bảo (嗣德通寶) cash coins weren't accepted by the local population.<ref name="Khải-Định-Thông-Bảo-Tonkin-1920"/> Meanwhile in the provinces of [[Nghệ An province|Nghệ An]] and [[Thanh Hóa province|Thanh Hóa]] they would sometimes all be accepted but at other times they would be refused like they were in Tonkin.<ref name="Khải-Định-Thông-Bảo-Tonkin-1920"/> The ordonnance stated that the people of Đại Nam are "warned that cash coins are for their daily life and serve as an article of their very first necessity" and that "there is no worse [[malaise]] than the scarcity of cash coins", while emphasising that the [[production cost]]s of the currency is higher than their nominal and market value and that their continued production constitutes a heavy burden both for the French Indochinese and Nguyễn dynasty governments, but that the government prefers to bear this burden than let the people suffer from the negative consequences of their scarcity.<ref name="Khải-Định-Thông-Bảo-Tonkin-1920"/>

The last monarch whose name was cast on cash coins, Emperor [[Bảo Đại]], died in 1997.

==== Scarcity of cash coins during the Bảo Đại period ====

In 1932 it was reported by ''L'Éveil économique de l'Indochine'' ("The Economic Awakening of Indochina") that cash coins were increasingly becoming scarce in Annam and Tonkin, the ''L'Éveil économique de l'Indochine'' advised the government of the Nguyễn dynasty to start producing zinc [[Bảo Đại Thông Bảo]] cash coins to counter the scarcity of low denomination currencies, at this time zinc cash coins were still circulating in Annam while very few of them were left in Tonkin.<ref name="L'Éveil-économique-de-l'Indochin-September-1932">{{cite web|url= https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5585823q/f21.item.r=Sap%C3%A8ques.zoom|title= L'Éveil économique de l'Indochine : bulletin hebdomadaire / directeur : H. Cucherousset, rédacteur en chef.|date=6 November 1932|access-date=19 January 2022|author= Cucherousset, Henri (1879-1936). Directeur de publication|publisher= [[Gallica]] ([[Bibliothèque nationale de France]])|language=fr}}</ref>

In 1936 the [[House of Representatives (Annam)|House of Representatives of the People of Annam]] wrote in an advisory report, after an in-depth investigation, that they advised the French and Nguyễn governments against demonetising and replacing old cash coins in favour of a new uniform cash coin.<ref name="House-of-Representatives-of-the-People-of-Annam-1936">{{cite web|url= https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1418517w.r=gouvernement%20annamite%20sap%C3%A8ques?rk=21459;2#|title= Discours de réception des membres de la Chambre des représentants du peuple, prononcé le ... à la Résidence supérieure en Annam.|date=1936|accessdate=19 April 2022|author= Maurice Fernand Graffeuil (Résident supérieur de l'Annam), Eugène-Jean-Jacques-Antoine Guillemain, and the [[House of Representatives (Annam)|House of Representatives of the People of Annam]]|publisher= Impr. de Phuc-Long ([[Huế]])|language=fr}}</ref> They argued that while the new ''½ cent'' coins were received without much difficulty, their quantity was still insufficient and their circulation too limited for them to be able to serve as a basis for an operation to withdraw older cash coins from circulation.<ref name="House-of-Representatives-of-the-People-of-Annam-1936"/> Therefore, the House of Representatives proposed a solution by not withdrawing old cash coins from circulation through the production of a new unit to replace them, but by introducing a new uniform cash coin to circulate alongside old cash coins and unifying their exchange courses with cash coins whose demonetisation is very difficult, which would allow for their exchange courses to stabilise in relation to the ''½ cent'' coins as more of the latter would be brought into the market to circulate.<ref name="House-of-Representatives-of-the-People-of-Annam-1936"/>

On 29 September 1939 the [[Hanoi]]an newspaper ''l'Effort Indochinois'' reported that the governments of French Indochina and the Nguyễn dynasty pursued a policy called ''[[An muoi policy|an muoi]]'' (the introduction of large denomination [[Debasement|debased]] cash coins which only had a slightly higher intrinsic value [[Gresham's law|to drive out lower value cash coins]]), which sought to stabilise the exchange rate between cash coins and the piastre at 360:1.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939">{{cite web|url= https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k14163009/f1.item.r=Sap%C3%A8ques.zoom|title= Contre la thésaurisation des pièces divisionnaires.|date=29 September 1939|access-date=20 January 2022|author= Xuân TIÊU|publisher= l'Effort Indochinois (Journal Autonomiste Paraissant la Vendredi) - [[Hanoi|Hanoï]], [[Tonkin (French protectorate)|Tonkin]], [[Nguyễn dynasty]], [[French Indochina]]|language=fr}}</ref> During this period there was a market liquidity crisis worsened by the [[Hoarding (economics)|hoarding]] of low denomination cash coins by the general populace causing massive [[deflation]] of cash coins.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/> There has been a serious devaluation of the piastre in Annam, among the solutions proposed by the government of French Indochina was the increased production of paper money.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/> Despite starting the ''an muoi'' policy in 1937, by 1939 the exchange rate between the piastre and cash coins was at 5 strings per piastre while in some rural areas the price of the piastre went down as much as 3 strings per piastre.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/>

The deflation of cash coins proved to be very detrimental to the economy and local trade.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/> The reason why these exchange rates were unstable was because cash coins remained independent of the piastre, despite their fixed exchange rates.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/> ''l'Effort Indochinois'' reported that in Tonkin the [[Khải Định Thông Bảo]] and Bảo Đại Thông Bảo cash coins were less sensitive to the deflationary pressure caused by hoarding than older cash coins as they weren't being overvalued in the market in relation to the French Indochinese piastre.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/> As Tonkinese people had a much higher [[standard of living]] than the Annamites, the [[velocity of money]] was likewise faster and coins like the 10 cents, 20 cents, Etc. mingled more with the cash coins in Tonkin than they did in Annam.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/>

''l'Effort Indochinois'' noted that many causes of the deflation and hoarding were more psychological in nature rather than practical, noting that the new cash coins that were being produced in Tonkin was manufactured in a different way from the old ones (machine-struck vs. cast) and that this development was even more recent than banknotes.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/> Meanwhile, in Annam large quantities of Minh Mạng Thông Bảo, Thiệu Trị Thông Bảo, Etc. as well as millennium old cash coins remained in circulation as the population stubbornly held onto them.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/> In fact, there remained a strong preference for cast Bảo Đại Thông Bảo cash coins over machine-struck ones of the same inscription.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/> This was as the population preferred to keep with the traditional currency system and that cast cash coins were seen as "good old sapèques" from "the [[good old days]]" as opposed to both machine-struck cash coins and the French Indochinese piastre who saw it as "modern inventions incompatible with their traditional lifestyles".<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/> To combat this mentality ''l'Effort Indochinois'' advised the government to mint cash coins of different models and metals and to give them a clearly defined value in relation to the divisionaries of the piastre and introduce them to the Annamese countryside, as well as to introduce the machine-struck Bảo Đại Thông Bảo that were already circulating in Tonkin into rural Annam.<ref name="l'Effort-Indochinois-Hanoï-29-September-1939"/>

On 9 August 1941 the [[Ministry of Finance (Nguyễn dynasty)|Ministry of Finance]] of the imperial government of the Nguyễn dynasty issued an act informing the provincial mandarins of Annam on how to enforce new rules set up by the Nguyễn dynasty government to try to curb deflation.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941">Protectorate government of Annam - ''Bulletin administratif de l'Annam'', Publication date : 1941-10-01. Pages: 2751-2754. (in [[French language|French]]).</ref> According to the Minister of Finance [[Hồ Đắc Khải]] the fall in the market exchange rates between cash coins and ''piastres'' (especially in the [[Thanh Hóa province|Thanh Hóa]], [[Nghệ An province|Nghệ An]], and [[Hà Tĩnh province|Hà Tĩnh]] provinces) wasn't solely caused by the scarcity of cash coins but also by false rumours spread by illicit [[Speculation|currency speculators]] who sought to devalue the French Indochinese ''piastre'' in relation to cash coins to later exchange their hoarded cash coins at higher rates making a profit.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/> The increased value of cash coins relative to the ''piastre'' also lead to a general increase in the [[cost of living]] as well as making commercial transactions less convenient for the majority of the population, who typically relied on cash coins to pay for their common purchases.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/> Hồ Đắc Khải noted that the two governments (both the governments of French Indochina and the Nguyễn dynasty) sought to remedy the situation, with one of the remedies being the issuance of a large number of [[French Indochinese piastre#During World War II|¼ cent, ½ cent, and 1 coins]] to help alleviate the need for low value coinages due to the scarcity of cash coins.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/>

While waiting for the government to be in a position to ensure a radical reform of the monetary system in Annam, the Nguyễn dynasty government adopted a number of temporary measures to try to counter the deflation caused by the scarcity of cash coins in 1941 and the instable monetary situation in the Thanh-Nghệ-Tĩnh region.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/> In 1941 the official exchange rate between cash coins and the French Indochinese piastre was set at 6 strings of 50 cash coins per piastre, but the [[market rate]] was either at 2 or 3 strings of 50 cash coins per piastre.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/> For that reason the Ministry of Finance petitioned the Bảo Đại Emperor to issue an imperial decree (諭, ''dụ'') which would fix the exchange rate at 4 strings of cash coins per piastre with any deviation of this rate becoming punishable by high sanctions.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/> Immediately after the issuance of this decree the provincial mandarins could enforce it together with French provincial residents.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/>

Besides the fixed exchange rates, other measures taken to attempt to alleviate the scarcity of cash coins included limiting the amount of strings of cash coins that a family may own to a maximum of 200 strings per household and 400 strings of cash coins per merchant establishment with the surplus of this authorised quantity being placed back into general circulation by exchanging the surplus strings of cash coins with banknotes to individuals at the official exchange rate of 4 strings per piastre.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/> Any excess strings of cash coins held by an individual had to be legally declared to the local [[prefect]] (''Tri phủ''), [[County magistrate|district magistrate]] (''Tri huyện''), or the Bang-ta who would then centralise the declarations of the hoarders and send reports to the provincial mandarins.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/> If the stock of cash coins was large enough, the provincial mandarins could distribute the stored cash coins among the various districts of their province.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/> Private individuals would then be able to exchange their banknotes for the redistributed cash coins at the official exchange rate with each family (household) being limited to a maximum of 20 strings.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/>

In order to enable the administration to exercise control over the situation of cash coins, any person who has received and held, after the previous exchange, a quantity of cash coins greater than 200 strings for individuals and 400 strings for merchants, was required to report the movement of cash coins held during these periods to the heads of the districts concerned around the 1st and 15th of each month.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/> If someone failed to report any cash coins in excess of the permitted quantity, the authorities could confiscate their cash coins as a penalty to benefit the budget of the government of the Nguyễn dynasty, mostly to pay the salaries of the local mandarins and government employees in cash coins instead of paying them using fiduciary banknotes.<ref name="Ministry-of-Finance-of-the-Southern-Dynasty-August-1941"/>

On Decree Number 55 dated 02-07-Bảo Đại 16 (24 August 1941) the Bảo Đại Emperor issued an ordonnance which states that within the entire territory of ''Trung Kỳ'' (Annam) the exchange rate between copper-alloy cash coins and the piastre was fixed at a rate of 4 strings of cash coins for 1 French Indochinese piastre, replacing the earlier Decree Number 1 of 21 February 1934 which fixed it at 6 strings of 50 cash coins.<ref name="Official-exchange-rate-August-1941">Protectorate government of Annam - ''Bulletin administratif de l'Annam'', Publication date : 1941-10-01. Pages: 2757-2758. (in [[French language|French]]).</ref> This decree applied to any cash coin bearing a reign era of the Nguyễn dynasty, with the definition of 4 strings of cash coins consisting of either 400 ''an-sau'' (6 văn) cash coins or 240 ''an-muoi'' (10 văn) cash coins.<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-2">{{cite web|url= https://archives.org.vn/gioi-thieu-tai-lieu-nghiep-vu/tien-va-hoat-dong-tien-te-tai-viet-nam-truoc-nam-1945-ky-2-quan-ly-tien-te-va-hoat-dong-ngan-hang-truoc-nam-1945.htm#_ftn6|title= Tiền và hoạt động tiền tệ tại Việt Nam trước năm 1945 (Kỳ 2: Quản lý tiền tệ và hoạt động ngân hàng trước năm 1945).|quote=Ví dụ: Năm 1934  một đồng bạc Đông Dương được ấn định tương đương 650 đồng kẽm; đến năm 1941 một đồng Đông Dương tương đương 400 đồng kẽm.|date=30 March 2023|accessdate=19 May 2023|author= Nguyễn Thu Hoài|publisher= Trung tâm Lưu trữ quốc gia I (National Archives Nr. 1, Hanoi) - Cục Văn thư và Lưu trữ nhà nước (State Records And Archives Management Department Of Việt Nam).|language=vi}}</ref><ref name="Official-exchange-rate-August-1941"/>

=== Democratic Republic of Vietnam ===

After the [[North Vietnam|Democratic Republic of Vietnam]] declared their independence in 1945 they began issuing [[North Vietnamese đồng|their own money]], but cash coins continued to circulate in the remote areas of Bắc Bộ and Trung Bộ where there was a lack of {{Lang|vi|xu}}, {{Lang|vi|hào}}, and {{Lang|vi|đồng}} coins for the population. The Democratic Republic of Viet Nam Decree 51/SL of 6 January 1947 officially set the exchange rate at twenty Vietnamese cash coins for one North Vietnamese {{Lang|vi|đồng}} making them equal to five {{Lang|vi|xu}} each. Vietnamese cash coins continued to officially circulate in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam until 13 April 1948.<ref name="JEAN2I">{{Cite web|url= https://issuu.com/jean388/docs/the_second_issue_of_jean/79|title=Sapeque and Sapeque-Like Coins in Cochinchina and Indochina (交趾支那和印度支那穿孔錢幣)|date=20 April 2016|access-date=10 December 2017|work=Howard A. Daniel III (The Journal of East Asian Numismatics – Second issue)|language=en}}</ref>

=== Aftermath ===
{{See also|Vietnamese numismatic charm|Cash coins in art}}

During the [[Vietnam War]] a large number of [[Vietnamese numismatic charm]]s with both authentic as well as fantasy coin inscriptions were produced in [[South Vietnam]] to be sold to foreigners interested in collecting Vietnamese antiques.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.charm.ru/library/vietnamcharm.htm|title= Vietnamese charms in Vietnam War era.|date=29 April 1998|access-date=6 July 2018|work= Tony Luc (Charm.ru - Chinese Coinage Website).|language=en}}</ref> These fantasy inscriptions included legends like {{Lang|vi|Quang Trung Trọng Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|光中重寶}}),<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.charm.ru/library/quangtrungcharm.htm|title= Charms with Quang Trung's Reign Title.|date=2 May 1998|access-date=6 July 2018|work= Tony Luc and Vladimir Belyaev (Charm.ru - Chinese Coinage Website).|language=en}}</ref> {{Lang|vi|Hàm Nghi Trọng Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|咸宜重寶}}),<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.charm.ru/library/hamnghicharm.htm|title= Charms with Ham Nghi's Reign Title.|date=30 April 1998|access-date=6 July 2018|work= Tony Luc and Vladimir Belyaev (Charm.ru - Chinese Coinage Website).|language=en}}</ref> and {{Lang|vi|Khải Định Trọng Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|啓定重寶}}),<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.charm.ru/library/khaidinhcharm.htm|title= Khai Dinh Trong Bao charm.|date=29 April 1998|access-date=6 July 2018|work= Tony Luc and Vladimir Belyaev (Charm.ru - Chinese Coinage Website).|language=en}}</ref> the latter of which was based on the ''[[Khải Định Thông Bảo]]'' ({{Vi-nom|啓定通寶}}).

== List of Vietnamese cash coins ==

=== Official and semi-official cash coins ===
[[File:Tien co.PNG|thumb|right|Most Vietnamese cash coins tend to be read top-bottom-right-left, but variants exist where the characters are read clockwise.]]
[[File:Nguyễn Dynasty coinage.jpg|thumb|right|The various cash coins of the [[Nguyễn dynasty]] (1802–1945).]]

During the almost 1000 years that Vietnamese copper cash coins were produced, they often significantly changed quality, alloy, size, and workmanship. In general, the coins bear the [[Vietnamese era name|era name(s)]] of the monarch (Niên hiệu/{{linktext|年號}}) but may also be inscribed with mint marks, denominations, miscellaneous characters, and decorations.

Unlike Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Ryūkyūan cash coins that always have the inscription in only one typeface, Vietnamese cash coins tend to be more idiosyncratic, bearing sometimes [[Regular script]], [[Seal script]], and even [[Semi-cursive script|Running script]] on the same coins for different characters, and it is not uncommon for one coin to be cast almost entirely in one typeface but with an odd character in another. Though early Vietnamese coins often bore the calligraphic style of the Chinese ''[[Kaiyuan Tongbao|Khai Nguyên Thông Bảo]]'' ({{Vi-nom|開元通寶}}) coin, especially those from the Đinh until the Trần dynasties.<ref>Asian Numismatic Museum (Sudoku One). [http://vietnam.sudokuone.com/thien_tu/study_tt.htm Vietnamese Thien Tu and Kai Yuan Style. Thiên Tư Nguyên Bảo 天資元寶 Thư pháp, viết theo phong cách, Trung Quốc Ka Yuan.] Retrieved: 19 July 2017.</ref>

The following coins were produced to circulate in Vietnam:

{{Quote box
| quote  = ''{{Orange|Orange text}}'' indicates that the cash coin has been mentioned by historical sources but that no modern authentic specimen has ever been recovered.

''{{Green|Green text}}'' indicates that this cash coin has been recovered in modern times but is not mentioned in any historical chronicles.

''{{Blue|Blue text}}'' indicates that the cash coin has its own article on [[English Wikipedia|Wikipedia]].{{efn|The colour turns {{Purple|purple}} if you have visited the page in the past.}}

'''(中)''' indicates that there exists a [[Cash (Chinese coin)|Chinese]], [[Liao dynasty coinage|Khitan]], [[Western Xia coinage|Tangut]], [[Jin dynasty coinage (1115–1234)|Jurchen]], [[Yuan dynasty coinage|Mongol]], and/or [[Qing dynasty coinage|Manchu]] cash coin (including rebel coinages) with the same legend as the Vietnamese cash coin.<br><small>Further reading: [[List of Chinese cash coins by inscription]].</small>

''{{Fuchsia|Fuchsia text}}'' = Indicates that this is a misattributed cash coin (these cash coins were noted by historical sources or standard catalogues but later turned out to be misattributed).

''{{Gold (color)|Gold text}}'' Indicates that this is a fake or fantasy referenced by [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]] in his ''Annam and its Minor Currency'' ([[:File:Annam and its minor currency (Toda) from Art-Hanoi.pdf|pdf]]), the possible existence of these cash coins have not been verified by any later works.
| source = 
| width  = 50%
| align  = center
}}

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Inscription<br>([[chữ Quốc ngữ]]) !! Inscription<br>([[chữ Hán]]) !! Years of mintage !! Dynasty !! [[List of monarchs of Vietnam|Monarch(s)]] !! [[Eduardo Toda y Güell|Toda]] image !! Image 
|-
| [[Thái Bình Hưng Bảo]]{{efn|The reign title was "Thái Bình" (太平) but the actual inscription of the coinage reads "Đại Bình Hưng Bảo" (大平興寶).}} || {{Vi-nom|太平興寶}}|| 970–979 || [[Đinh dynasty|Đinh]] ({{Vi-nom|丁}})  || [[Đinh Bộ Lĩnh|Đinh Tiên Hoàng]] ({{Vi-nom|丁先皇}})<br>[[Đinh Phế Đế]] ({{Vi-nom|丁廢帝}}) || [[File:Toda No. 1 太平興寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An36 Dinh Bo Linh Thai Binh (12537160424).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thiên Phúc Trấn Bảo || {{Vi-nom|天福鎮寶}}|| 986 || [[Early Lê dynasty|Early Lê]] ({{Vi-nom|前黎}}) || [[Lê Hoàn]] ({{Vi-nom|黎桓}}) || [[File:Toda No. 3 天福鎮寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An42 Tien Le Thien Phuc 1ar (13332606673).jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Gold (color)|Lê}} || {{Vi-nom|黎}}|| 986 || Early Lê ({{Vi-nom|前黎}}) || Lê Hoàn ({{Vi-nom|黎桓}}) || [[File:Toda No. 4 黎.gif|75px]] || None
|-
| Thuận Thiên Đại Bảo || {{Vi-nom|順天大寶}}|| 1010–1028 || [[Lý dynasty|Lý]] ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || [[Lý Thái Tổ]] ({{Vi-nom|李太祖}}) || [[File:Toda No. 5 順天大寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Thuận Thiên Đại Bảo (順天大寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 01.png|75px]] 
|-
| Càn Phù Nguyên Bảo || {{Vi-nom|乾符元寶}}|| 1039–1041 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || [[Lý Thái Tông]] ({{Vi-nom|李太宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 6 乾符元寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:CÀN PHÙ NGUYÊN BẢO 乾符元寶, Coins of Lý dynasty(1009-1225) at room 4 Ly Dynasty (11th - 13th c.) of the Museum of Vietnamese History.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Minh Đạo Nguyên Bảo ({{Vi-nom|中}}) || {{Vi-nom|明道元寶}}|| 1042–1043 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || Lý Thái Tông ({{Vi-nom|李太宗}}) || None || [[File:明道元寶, MINH ĐẠO NGUYÊN BẢO, Coins of Lý dynasty(1009-1225) at room 4 Ly Dynasty (11th - 13th c.) of the Museum of Vietnamese History.jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Green|Thiên Phù Thông Bảo}}{{efn|"Uncertain attribution".}} || {{Vi-nom|天符通寶}}|| 1120–1127 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || [[Lý Nhân Tông]] ({{Vi-nom|李仁宗}}) || None || [[File:天符通寶, Thiên Phù thông bảo, Coins of Lý dynasty(1009-1225) at room 4 Ly Dynasty (11th - 13th c.) of the Museum of Vietnamese History.jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Thiên Phù Nguyên Bảo}}{{efn|This cash coin is listed in Barker's Cash coins of Viet Nam but his example is a private issue of about 1580. No dynastic cash coin with this inscription is known to exist.}}
|| {{Vi-nom|天符元寶}}|| 1120–1127 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || Lý Nhân Tông ({{Vi-nom|李仁宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 7 天符元寶.gif|75px]] || None
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Đại Định Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|中}}) || {{Vi-nom|大定通寶}}|| 1140–1162 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || [[Lý Anh Tông]] ({{Vi-nom|李英宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 8 大定通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An50 Dai Dinh thong bao (15553890021).jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Gold (color)|Thiên Cảm Thông Bảo}} || {{Vi-nom|天感通寶}}|| 1044–1048 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || Lý Anh Tông ({{Vi-nom|李英宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 11 天感通寶.gif|75px]] || None
|-
| Thiên Cảm Nguyên Bảo || {{Vi-nom|天感元寶}}|| 1174–1175 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || Lý Anh Tông ({{Vi-nom|李英宗}}) || None || [[File:Thiên Cảm Nguyên Bảo (天感元寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 01.png|75px]] 
|-
| Chính Long Nguyên Bảo || {{Vi-nom|正隆元寶}}|| 1174–1175 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || Lý Anh Tông ({{Vi-nom|李英宗}}) || None || [[File:Chính Long Nguyên Bảo 正元隆寶, Coins of Lý dynasty(1009-1225) at room 4 Ly Dynasty (11th - 13th c.) of the Museum of Vietnamese History1.jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Orange|Thiên Tư Thông Bảo}} || {{Vi-nom|天資通寶}}|| 1202–1204 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || [[Lý Cao Tông]] ({{Vi-nom|李高宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 12 天資通寶.gif|75px]] || None
|-
| Thiên Tư Nguyên Bảo || {{Vi-nom|天資元寶}}|| 1202–1204 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || Lý Cao Tông ({{Vi-nom|李高宗}}) || None || [[File:Thiên Tư Nguyên Bảo (天資元寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 04.png|75px]] 
|-
| {{Orange|Trị Bình Thông Bảo}} ({{Vi-nom|中}}){{efn|This is a privately produced cash coin which was falsely attributed to the Lý dynasty by Eduardo Toda y Güell, many of them are actually from the 1500s -1800s}} || {{Vi-nom|治平通寶}}|| 1205–1210 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || Lý Cao Tông ({{Vi-nom|李高宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 13 治平通寶.gif|75px]] || None
|-
| Trị Bình Nguyên Bảo || {{Vi-nom|治平元寶}}|| 1205–1210 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || Lý Cao Tông ({{Vi-nom|李高宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 14 治平元寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Trị Bình Nguyên Báo 治平元寶, (Coins of Lý dynasty(1009-1225) at room 4 Ly Dynasty (11th - 13th c.) of the Museum of Vietnamese History3.jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Hàm Bình Nguyên Bảo}}<ref>Scott Seman's World Coins – [http://www.coincoin.com/seXV.htm VIETNAM CASH 970 AD — 1945]. Retrieved: 07 June 2018.</ref> ({{Vi-nom|中}}){{efn|This is a privately produced cash coin from the 1500s which has nothing to do with the Lý dynasty.}}
|| {{Vi-nom|咸平元寶}}|| 1205–1210 || Lý ({{Vi-nom|李}}) || Lý Cao Tông ({{Vi-nom|李高宗}}) || None || [[File:Hàm Bình Nguyên Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Kiến Trung Thông Bảo ({{Vi-nom|中}}) || {{Vi-nom|建中通寶}}|| 1225–1237 || [[Trần dynasty|Trần]] ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || [[Trần Thái Tông]] ({{Vi-nom|陳太宗}}) || None || [[File:Kiến Trung Thông Bảo (建中通寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 01.png|75px]] 
|-
| Trần Nguyên Thông Bảo || {{Vi-nom|陳元通寶}}|| 1225–1237 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || Trần Thái Tông ({{Vi-nom|陳太宗}}) || None || 
|-
| Chính Bình Thông Bảo || {{Vi-nom|政平通寶}}|| 1238–1350 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || Trần Thái Tông ({{Vi-nom|陳太宗}}) || None || 
|- 
| Nguyên Phong Thông Bảo ({{Vi-nom|中}}) || {{Vi-nom|元豐通寶}}|| 1251–1258 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || Trần Thái Tông ({{Vi-nom|陳太宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 16 元豐通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:An1 YuanFeng 1ar85 (9159514780).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thiệu Long Thông Bảo || {{Vi-nom|紹隆通寶}}|| 1258–1272 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || [[Trần Thánh Tông]] ({{Vi-nom|陳聖宗}}) || None || 
|-
| Hoàng Trần Thông Bảo || {{Vi-nom|皇陳通寶}}|| 1258–1278 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || Trần Thánh Tông ({{Vi-nom|陳聖宗}}) || None || 
|-
| Hoàng Trần Nguyên Bảo || {{Vi-nom|皇陳元寶}}|| 1258–1278 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || Trần Thánh Tông ({{Vi-nom|陳聖宗}}) || None || 
|-
| Khai Thái Nguyên Bảo || {{Vi-nom|開太元寶}}|| 1324–1329 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || [[Trần Minh Tông]] ({{Vi-nom|陳明宗}}) || None || 
|-
| Thiệu Phong Thông Bảo || {{Vi-nom|紹豐通寶}}|| 1341–1357 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || [[Trần Dụ Tông]] ({{Vi-nom|陳裕宗}}) || None || [[File:Thiệu Phong Thông Bảo (紹豐通寶) - Museum of Vietnamese History in Hồ Chí Minh City - Professor Gary Lee Todd.png|75px]] 
|-
| Thiệu Phong Bình Bảo || {{Vi-nom|紹豐平寶}}|| 1341–1357 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || Trần Dụ Tông ({{Vi-nom|陳裕宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 18 紹豐平寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thiệu Phong Nguyên Bảo || {{Vi-nom|紹豐元寶}}|| 1341–1357 || Trần ({{Vi-nom|陳}}) || Trần Dụ Tông ({{Vi-nom|陳裕宗}}) || [[File:Toda No. 20 紹豐元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Đại Trị Thông Bảo || 大治通寶 || 1358–1369 || Trần (陳) || Trần Dụ Tông (陳裕宗) || [[File:Toda No. 21 大治通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Đại Trị Thông Bảo - Scott Semans.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Đại Trị Nguyên Bảo || 大治元寶 || 1358–1369 || Trần (陳) || Trần Dụ Tông (陳裕宗) || [[File:Toda No. 23 大治元寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Coins of Tran Du Tong, 1341-1369 (9980584144) crop 2.jpg|75px]] 
|-
| Đại Trị Nguyên Bảo || 大治元寶 || 1358–1369 || Trần (陳) || Trần Dụ Tông (陳裕宗) || None || [[File:Coins of Tran Du Tong, 1341-1369 (9980584144) crop 1.jpg|75px]] 
|-
| Cảm Thiệu Nguyên Bảo || 感紹元寶 || 1368–1370 || Trần (陳) || [[Dương Nhật Lễ|Hôn Đức Công]] (昏德公) || [[File:Toda No. 24 感紹元寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Cảm Thiệu Nguyên Bảo || 感紹元宝 || 1368–1370 || Trần (陳) || Hôn Đức Công (昏德公) || [[File:Toda No. 25 感紹元宝.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Đại Định Thông Bảo (中) || 大定通寶 || 1368–1370 || Trần (陳) || Hôn Đức Công (昏德公) || None || 
|-
| Thiệu Khánh Thông Bảo || 紹慶通寶 || 1370–1372 || Trần (陳) || [[Trần Nghệ Tông]] (陳藝宗) || None || [[File:Thiệu Khánh Thông Bảo (紹慶通寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 01.png|75px]] 
|-
| Xương Phù Thông Bảo || 昌符通寶 || 1377–1388 || Trần (陳) || [[Trần Phế Đế]] (陳廢帝) || None || 
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Hi Nguyên Thông Bảo}}{{efn|This cash coin was privately produced and is considered to be falsely attributed to Nguyễn Hi Nguyên (阮熙元) by some scholars.}} || 熙元通寶 || 1381–1382 || None || Nguyễn Hi Nguyên (阮熙元) || [[File:Toda No. 26 熙元通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An48 rebelle Hi Nguyen (15030167319).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thiên Thánh Nguyên Bảo || 天聖元寶 || 1391–1392 || None || Sử Thiên Thánh (使天聖) || [[File:Toda No. 28 天聖元寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An2 PhamSuOn 1ar85 (10331064866).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thánh Nguyên Thông Bảo || 聖元通寶 || 1400 || [[Hồ dynasty|Hồ]] (胡) || [[Hồ Quý Ly]] (胡季犛) || [[File:Toda No. 30 聖元通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An49 dynastie Ho, Ho Quy Ly (15022224569).jpg|75px]]
|-
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Thiệu Nguyên Thông Bảo}}{{efn|These cash coins turned out to be a series of private coins similar to the official Hồ style.  However no such reign title existed under the reign of the Hồ dynasty.}} || 紹元通寶 || 1401–1402 || Hồ (胡) || [[Hồ Hán Thương]] (胡漢蒼) || [[File:Toda No. 271 紹元通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Thiệu Nguyên Thông Bảo (紹元通寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker - Obverse & Reverse.jpg|75px]] 
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Hán Nguyên Thông Bảo}} (中){{efn|These cash coins turned out to be privately produced issue from the early 1600s, they are reign title copies of Chinese cash coins but are listed in numismatic literature.}} || 漢元通寶 || 1401–1407 || Hồ (胡) || Hồ Hán Thương (胡漢蒼) || [[File:Toda No. 34 漢元通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An47 rebelle Ho Han Thuong (15216463182).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Hán Nguyên Thánh Bảo || 漢元聖寶 || 1401–1407 || Hồ (胡) || Hồ Hán Thương (胡漢蒼) || [[File:Toda No. 36 漢元聖寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Thiên Bình Thông Bảo}}{{efn| This cash coin turned out to be a Ming trade cash coin which was cast around the year 1590 at [[Quanzhou]], [[Fujian]].}} || 天平通寶  || 1405–1406 || None || Thiên Bình (天平) || [[File:Toda No. 37 天平通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| {{Orange|Vĩnh Ninh Thông Bảo}} || 永寧通寶 || 1420 || None || Lộc Bình Vương (羅平王) || [[File:Toda No. 38 永寧通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| {{Gold (color)|Giao Chỉ Thông Bảo}}{{efn|during the Chinese (Minh dynasty) occupation these coins were issued as payments to Chinese soldiers, Giao Chỉ Thông Bảo coins are poorly made from [[lead]] and sand.}} || 交趾通寶 || 1419 || [[Fourth Chinese domination of Vietnam|Minh]] (明) || [[Yongle Emperor|Vĩnh Lạc Emperor]] (永樂帝) || [[File:Toda No. 39 交趾通寶.gif|75px]] || None
|-
| Vĩnh Thiên Thông Bảo || 永天通寶 || 1420 || None || Lê Ngạ (黎餓) || None || [[File:Vĩnh Thiên Thông Bảo (永天通寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 01.png|75px]] 
|-
| Thiên Khánh Thông Bảo (中) || 天慶通寶 || 1426–1428 || [[Later Trần dynasty|Later Trần]] (後陳) || [[Trần Cảo (king)|Thiên Khánh Đế]] (天慶帝) || None || [[File:Thiên Khánh Thông Bảo (天慶通寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 04.png|75px]] 
|-
| {{Fuchsia|An Pháp Nguyên Bảo}} || 安法元寶 || [[Lam Sơn uprising|Rebellion]]{{efn|Coins issued during the Lam Sơn uprising were cast as payment for the anti-Chinese rebels.}} || [[Lê dynasty|Later Lê]] (後黎) || [[Lê Lợi]] (黎利) || [[File:Toda No. 41 安法元寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An5 AnPhap 1ar (10358117106).jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Chánh Pháp Nguyên Bảo}}{{efn|This cash coin was attributed to Lê Lợi (黎利) by Eduardo Toda y Güell, but later turned out to be private issue from about 1600.}} || 正法元寶  || Rebellion || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Lợi (黎利) || [[File:Toda No. 44 正法元寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Trị Thánh Nguyên Bảo}}{{efn|This cash coin was attributed to Lê Lợi (黎利) by Eduardo Toda y Güell, but later turned out to be private issue produced between the years 1750 and 1850.}}|| 治聖元寶 || Rebellion || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Lợi (黎利) || [[File:Toda No. 45 治聖元寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Trị Thánh Bình Bảo}}{{efn|This cash coin was attributed to Lê Lợi (黎利) by Eduardo Toda y Güell, but later turned out to be private issue produced after the year 1600.}} || 治聖平寶 || Rebellion || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Lợi (黎利) || [[File:Toda No. 46 治聖平寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Trị Thánh Bình Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| {{Gold (color)|Thái Pháp Bình Bảo}} || 太法平寶 || Rebellion || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Lợi (黎利) || [[File:Toda No. 49 太法平寶.gif|75px]] || None
|-
| {{Fuchsia|Thánh Quan Thông Bảo}}{{efn|This cash coin turned out to be a rare private cash coin made during a brief Trần restoration in the early 1500s. Unlike what Toda claimed it is not made from tin and lead, but a hard white bronze composition.}} || 聖宮通寶 || Rebellion || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Lợi (黎利) || [[File:Toda No. 50 聖宮通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Thuận Thiên Thông Bảo || 順天通寶 || 1428–1433 || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Thái Tổ (黎太祖) || None || 
|-
| Thuận Thiên Nguyên Bảo (中) || 順天元寶 || 1428–1433 || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Thái Tổ (黎太祖) || [[File:Toda No. 51 順天元寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An45 LeLoi ThaiTo ThuanThien (15154198832).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thiệu Bình Thông Bảo || 紹平通寶 || 1434–1440 || Later Lê (後黎) || [[Lê Thái Tông]] (黎太宗) || [[File:Toda No. 52 紹平通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Thiệu Bình Thông Bảo (紹平通寶) - Scott Semans 02.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Đại Bảo Thông Bảo || 大寶通寶 || 1440–1442 || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Thái Tông (黎太宗) || [[File:Toda No. 53 大寶通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Đại Bảo Thông Bảo (大寶通寶) - Scott Semans 03.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thái Hòa Thông Bảo{{efn|Despite bearing the reign title "Thái Hòa Thông Bảo" all coins actually bear the inscription "Đại Hòa Thông Bảo" (大和通寶).}} || 太和通寶 || 1443–1453 || Later Lê (後黎) || [[Lê Nhân Tông]] (黎仁宗) || [[File:Toda No. 54 太和通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An10 Le Nhan Tong Dai Hoa 1ar (12031969476).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Diên Ninh Thông Bảo || 延寧通寶 || 1454–1459 || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Nhân Tông (黎仁宗) || [[File:Toda No. 56 延寧通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An9 Le Nhan Tong Dien Ninh 1ar (12030823993).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thiên Hưng Thông Bảo || 天興通寶 || 1459–1460 || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Nghi Dân (黎宜民) || [[File:Toda No. 163 天興通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Thiên Hưng Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Quang Thuận Thông Bảo || 光順通寶 || 1460–1469 || Later Lê (後黎) || [[Lê Thánh Tông]] (黎聖宗) || [[File:Toda No. 57 光順通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An11 Le Thanh Tong Quang Thuan 1ar (12053280435).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Hồng Đức Thông Bảo || 洪德通寶 || 1470–1497 || Later Lê (後黎) || Lê Thánh Tông (黎聖宗) || [[File:Toda No. 58 洪德通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An12 Le Thanh Tong Hong Duc 1ar (12105001446).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Thống Thông Bảo || 景統通寶 || 1497–1504 || Later Lê (後黎) || [[Lê Hiến Tông]] (黎憲宗) || [[File:Toda No. 59 景統通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An13 Le Hien Tong Canh Thong 1ar (12120561545).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Đoan Khánh Thông Bảo || 端慶通寶 || 1505–1509 || Later Lê (後黎) || [[Lê Uy Mục]] (黎威穆) || [[File:Toda No. 60 端慶通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Đoan Khánh Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Giao Trị Thông Bảo || 交治通寶 || 1509 || None || Cẩm Giang Vương (錦江王) || [[File:Toda No. 164 交治通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Thái Bình Thông Bảo || 太平通寶 || 1509 || None || Cẩm Giang Vương (錦江王) || [[File:Toda No. 165 太平通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Thái Bình Thánh Bảo || 太平聖寶 || 1509 || None || Cẩm Giang Vương (錦江王) || [[File:Toda No. 166 太平聖寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Hồng Thuận Thông Bảo || 洪順通寶 || 1510–1516 || Later Lê (後黎) || [[Lê Tương Dực]] (黎襄翼) || [[File:Toda No. 61 洪順通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An15 Le Tuong Duc De 1ar (12136352264).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Trần Công Tân Bảo || 陳公新寶 || 1511–1512 || None || Trần Tuân (陳珣) or Trần Công Ninh (陳公寧) || [[File:Toda No. 167 陳新公寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Trần Công Tân Bảo (陳公新寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 04.png|75px]] 
|-
| {{Green|Quang Thiệu Thông Bảo}} || 光紹通寶 || 1516–1522 || Later Lê (後黎) || [[Lê Chiêu Tông]] (黎昭宗) || [[File:Toda No. 62 光紹通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An53 Chieu Tong Quang Thieu (15979672256).jpg|75px]]
|- 
| Thiên Ứng Thông Bảo || 天應通寶 || [[Trần Cao rebellion|1516–1521]] || None || [[Trần Cao]] (陳暠) || [[File:Toda No. 168 天應通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An44 TranCao ThienKhanh 1ar (14111075570).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Phật Pháp Tăng Bảo || 佛法僧寶 || 1516–1521 || None || Trần Cao (陳暠) || None || 
|-
| Tuyên Hựu Hòa Bảo || 宣祐和寶 || 1516–1521 || None || Trần Cao (陳暠) || None || 
|-
| Thống Nguyên Thông Bảo || 統元通寶 ||1522–1527 || Later Lê (後黎) || [[Lê Cung Hoàng]] (黎恭皇) || [[File:Toda No. 63 統元通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Minh Đức Thông Bảo || 明德通寶 || 1527–1530 || [[Mạc dynasty|Mạc]] (莫) || [[Mạc Đăng Dung|Mạc Thái Tổ]] (莫太祖) || [[File:Toda No. 171 明德通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Minh Đức Thông Bảo (明德通寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 01.png|75px]] 
|-
| Minh Đức Nguyên Bảo || 明德元寶 || 1527–1530 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Thái Tổ (莫太祖) || [[File:Toda No. 170 明德元寶.gif|75px]] || 
|- 
| {{Green|Đại Chính Thông Bảo}} || 大正通寶 || 1530–1540 || Mạc (莫) || [[Mạc Thái Tông]] (莫太宗) || [[File:Toda No. 172 大正通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Đại Chính Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Quang Thiệu Thông Bảo || 光紹通寶 || 1531–1532 || None || Quang Thiệu Emperor (光紹帝) || [[File:Toda No. 169 光紹通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| {{Green|Nguyên Hòa Thông Bảo}} || 元和通寶 || 1533–1548 || [[Revival Lê dynasty|Revival Lê]] (黎中興) || [[Lê Trang Tông]] (黎莊宗) || [[File:Toda No. 64 元和通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Nguyên Hòa Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Quảng Hòa Thông Bảo || 廣和通寶 || 1541–1546 || Mạc (莫) || [[Mạc Hiến Tông]] (莫憲宗) || [[File:Toda No. 173 廣和通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Quảng Hòa Thông Bảo (廣和通寶) - Scott Semans.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Vĩnh Định Thông Bảo || 永定通寶 || 1547 || Mạc (莫) || [[Mạc Tuyên Tông]] (莫宣宗) || [[File:Toda No. 175 永定通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Vĩnh Định Chí Bảo || 永定之寶 || 1547 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Tuyên Tông (莫宣宗) || [[File:Toda No. 176 永定之寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Quang Bảo Thông Bảo || 光寶通寶 || 1554–1561 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Tuyên Tông (莫宣宗) || None || [[File:Quang Bảo Thông Bảo (光寶通寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 01.png|75px]] 
|-
| {{Green|Thái Bình Thông Bảo}} (中) || 太平通寶 || 1558–1613 || [[Nguyễn lords]] (阮主) || [[Nguyễn Hoàng]] (阮潢) || None || [[File:Thái Bình Thông Bảo (太平通寶) - Nguyễn lords issue - Scott Semans 03.jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Green|Thái Bình Phong Bảo}} || 太平豐寶 || 1558–1613 || Nguyễn lords (阮主) || Nguyễn Hoàng (阮潢) || None || 
|-
| {{Green|Bình An Thông Bảo}} || 平安通寶 || 1572–1623 || [[Trịnh lords]] (鄭主) || [[Trịnh Tùng]] (鄭松) || None || 
|-
| {{Green|Gia Thái Thông Bảo}} (中)<ref>Charms.ru [http://charm.ru/library/vh.htm Timeline and imperial coinage of Vietnam.] Thuan D. Luc, and Vladimir A. Belyaev Published: 26 September 1998. Last updates: 29-April-2004. Retrieved: 24 June 2017.</ref> || 嘉泰通寶 || 1573–1599 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || [[Lê Thế Tông]] (黎世宗) || None || [[File:Gia Thái Thông Bảo (嘉泰通寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 01.png|75px]] 
|-
| Càn Thống Nguyên Bảo || 乾統元寶 || 1593–1625 || Mạc (莫){{efn|From this point onwards the monarchs of the Mạc dynasty were only in control of the [[Cao Bằng Province]], which they had declared as an independent country for 75 years.}} || Mạc Kính Cung (莫敬恭) || None || 
|-
| An Pháp Nguyên Bảo || 安法元寶 || 1593–1625 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Kính Cung (莫敬恭) || None || [[File:An Pháp Nguyên Bảo - Scott Semans (cropped brass version).png|75px]]
|-
| Thái Bình Thông Bảo (中) || 太平通寶 || 1593–1625 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Kính Cung (莫敬恭) || None || [[File:An19 Thai Binh thong bao 1ar (12152893076).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thái Bình Thánh Bảo || 太平聖寶 || 1593–1625 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Kính Cung (莫敬恭) || None || [[File:An18 Thai Binh thanh bao 1ar (12152211033).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thái Bình Pháp Bảo || 太平法寶 || 1593–1625 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Kính Cung (莫敬恭)<ref>Nghệ Thuật Xưa [https://nghethuatxua.com/tien-te-thoi-nha-mac/ Tiền tệ thời Nhà Mạc.] (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]) Published: 13 February 2016. Retrieved: 24 June 2017.</ref><ref>Travel is easier with Linh [https://withlinh.com/ti%e1%bb%81n-vn/giai-do%e1%ba%a1n-phong-ki%e1%ba%bfn-968-1945/nha-m%e1%ba%a1c/ Nhà Mạc (chữ Hán: 莫朝 – Mạc triều).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228041228/https://withlinh.com/ti%e1%bb%81n-vn/giai-do%e1%ba%a1n-phong-ki%e1%ba%bfn-968-1945/nha-m%e1%ba%a1c/ |date=2018-02-28 }} (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]) Xin visa du lịch – Đặt phòng & vé máy bay – Hỗ trợ 24/7 Retrieved: 24 June 2017.</ref> || None || 
|-
| Khai Kiến Thông Bảo || 開建通寶 || 1593–1625 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Kính Cung (莫敬恭) || [[File:Toda No. 259 開建通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Sùng Minh Thông Bảo || 崇明通寶 || 1593–1625 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Kính Cung (莫敬恭) || [[File:Toda No. 260 崇明通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Chính Nguyên Thông Bảo || 正元通寶 || 1593–1625 || Mạc (莫) || Mạc Kính Cung (莫敬恭) || None || [[File:Chính Nguyên Thông Bảo - Scott Semans.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Vĩnh Thọ Thông Bảo || 永壽通寶 || 1658–1661 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || [[Lê Thần Tông]] (黎神宗) || [[File:Toda No. 66 永壽通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An20 Le Than Tong Vinh Tho 1ar (12174677043).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Tường Phù Nguyên Bảo{{efn|The "Tường Phù Nguyên Bảo" (祥符元寶), "Trị Bình Thông Bảo" (治平通寶), and "Trị Bình Nguyên Bảo" (治平元寶) were Japanese trade coins minted in [[Nagasaki]] for trade with Vietnam and [[the Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/roberts/coins/Nagasakiexport.html |title= Nagasaki export coins.|date=24 October 2003|access-date=24 June 2017|work= Luke Roberts at the [[University of California, Santa Barbara|Department of History – University of California at Santa Barbara]] |language=en}}</ref> In Vietnam they were imported by the Nguyễn lords.<ref>Charms.ru [http://www.charm.ru/coins/vn/nagasaki.shtml Japan early trade coin and the commercial trade between Vietnam and Japan in the 17th century.] 
Thuan Luc, May 1999. Retrieved: 24 June 2017.</ref>
}} (中) || 祥符元寶 || 1659–1685 || [[Tokugawa clan|Đức Xuyên]] (徳川) || [[Tokugawa Ietsuna|Đức Xuyên Gia Cương]] (徳川 家綱) || None || [[File:Nagasaki-shohugenpo-reisho.jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Orange|Trị Bình Thông Bảo}} (中) || 治平通寶 || 1659–1685 || Đức Xuyên (徳川) || Đức Xuyên Gia Cương (徳川 家綱) || None || None
|-
| Trị Bình Nguyên Bảo (中)<ref>Chinese Coins (1268 coins from all Chinese dynasties.) – [http://lyq.dk/korea-japan-vietnam/ Korea, Japan, Vietnam] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709011325/http://lyq.dk/korea-japan-vietnam/ |date=2018-07-09 }} by Lars Bo Christensen (Ancient Chinese Coins). Retrieved: 09 July 2018.</ref> || 治平元寶 || 1659–1685 || Đức Xuyên (徳川) || Đức Xuyên Gia Cương (徳川 家綱) || None || 
|-
| Nguyên Phong Thông Bảo (中) || 元豊通寳 || 1659–1685 || Đức Xuyên (徳川) || Đức Xuyên Gia Cương (徳川 家綱) || None || [[File:Nagasaki-genpotsuho-reisho.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Hi Ninh Nguyên Bảo (中) || 熈寧元寳 || 1659–1685 || Đức Xuyên (徳川) || Đức Xuyên Gia Cương (徳川 家綱) || None || [[File:Nagasaki-kineigenpo-tensho.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thiệu Thánh Nguyên Bảo (中) || 紹聖元寳 || 1659–1685 || Đức Xuyên (徳川) || Đức Xuyên Gia Cương (徳川 家綱) || None || [[File:Nagasaki-shoseigenpo-tensho.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Gia Hựu Thông Bảo (中) || 嘉祐通寳 || 1659–1685 || Đức Xuyên (徳川) || Đức Xuyên Gia Cương (徳川 家綱) || None || [[File:Nagasaki-kayutsuho-reisho.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Vĩnh Trị Thông Bảo || 永治通寶 || 1678–1680 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || [[Lê Hi Tông]] (黎熙宗) || [[File:Toda No. 69 永治通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Vĩnh Trị Nguyên Bảo || 永治元寶 || 1678–1680 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hi Tông (黎熙宗) || None || 
|-
| Vĩnh Trị Chí Bảo || 永治至寶 || 1678–1680 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hi Tông (黎熙宗) || None || 
|-
| Chính Hòa Thông Bảo || 正和通寶 || 1680–1705 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hi Tông (黎熙宗) || [[File:Toda No. 70 正和通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Chính Hòa Thông Bảo - Scott Semans 02.png|75px]]
|-
| Chính Hòa Nguyên Bảo || 正和元寶 || 1680–1705 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hi Tông (黎熙宗) || None || 
|-
| Vĩnh Thịnh Thông Bảo || 永聖通寶 || 1706–1719 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || [[Lê Dụ Tông]] (黎裕宗) || [[File:Toda No. 73 永聖通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An21 Le Du Tong Vinh Thinh 1ar (12174865245).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Bảo Thái Thông Bảo || 保泰通寶 || 1720–1729 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Dụ Tông (黎裕宗) || [[File:Toda No. 74 保泰通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An46 TienLe DuTong (15131656996).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thiên Minh Thông Bảo || 天明通寶 || 1738–1765 || Nguyễn lords (阮主)  || [[Nguyễn Phúc Khoát]] (阮福濶) || [[File:Toda No. 285 天明通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Thiên Minh Thông Bảo (天明通寶) - Scott Semans 02.jpg|75px]]
|- 
| Ninh Dân Thông Bảo<ref>Zeno.ru (The Zeno Oriental Coinage Database) [https://www.zeno.ru/showgallery.php?cat=11933 Ninh Xá 寧舍 Rebellion 1739-1741] (Home » SOUTHEAST ASIA » Cash coins » Vietnam cash » Official and semi-official coins » Ninh Xá 寧舍 Rebellion 1739–1741). Retrieved: 22 April 2018.</ref><ref>Miura Gosen (Miura Gosen 三浦吾泉, Annan senpu 安南錢譜, 3 vol. Tokyo 1965–1971, Terui, p. 93-3). (in Japanese)</ref><ref>Nguyễn Phan Quang, « Khởi nghĩa Nguyễn Tuyển, Nguyễn Cừ », Nghiên Cứu Lịch Sử 1984-6 (219), pp. 56-67/82. (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]])</ref><ref>François Thierry, « Les monnaies Ninh Dân thông bảo », Bulletin de la Société Française de Numismatique, No 10, décembre 2010, pp. 285-288. Coin of the French National Library Collection (see François Thierry, Catalogue des monnaies vietnamiennes, Bibliothèque nationale, Paris 1988, n° 1136). (in French)</ref> || 寧民通宝{{efn|The character "{{linktext|宝}}" is an abbreviated version of "{{linktext|寶}}" commonly found in [[Semi-cursive script]]. Note from [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]'s ''Annam and its minor currency'' where the coin was described of being "of doubtful origin" but has been identified since.}} || 1739–1741 || None || Nguyễn Tuyển (阮選),<br> Nguyễn Cừ (阮蘧), and<br>Nguyễn Diên (阮筵){{efn|The leaders of the Ninh Xá rebellion Nguyễn Tuyển and Nguyễn Cừ were brothers while Nguyễn Diên was their nephew.}} || [[File:Toda No. 246 寧民通宝.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Thông Bảo || 景興通寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || [[Lê Hiển Tông]] (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 142 景興通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An43 Le Hien Tong Canh Hung dragon 1ar (13360406495).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Thông Bảo<ref>Numista [https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces99272.html Canh Hung Thong Bao] Country Vietnam – Empire (Lê dynasty – Vietnam). Quote: "The 25th King – LE HIEN TONG 1740–1786 ascended the throne, and during his reign a larger quantity of cash were cast than during that of any former king. This is one of them." Retrieved: 09 June 2018.</ref> || 景興通宝 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 100 景興通宝.gif|75px]] || [[File:An25 Le Hien Tong Canh Hung 1ar (12266059635).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Trung Bảo || 景興中寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 125 景興中寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Trung Bảo<ref>Numista [https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces99293.html Canh Hung Trung Bao] Country Vietnam – Empire (Lê dynasty – Vietnam). Quote: "The 25th King – LE HIEN TONG 1740–1786 ascended the throne, and during his reign a larger quantity of cash were cast than during that of any former king. This is one of them." Retrieved: 09 June 2018.</ref> || 景興中宝 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 126 景興中宝.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Chí Bảo<ref>Numista [https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces99295.html Canh Hung Tri Bao] Country Vietnam – Empire (Lê dynasty – Vietnam). Quote: "The 25th King – LE HIEN TONG 1740–1786 ascended the throne, and during his reign a larger quantity of cash were cast than during that of any former king. This is one of them." Retrieved: 09 June 2018.</ref> || 景興至寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 129 景興至寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Cảnh Hưng Chí Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Vĩnh Bảo || 景興永寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 116 景興永寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Cảnh Hưng Vĩnh Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Đại Bảo || 景興大寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 118 景興大寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An29 Le Hien Tong Canh Hung dai bao 1ar (12268140945).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Thái Bảo || 景興太寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 120 景興太寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Cảnh Hưng Thái Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Cự Bảo<ref>Numista [https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces64872.html 1 Văn - Cảnh Hưng Cự Bảo] Country Vietnam – Empire (Lê dynasty – Vietnam). Quote: "The 25th King – LE HIEN TONG 1740–1786 ascended the throne, and during his reign a larger quantity of cash were cast than during that of any former king. This is one of them." Retrieved: 09 June 2018.</ref> || 景興巨寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 115 景興巨寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An22 Le Hien Tong Canh Hung Cubao 1ar (12253524053).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Cự Bảo || 景興巨宝 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 112 景興巨宝.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Trọng Bảo || 景興重寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 121 景興重寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Cảnh Hưng Trọng Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Tuyền Bảo || 景興泉寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 123 景興泉寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Cảnh Hưng Tuyền Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 03.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Thuận Bảo || 景興順寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 122 景興順寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An24 Le Hien Tong Canh Hung Thuan Hoa 1ar (12265854823).jpg|75px]]
|- 
| Cảnh Hưng Nội Bảo || 景興內寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 127 景興內寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Nội Bảo || 景興內宝 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 128 景興內宝.gif|75px]] || [[File:Cảnh Hưng Nội Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Dụng Bảo || 景興用寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 119 景興用寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| {{Green|Cảnh Hưng Dụng Bảo}}<ref>Charm.ru [http://www.charm.ru/library/canhhung.htm Vietnamese Coin Canh Hung Dung Bao] by Vladimir Belyaev. Published: October 04, 1998. Retrieved: 29 March 2018.</ref> || 景興踊寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || None || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Lai Bảo || 景興來寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || None || 
|- 
| Cảnh Hưng Thận Bảo || 景興慎寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || None || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Thọ Trường || 景興壽長 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || None || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Chính Bảo<ref>Numista [https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces99286.html Canh Hung Chinh Bao] Country Vietnam – Empire (Lê dynasty – Vietnam). Quote: "The 25th King – LE HIEN TONG 1740–1786 ascended the throne, and during his reign a larger quantity of cash were cast than during that of any former king. This is one of them." Retrieved: 09 June 2018.</ref> || 景興正寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 117 景興正寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Cảnh Hưng Chính Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Anh Bảo || 景興英寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || None || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Tống Bảo || 景興宋寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 124 景興宋寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Thông Dụng || 景興通用 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || [[File:Toda No. 135 景興通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Cảnh Hưng Lợi Bảo<ref>N Ô M · S T U D I E S (A research project in the Vietnamese Nôm cultural heritage) [http://www.cla.temple.edu/vietnamese_center/nomstudies/vietnamese_currency.html Vietnamese Currency (Draft)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708050647/http://www.cla.temple.edu/vietnamese_center/nomstudies/vietnamese_currency.html |date=2015-07-08 }}. Adapted from Niên biểu Việt Nam "Vietnamese Chronology" by Office of Preservation and Museology, Hanoi: Social Sciences Publishing House, 3rd edition. 1984. Pp. 133–50. Retrieved: 07 June 2018.</ref> || 景興利寶 || 1740–1786 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || Lê Hiển Tông (黎顯宗) || None ||
|-
| Thái Đức Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=211}} || 泰德通寶 || 1778–1788 || [[Tây Sơn dynasty|Tây Sơn]] (西山) || [[Nguyễn Nhạc|Thái Đức]] (泰德) || [[File:Toda No. 180 泰德通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:An33 Tay Son Tay Duc Van Thue 1ar (12388573404).jpg|75px]]
|-
| {{Green|Nam Vương Thông Bảo}} || 南王通寶 || 1782–1786 || Trịnh lords (鄭主) || [[Trịnh Khải]] (鄭楷) || None || 
|-
| {{Green|Nam Vương Cự Bảo}} || 南王巨寶 || 1782–1786 || Trịnh lords (鄭主)  || Trịnh Khải (鄭楷) || None || [[File:Nam Vương Cự Bảo (南王巨寶) - Trịnh Lords (主鄭) - 2,36 grams - Dr. R. Allan Barker - Obverse & Reverse.png|75px]] 
|-
| Minh Đức Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=212}} || 明德通寶 || 1787 || Tây Sơn (西山) || Thái Đức (泰德) || None || 
|-
| Chiêu Thống Thông Bảo || 昭統通寶 || 1787–1789 || Revival Lê (黎中興) || [[Lê Chiêu Thống|Lê Mẫn Đế]] (黎愍帝) || [[File:Toda No. 162 昭統通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Chieu Thong Thong Bao.JPG|75px]]
|-
| Quang Trung Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=214}} || 光中通寶 || 1788–1792 || Tây Sơn (西山) || [[Nguyễn Huệ|Quang Trung]] (光中) || [[File:Toda No. 194 光中通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Quang Trung Thong Bao.png|75px]]
|-
| Quang Trung Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=214}} || 光中通宝 || 1788–1792 || Tây Sơn (西山) || Quang Trung (光中) || [[File:Toda No. 186 光中通宝.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Quang Trung Đại Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=220}} || 光中大宝 || 1788–1792 || Tây Sơn (西山) || Quang Trung (光中) || [[File:Toda No. 188 光中大宝.png|75px]] || [[File:Quang Trung dai bao.png|75px]]
|-
| Càn Long Thông Bảo<br>An Nam{{efn|Cast as payments for Chinese soldiers stationed in Vietnam during the [[Battle of Ngọc Hồi-Đống Đa]].}} (中)<ref name="TransAsiart-Qianlong-Tongbao-Annan">{{cite web|url= http://www.transasiart.com/Numismatique/numismatique_vietnam/letrunghung/nvnlth06b.htm|title= Monnaies de l'occupation chinoise (1788-1789) - Qian Long tongbao 乾隆通寶 coins of the Chinese occupation (1788-1789).|date=14 September 2015|access-date=27 April 2020|author= [[François Thierry (numismatist)|François Thierry de Crussol]] (蒂埃里)|publisher= TransAsiart|language=fr}}</ref>{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=224}} || 乾隆通寶<br>安南 || 1788–1789 || [[Qing dynasty|Thanh]] (清) || [[Qianlong Emperor|Càn Long Emperor]] (乾隆帝) || [[File:Toda No. 212 乾隆通寶 - 安南.gif|75px]] || [[File:Qianlong Tongbao. Annan.jpg|75px]]
|- 
| {{Green|Gia Hưng Thông Bảo}}<ref name="Tiền-và-hoạt-động-tiền-tệ-tại-Việt-Nam-trước-năm-1945-Kỳ-1"/> || 嘉興通寶 || 1796–1802 || [[Gia Long#Consolidation of southern Vietnam|Nguyễn lords]] (阮主) || [[Nguyễn Phúc Ánh]] (阮福暎) || None || 
|- 
| Cảnh Thịnh Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=221}} || 景盛通寶 || 1793–1801 || Tây Sơn (西山) || [[Nguyễn Quang Toản|Cảnh Thịnh]] (景盛) || [[File:Toda No. 205 景盛通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Canh Thinh thong bao.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Thịnh Đại Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=223}} || 景盛大寶 || 1793–1801 || Tây Sơn (西山) || Cảnh Thịnh (景盛) || None || [[File:An39 Tay Son Quang Toan Canh Thinh 1ar (12698446333).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Bảo Hưng Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=223}} || 寶興通寶 || 1801–1802 || Tây Sơn (西山) || Cảnh Thịnh (景盛) || [[File:Toda No. 211 寶興通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Bảo Hưng Thông Bảo (寶興通寶) - Scott Semans 03.jpg|75px]] 
|- 
| Gia Long Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=225}} || 嘉隆通寶 || 1802–1820 || [[Nguyễn dynasty|Nguyễn]] (阮) || [[Gia Long]] (嘉隆) || [[File:Toda No. 224 嘉隆通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:7van GiaLong 2tien 38ar85 (8563825101).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Gia Long Cự Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=227}} || 嘉隆巨寶 || 1802–1820 || Nguyễn (阮) || Gia Long (嘉隆) || None || 
|-
| Minh Mạng Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=227}} || 明命通寶 || 1820–1841 || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Minh Mạng]] (明命) || [[File:Toda No. 227 明命通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:6van MinhMang zinc 32ar85 (8565985992).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Trị Nguyên Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=249}} || 治元通寶 || 1831–1834 || None || [[Lê Văn Khôi]] (黎文𠐤) || [[File:Toda No. 240 治元通寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:Trị Nguyên Thông Bảo (治元通寶) - Scott Semans 01.jpg|75px]]
|-
| Trị Bình Thông Bảo (中){{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=250}} || 治平通寶|| 1831–1834 || None || Lê Văn Khôi (黎文𠐤) || [[File:Toda No. 288 治平通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Nguyên Long Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=250}} || 元隆通寶 || 1833–1835 || None || [[Nông Văn Vân]] (農文雲) || [[File:Toda No. 243 元隆通寶.gif|75px]] || 
|-
| Thiệu Trị Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=233}} || 紹治通寶 || 1841–1847 || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Thiệu Trị]] (紹治) || [[File:Toda No. 229 紹治通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:9van ThieuTri C141 4ar85 (8575317600).jpg|75px]]
|-
| [[Tự Đức Thông Bảo]]{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=236}} || 嗣德通寶 || 1847–1883 || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Tự Đức]] (嗣德) || [[File:Toda No. 234 嗣德通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:6van TuDuc C2012 1ar85 (8560716125).jpg|75px]]
|-
| [[Tự Đức Bảo Sao]] || 嗣德寶鈔 || 1861–1883 || Nguyễn (阮) || Tự Đức (嗣德) || [[File:Toda No. 236 嗣德寶鈔.png|75px]] || [[File:Annam TuDuc monnaiebillet 60van 2ar85 (8547268957).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Kiến Phúc Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=238}} || 建福通寶 || 1883–1884 || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Kiến Phúc]] (建福) || None || [[File:Kiến Phúc Thông Bảo (建福通寳) Art-Hanoi 02.gif|75px]] 
|-
| Hàm Nghi Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=239}} || 咸宜通寶 || 1884–1885 || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Hàm Nghi]] (咸宜) || None || [[File:Hàm Nghi Thông Bảo (咸宜通寶) - Lục Văn (六文) 04.png|75px]]
|-
| Đồng Khánh Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=240}} || 同慶通寶 || 1885–1888 || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Đồng Khánh]] (同慶) || None || [[File:同慶通寶 Dong-Khanh-Thong-Bao.gif|75px]]
|-
| Thành Thái Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=241}} || 成泰通寶 || 1888–1907 || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Thành Thái]] (成泰) || None || [[File:1tien ThanhThai Y2 1ar85 (8560709631).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Duy Tân Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=244}} || 維新通寶 || 1907–1916 || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Duy Tân]] (維新) || None || [[File:1tien DuyTan Y3 1ar85 (8560702713).jpg|75px]]
|-
| [[Khải Định Thông Bảo]]{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=245}} || 啓定通寶 || 1916–1925 || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Khải Định]] (啓定) || None || [[File:KhaiDinh Y51 1ar85 (8560731419).jpg|75px]]
|- 
| [[Bảo Đại Thông Bảo]]{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=246}} || 保大通寶 || 1926–1945{{efn|The production of these coins probably lasted into 1941 or 1942 because the occupying Japanese forces wanted the copper and were acquiring all of the cash coins they could find and stockpiling them in [[Haiphong]] for shipment to Japan for the production of war materials.<ref>French Southeast Asia Coins & Currency by Howard A. Daniel III (page 97).</ref>}} || Nguyễn (阮) || [[Bảo Đại]] (保大) || None || [[File:Bao-Dai-Thong-Bao.gif|75px]] 
|}

=== Unidentified Vietnamese coins from 1600 and later ===

At various times many rebel leaders proclaimed themselves as lords ({{linktext|主}}), kings ({{linktext|王}}), and emperors ({{linktext|帝}}), and had produced their own coinage with their reign names and titles on them, but as their rebellions would prove unsuccessful or brief, their reigns and titles would go unrecorded in Vietnamese history. Therefore, coins produced by their rebellions cannot easily be classified. Coins were also often privately cast and these coins were sometimes of high quality or well-made imitations of imperial coinage, though often they would bear the same inscriptions as already circulating coinage and sometimes they would have "newly invented" inscriptions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/roberts/coins/Annamprivate.html|title=Vietnam (Annam) Privately Minted Coins.|date=24 October 2003|access-date=26 June 2017|work= Luke Roberts at the [[University of California, Santa Barbara|Department of History – University of California at Santa Barbara]] |language=en}}</ref> The [[Nguyễn lords]] that ruled over [[Southern Vietnam]] had also produced their own coinage at various times as they were the ''de facto'' kings of the South, but as their rule was unofficial, it is currently unknown which coins can be attributed to which Nguyễn lord. Since Edouard Toda made his list in 1882, several of the coins that he had described as "originating from the [[Quảng Nam]] province" have been ascribed to the Nguyễn lords that the numismatists of his time could not identify. During the rule of the Nguyễn lords, many foundries for private mintage were also opened and many of these coins bear the same inscriptions as government-cast coinage or even bear newly invented inscriptions, making it hard to attribute these coins.<ref>Charms.ru [http://www.charm.ru/coins/vn/ch-vn.shtml Coincidences of Vietnam and China cash coins legends.] Francis Ng, [[People's Republic of China]], Thuan D. Luc, United States, and Vladimir A. Belyaev, Russia March–June, 1999 Retrieved: 17 June 2017.</ref>

The following list contains Vietnamese cash coins whose origins cannot be (currently) established:

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Inscription<br>([[chữ Quốc ngữ]]) !! Inscription<br>([[chữ Hán]]) !! Notes !! [[Eduardo Toda y Güell|Toda]] image !! Image
|-
| Thiệu Thánh Nguyên Bảo || 紹聖元寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 245 紹聖元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Minh Định Tống Bảo || 明定宋寶 || "Tống Bảo" ({{linktext|宋|寶}}) is written in [[Seal script]]. || [[File:Toda No. 247 明定宋寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Minh Định Tống Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Nguyên Thông Bảo || 景元通寶 || Appears in both [[Regular script]], and Seal script. || [[File:Toda No. 248 景元通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:An52 Canh Nguyen Toda 248 (15819482067).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thánh Tống Nguyên Bảo || 聖宋元寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 250 聖宋元寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Thánh Tống Nguyên Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Càn Nguyên Thông Bảo || 乾元通寶 || Produced in the upper parts of [[Northern Vietnam]]. || [[File:Toda No. 251 乾元通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Phúc Bình Nguyên Bảo || 福平元寶 || Written in Seal script. || [[File:Toda No. 252 福平元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thiệt Quý Thông Bảo || 邵癸通寶 || Written in both Running hand and Seal script. || [[File:Toda No. 253 邵癸通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Dương Nguyên Thông Bảo || 洋元通寶 || Appear in multiple sizes. || [[File:Toda No. 254 洋元通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Dương Nguyên Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Thiệu Phù Nguyên Bảo || 紹符元寶 || Written in Seal script. || [[File:Toda No. 256 紹符元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Nguyên Phù Thông Bảo || 元符通寶 || Written in Seal script. || [[File:Toda No. 257 元符通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Nguyên Phù Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Đại Cung Thánh Bảo || 大工聖寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 258 大工聖寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Đại Hòa Thông Bảo || 大和通寶 || The reverse is rimless. || [[File:Toda No. 261 大和通寶.png|75px]] || [[File:Đại Hòa Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Cảnh Thì Thông Bảo || 景底通寶 || The "{{linktext|底}}" closely resembles a "{{linktext|辰}}" || [[File:Toda No. 262 景底通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thiên Nguyên Thông Bảo || 天元通寶 || A variant exists where the "{{linktext|元}}" is written in Seal script. || [[File:Toda No. 263 天元通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Nguyên Trị Thông Bảo || 元治通寶 || The characters "{{linktext|治}}" and "{{linktext|寶}}" are written in Seal script. || [[File:Toda No. 265 元治通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Hoàng Hi Tống Bảo || 皇熙宋寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 266 皇熙宋寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Khai Thánh Nguyên Bảo || 開聖元寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 267 開聖元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thiệu Thánh Thông Bảo || 紹聖通寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 268 紹聖通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thiệu Thánh Bình Bảo || 紹聖平寶 || the reverse is rimless. || [[File:Toda No. 269 紹聖平寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thiệu Tống Nguyên Bảo || 紹宋元寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 270 紹宋元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Tường Tống Thông Bảo || 祥宋通寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 272 祥宋元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Tường Thánh Thông Bảo || 祥聖通寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 273 祥聖通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Hi Tống Nguyên Bảo || 熙宋元寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 274 熙宋元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Ứng Cảm Nguyên Bảo || 應感元寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 275 應感元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thống Phù Nguyên Bảo || 統符元寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 276 統符元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Hi Thiệu Nguyên Bảo || 熙紹元寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 277 熙紹元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Chính Nguyên Thông Bảo || 正元通寶 || Variants exist with rimmed and rimless reverses, as well as one where there's a dot or a crescent on the reverse. || [[File:Toda No. 278 正元通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thiên Đức Nguyên Bảo || 天德元寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 283 天德元寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Hoàng Ân Thông Bảo || 皇恩通寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 284 皇恩通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thái Thánh Thông Bảo || 太聖通寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 286 太聖通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Đại Thánh Thông Bảo || 大聖通寶 || || [[File:Toda No. 287 大聖通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Chánh Hòa Thông Bảo || 政和通寶 || A variant exists where there's a crescent a dot on the reverse, and another one with only the crescent. || [[File:Toda No. 290 政和通寶.png|75px]] || 
|-
| Thánh Cung Tứ Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=251}}{{efn|The coins from this part of the list and below are from Dr. R. Allan Barker (2004) while the coins above are from Edouard Toda (1882).}} || 聖宮慈寶 || || None || [[File:Thánh Cung Tứ Bảo (聖宮慈寶) - Rubbings - Dr. R. Allan Barker 01.png|75px]] 
|-
| Thánh Trần Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=252}} || 聖陳通寶 || || None || 
|-
| Đại Định Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=252}} || 大定通寶 || || None || [[File:Đại Định Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Chính Long Nguyên Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=252}} || 正隆元寶 || || None || 
|-
| Hi Nguyên Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=254}} || 熙元通寶 || || None || 
|-
| Cảnh Nguyên Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=255}} || 景元通寶 || || None || [[File:Cảnh Nguyên Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Tống Nguyên Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=256}} || 宋元通寶 || || None || [[File:Tống Nguyên Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Thiên Thánh Nguyên Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=256}} || 天聖元寶 || || None || [[File:An3 PhamSuOn 1ar85 (10331089343).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Thánh Nguyên Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=257}} || 聖元通寶 || || None || [[File:Thánh Nguyên Thông Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.png|75px]]
|-
| Chính Pháp Thông Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=258}} || 正法通寶 || || None || 
|-
| Tây Dương Phù Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=259}} || 西洋符寶 || || None || 
|-
| Tây Dương Bình Bảo{{Sfn|Barker|2004|p=259}} || 西洋平寶 || || None || 
|-
| An Pháp Nguyên Bảo || 安法元寶 || Most often attributed to Lê Lợi (黎利).<ref>Charms.ru [http://charm.ru/coins/vn/AnPhap.htm WHO CAST THE AN PHAP NGUYEN BAO COIN? [1]
 .] Luc Duc Thuan Retrieved: 24 June 2017.</ref><ref>Lacroix Désiré. Numismatique Annamite – Publications de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient, Saigon 1900</ref> || [[File:Toda No. 41 安法元寶.gif|75px]] || [[File:An5 AnPhap 1ar (10358117106).jpg|75px]]
|-
| Bình Nam Thông Bảo || 平南通寶 || Often attributed to the Nguyễn lords (阮主). || None || 
|}

== Machine-struck cash coins made by the French government ==
{{Main|Cochinchina piastre|French Indochinese piastre}}
[[File:Machine-struck colonial cash coins of Viet Nam.jpg|thumb|right|Various cash coins produced by the French government for circulation in Vietnam.]]

During the time that Vietnam was under French administration, the French started minting cash coins for circulation first for within the colony of Cochinchina and then for the other regions of Vietnam. These coins were minted in Paris and were all struck as opposed to the contemporary cast coinage that already circulated within Vietnam.<ref>Vietnam Banknotes [http://www.vietnambanknotes.com/2013/03/french-cochinchina-coins.html?m=1 ▼ French Cochinchina coins.] Việt Nam Lan Rừng – Published: March 18, 2013. Retrieved: 29 June 2017.</ref><ref>Phạm Thăng. Tiền tệ Việt Nam theo dòng lịch sử. [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]: ?, 1995. (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]])</ref><ref>Bianconi, F. Cartes commerciales phyiques, administratives et routières Tonkin. Paris: Imprimerie Chaix, 1886. (in French)</ref><ref>Jean Lecompte (2000) Monnaies et Jetons des Colonies Françaises. {{ISBN|2-906602-16-7}} (in French)</ref>

After the French had annexed Cochinchina from the Vietnamese, cash coins would continue to circulate in the region and depending on their weight and metal (as Vietnamese cash coins made from copper, tin, and zinc circulated simultaneously at the time at fluctuating rates) were accepted at six hundred to one thousand cash coins for a single Mexican or Spanish eight real coin or one piastre.<ref name="JEAN2I"/>{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=28}} In 1870 the [[North German Confederation|North German]] company Dietrich Uhlhorn started privately minting machine-struck [[Tự Đức Thông Bảo]] (嗣德通寶) coins as the demand for cash coins in French Cochinchina was high.<ref name="JEAN2I"/>{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=28}} The coin weighed four grams which was close to the official weight of ten phần (3.7783 grams), which was the standard used by the imperial government at the time. Around 1875 the French introduced holed one-cent coins styled after the Vietnamese cash.<ref name="JEAN2I"/>{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=28}} In 1879 the French introduced the Cochinchinese Sapèque with a nominal value of {{frac|1|500}} piastre, but the Vietnamese population at the time still preferred the old Tự Đức Thông Bảo coins despite their lower nominal value.<ref name="JEAN2I"/>{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=31}} The weight and size of the French Indochinese one-cent coin was reduced and the coin was holed in 1896 in order to appear more similar to cash coins. This was done to reflect the practice of stringing coins together and carrying them on a belt or pole because Oriental garments at the time did not have pockets.<ref name="JEAN2I"/> The French production of machine-struck cash coins was halted in 1902.<ref name="JEAN2I"/>{{Sfn|Howard A. Daniel, III|2018|p=30}} As there were people in Hanoi and Saigon that did not want to give up on the production of machine-struck cash coins, a committee decided to strike zinc Sapèque coins with a nominal value of {{frac|1|600}} piastre. These coins were produced at the [[Paris Mint]] and were dated 1905 despite being put into circulation only in 1906.<ref name="JEAN2I"/> These coins corroded and broke quite easily which made them unpopular and their production quickly ceased.<ref name="JEAN2I"/>

{{Quote box
 | quote  ="Annamites are not content with the current state of affairs. They complain about the mode of the farms and monopolies, which obliges them to pay fees, paralyses the small trade and is an obstacle to much of trades of which a great part of the population live. The embarrassment is still increased by the progressive disappearance of the [[zinc]] currency, adapted so well to the condition of the needy Annamites. It still remains the base of all the small transactions.  With two or three sapèques, the poor one can buy a fruit, a [[Bánh|cake]] and thus calm the pains of the hunger. But, as the Government does not manufacture them any more, those which were in circulation become increasingly rare, and the market feels it, with the great detriment of all." 
| source = - The 1907 Annual Report by missionary Mgr. Gendreau of the Groupe des Mission du Tonkin. 
| width  = 75%
| align  = center
}}

After Khải Định became Emperor in 1916, Hanoi reduced the funds to cast Vietnamese cash coins, which had a dissatisfying effect on the Vietnamese market as the demand for cash coins remained high, so another committee was formed in Hanoi that ordered the creation of machine-struck copper-alloy [[Khải Định Thông Bảo]] (啓定通寶) cash coins to be minted in [[Haiphong]]. These coins weighed more than the old French Sapèques and were around 2.50 grams and were accepted at {{frac|1|500}} piastre.<ref name="JEAN2I"/> There were 27 million Khải Định Thông Bảo of the first variant produced, while the second variant of the machine-struck Khải Định Thông Bảo had a mintage of 200 million. This was likely continued after the ascension of Emperor [[Bảo Đại]] in 1926, which was normal as previous Vietnamese emperors also kept producing cash coins with the inscription of their predecessors for a period of time.<ref name="JEAN2I"/> Emperor Bảo Đại had ordered the creation of cast [[Bảo Đại Thông Bảo]] (保大通寶) cash coins again which weighed 3.2 gram in 1933, while the French simultaneously began minting machine-struck coins with the same inscription that weighed 1.36 grams and were probably valued at {{frac|1|1000}} piastre. There were two variants of this cash coin, where one had a large 大 (Đại) while the other had a smaller 大.<ref>Howard A. Daniel III (The Journal of East Asian Numismatics – Second edition). Page = 76.</ref><ref name="JEAN2I"/>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Denomination !! Obverse inscription<br>[[chữ Hán]]<br>([[chữ Quốc ngữ]]) !! Reverse inscription !! Metal !! Years of mintage !! Image 
|-
| 2 Sapèque<br>({{frac|1|500}} piastre) || 當二 – 大法國之安南<br>(Đáng Nhị – Đại Pháp Quốc chi An Nam) || [[French Cochinchina|Cochinchine Française]] || [[copper]] || 1879–1885 || [[File:French Cochinchina Sapeque 1879.jpg|75px]]
|-
| 2 Sapèque<br>({{frac|1|500}} piastre) || 當二 – 大法國之安南<br>(Đáng Nhị – Đại Pháp Quốc chi An Nam) || [[French Indochina|Indo-Chine Française]] || copper || 1887–1902 || [[File:French Indochina Sapeque 1902.jpg|75px]]
|-
| 1 Sapèque<br>({{frac|1|600}} piastre) || 六百分之一 – 通寶<br>(Lục Bách Phân chi Nhất – Thông Bảo) || [[Tonkin (French protectorate)|Protectorat du Tonkin]] || [[zinc]] || 1905 || [[File:Tonkin Sapeque 1905.jpg|75px]]
|-
| 1 Sapèque<br>({{frac|1|500}} piastre) || [[Khải Định Thông Bảo|啓定通寶 (Khải Định Thông Bảo)]]<ref>Linh, Vietnamese in Vancouver [https://withlinh.com/ti%E1%BB%81n-vn/giai-do%E1%BA%A1n-phong-ki%E1%BA%BFn-968-1945/nha-nguy%E1%BB%85n/kh%E1%BA%A3i-d%E1%BB%8Bnh-thong-b%E1%BA%A3o/ Khải Định Thông Bảo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326142402/https://withlinh.com/ti%e1%bb%81n-vn/giai-do%e1%ba%a1n-phong-ki%e1%ba%bfn-968-1945/nha-nguy%e1%bb%85n/kh%e1%ba%a3i-d%e1%bb%8bnh-thong-b%e1%ba%a3o/ |date=2018-03-26 }}. (in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]) Xin visa du lịch – Đặt phòng & vé máy bay – Hỗ trợ 24/7 Retrieved: 10 February 2018.</ref> || || [[Copper-alloy]] || 1921–1925 || [[File:Khai Dinh Thong Bao.jpg|75px]]
|-
| 1 Sapèque<br>({{frac|1|1000}} piastre) || [[Bảo Đại Thông Bảo#Machine-struck Bảo Đại Thông Bảo coins|保大通寶 (Bảo Đại Thông Bảo)]] || || Copper-alloy || 1933–1945 || [[File:BaoDai 1ar85 (8560725857).jpg|75px]] 
|}

{| role="presentation" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
| <strong>Gallery and notes</strong>
|-
| There were several efforts by French administration to produce machine-struck ''cash'' (''sapèque''):
<gallery>
Image:French Cochinchina Sapeque 1875.jpg | [[French Cochinchina]]<br>1/1000 Piastre 1878<br>copper
Image:French Cochinchina Sapeque 1879.jpg | French Cochinchina<br>1/500 Piastre 1879<br>copper
Image:French Indochina Sapeque 1902.jpg | [[French Indochina]]<br>1/500 Piastre 1902<br>copper
Image:Tonkin Sapeque 1905.jpg | [[Tonkin (French protectorate)|French protectorate of Tonkin]]<br>1/600 Piastre 1905<br>zinc
Image:Khai Dinh Thong Bao.jpg|Khải Định Thông Bảo 啟定通寶 (1916–1925)<br>'''Cast''' (''left'') and '''Machine-struck''' (''right'') coins
</gallery>
|- 
| [[File:7tien.jpg|thumb|285px|Flying dragon. ''Phi long'' (coin) of Khải Định]]
|- 
| Emperors [[Khải Định]] (1916–1925) and [[Bảo Đại]] (1925–1945)
produced both cast and machine-struck cash.
|}

== Gold and silver cash coins ==

Gold and silver cash coins were not made in any other period of Vietnamese history until the Nguyễn dynasty, and during the Nguyễn their production was still very limited in number.<ref name="Toda-Manufacture-of-Coins">{{cite web|url= https://art-hanoi.com/toda/06|title= VI. Manufacture of Coins.|date=1882|access-date=16 August 2023|author= [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]|publisher= Art-Hanoi|language=en}} {{Source-attribution}}</ref> But the emperors of the Nguyễn dynasty sought to expand the mintage of both gold and silver coins.<ref name="Toda-Manufacture-of-Coins"/> According to the laws for casting coins in those metals, those used for paying [[Mandarin (bureaucrat)|mandarins]] are to be round in shape, and in ingots for payment to the [[Military of the Nguyễn dynasty|troops in time of war]].<ref name="Toda-Manufacture-of-Coins"/>

The Nguyễn dynasty produced a large number of both gold and silver medals which had inscriptions and allegories relating to the [[Five Precious Things]] (五寶, ''ngũ bảo'').<ref name="Toda-Manufacture-of-Coins"/> These gold and silver medals were distributed by the emperor in return for services to the state.<ref name="Toda-Manufacture-of-Coins"/> These medals, however, pass into circulation and are taken as currency according to their weight.<ref name="Toda-Manufacture-of-Coins"/>

== Commemorative cash coins ==

=== Vạn Thọ Thông Bảo ===

During the 60th birthday of [[Revival Lê dynasty]] Emperor [[Lê Hiển Tông]] in 1774, a special [[Wanshuo Tongbao|Vạn Thọ Thông Bảo]] (萬夀通寶) [[Vietnamese numismatic charm|amulet]] was cast; these charms were often used to commemorate the birthday of an emperor as had happened in the [[Qing dynasty]] with the 60th birthdays of Chinese emperors. The reason these charms are cast on this particular event is because sixty years symbolise a complete cycle of the ten [[heavenly stem]]s and the twelve [[earthly branch]]es.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.transasiart.com/Numismatique/numismatique_vietnam/letrunghung/nvnlth04b.htm|title= Vạn Thọ thông bảo 萬夀通寶 de Cảnh Hưng 景興 (1774).|date=14 September 2015|access-date=6 July 2018|work= François Thierry de Crussol (TransAsiart)|language=fr}}</ref><ref>Albert Schroeder, Annam, Études numismatiques, n°589. (in [[French language|French]])</ref>

=== Presentation coins and the ''Sapèque d'Honneur'' ===

Special cash coins were also produced in the form of [[Award|decorations]] given by the government of the Nguyễn dynasty until 1945. Like in [[Imperial China]], these coins came in the form of [[presentation coin]]s (known in Vietnamese as ''Tiền''), but after [[French Indochina|French colonisation]] these special cash coin awards known as ''Tiền'' were later also awarded as European-style [[medal]]s called the ''[[Sapèque d'Honneur]]'' ('Cash coin of Honour').<ref name="Numismatics-French-medals-and-decorations">{{cite web|url= http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan3868|title= Notes on the decorations and medals of the French colonies and protectorates. § Annam - Kim-Tiên, or Sapèque in gold 44 & Ngân-Tiên, or Sapèque in silver 45.|date=1928|access-date=24 March 2021|author= Gillingham, Harrold E. (Harrold Edgar), 1864-1954|publisher= [[American Numismatic Society]] |language=en}}</ref>

These presentation coin decorations came in multiple classes and were known as ''Đồng Tiền'' (銅錢, 'Copper money'), ''Ngân Tiền'' (銀錢, 'Silver money'), and ''Kim Tiền'' (金錢, 'Gold money').<ref name="Numismatics-French-medals-and-decorations"/> The ''Sapèque d'Honneur'' medal was further subdivided into the ''Sapèque d'Argent'' (made of silver) and the ''Sapèque d'Or'' (made of gold).<ref name="Numismatics-French-medals-and-decorations"/>

These decorations generally took the shape of silver or gold cash coins as well as [[Nguyễn dynasty coinage|other coinages issued by the Nguyễn dynasty]], but would often have more elaborate designs and (often) different inscriptions.<ref name="Numismatics-French-medals-and-decorations"/>

== Recovery of cash coins in modern Vietnam ==
{{Main|List of coin hoards in Vietnam}} 
[[File:Strings of cash coins in the National Museum of Vietnamese History, Hanoi (2018).jpg|thumb|left|A lump of ancient Vietnamese cash coins in the [[National Museum of Vietnamese History]], [[Hanoi]].]]

In modern Vietnam the supply of undiscovered cash coins is rapidly declining as large amounts of Vietnamese cash coins were excavated during the 1980s and 1990s. In Vietnam the excavation of antiques such as cash coins is an industry in itself and cash coins are mostly dug up by farmers. After the [[Vietnam War]] ended in 1975, a large number of [[metal detector]]s numbering in the many thousands were left behind in the former area of [[South Vietnam]], which helped fuel the rise of this industry. The antique bronze industry is mostly concentrated in small rural villages where farmers rent metal detectors to search their own lands for bronze antiques to then either sell as scrap or to dealers. These buyers purchase lumps of cash coins either by the kilogramme or ton and hire skilled people to search through these lumps of cash coins for sellable specimens. These coins are then sold to other dealers in Vietnam, China, and Japan. During the zenith of the coin recovery business in Vietnam, the number of bulk coins found on a monthly basis was fifteen tons. Only roughly fifteen kilogrammes of those coins were sellable and the rest of the coins would be melted down as [[scrap metal]]. As better metal detectors that could search deeper were introduced, more Vietnamese cash coins were discovered, but in modern times the supply of previously undiscovered Vietnamese cash coins is quickly diminishing.<ref>Sudokuone (Vietnam's Imperial History as Seen Through its Currency)  [http://vietnam.sudokuone.com/supply.htm The Supply of Vietnamese Coins] by Dr. R. Allan Barker. Retrieved: 03 April 2018.</ref>{{sfn|Barker|2004|p=10}}

In modern times many Vietnamese cash coins are found in sunken [[shipwreck]]s which are mandated by Vietnamese law to be the property of the Vietnamese government as salvaged ships of which the owner was unknown belong to the state.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://m.thanhniennews.com/society/vietnam-salvager-says-ancient-coins-looted-from-shipwreck-33179.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220820022728/http://m.thanhniennews.com/society/vietnam-salvager-says-ancient-coins-looted-from-shipwreck-33179.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= August 20, 2022|title= Vietnam salvager says ancient coins looted from shipwreck.|date=28 October 2014|access-date=3 April 2018|work=Thanh Nien News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.upi.com/Shipwreck-off-Vietnam-yields-700-year-old-coins-and-ceramics/42671372806054/|title= Shipwreck off Vietnam yields 700-year-old coins and ceramics.|date=2 July 2013|access-date=3 April 2018|work= United Press International, Inc. (UPI)|language=en}}</ref>

Notable recent large finds of cash coins in Vietnam include 100 kilogrammes of Chinese cash coins and 35 kilogrammes of Vietnamese cash coins unearthed in the [[Quảng Trị province|province of Quảng Trị]] in 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2007/09/10/100kg-of-ancient-chinese-coins-unearthed-in-vietnam/|title= 100kg of ancient Chinese coins unearthed in Vietnam.|date=7 September 2007|access-date=3 April 2018|work=Noel Tan for the Southeast Asian Archeology Newsblog (through Thanh Nien News)|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2007/11/12/34kg-of-ancient-coins-unearthed-in-vietnam/ |title= 34kg of ancient coins unearthed in Vietnam.|date=9 November 2007|access-date=3 April 2018|work= Noel Tan for the Southeast Asian Archeology Newsblog (through Vietnam Net Bridge)|language=en}}</ref> 52.9 kilogrammes of Chinese and Vietnamese cash coins unearthed in a cemetery in [[Haiphong]] in 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.usrarecoininvestments.com/coin_articles/ancient_vietnamese_coins.htm|title= Vietnam Unearths Ancient Vietnamese, Chinese Coins.|date=13 August 2008|access-date=3 April 2018|work=U.S. Rare Coin Investments|language=en}}</ref> 50 kilogrammes of cash coins in the [[Hà Nam Province|province of Hà Nam]] in 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/131893/50kg-of-old-coins-unearthed-in-ha-nam.html|title=50kg of old coins unearthed in Ha Nam - VietNamNet Bridge – Luong Manh Hai, 39, of Tri Lanh village in Ha Nam province discovered 50 kg while digging a foundation for a water tank.|date=29 May 2015|access-date=3 April 2018|work=Thu Ly for VietnamNet|language=en|archive-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404075342/http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/131893/50kg-of-old-coins-unearthed-in-ha-nam.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and some [[Nagasaki trade coins]] in the [[Hà Tĩnh Province|province of Hà Tĩnh]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://en.vietnamplus.vn/ancient-japanese-coins-found-in-central-province/127844.vnp|title= Ancient Japanese coins found in central province.|date=14 March 2018|access-date=3 April 2018|work=VietnamPlus (Sports – Society section)|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/424292/ancient-japanese-coins-found-in-ha-tinh.html|title= Ancient Japanese coins found in Hà Tĩnh.|date=14 March 2018|access-date=3 April 2018|work=Viet Nam News (Life & Style section)|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Money|Numismatics|Vietnam}}
* [[:Category:Vietnamese dynasties|Vietnamese dynasties]]
* [[Cash (Chinese coin)|Cash]]
* [[Chinese cash (currency)|Chinese cash]]
* [[Japanese mon (currency)|Japanese mon]]
* [[Korean mun]]
* [[Ryukyuan mon]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==

* [[Eduardo Toda y Güell|ED. TODA.]] (1882) [http://art-hanoi.com/toda ANNAM and its minor currency.] Hosted on Art-Hanoi. ([[:File:Annam and its minor currency (Toda) from Art-Hanoi.pdf|Wikimedia Commons]])
* Dr. R. Allan Barker. (2004) ''The historical Cash Coins of Viet Nam''. {{ISBN|981-05-2300-9}} 
* Howard A. Daniel, III – ''The Catalog and Guidebook of Southeast Asian Coins and Currency, Volume I, France (3rd Edition)''. Published: 10 April 2018. {{ISBN|1879951045}}. 
* Pham Quoc Quan, Nguyen Dinh Chien, Nguyen Quoc Binh and Xiong Bao Kang: Tien Kim Loai Viet Nam. Vietnamese Coins. Bao Tang Lich Su Viet Nam. National Museum of Vietnamese History. Ha noi, 2005. (in Vietnamese)
* Hội khoa học lịch sử Thừa Thiên Huế, sách đã dẫn. (in Vietnamese)
* Trương Hữu Quýnh, Đinh Xuân Lâm, Lê Mậu Hãn, sách đã dẫn. (in Vietnamese)
* Lục Đức Thuận, Võ Quốc Ky (2009), Tiền cổ Việt Nam, Nhà xuất bản Giáo dục. (in Vietnamese)
* Đỗ Văn Ninh (1992), Tiền cổ Việt Nam, Nhà xuất bản Khoa học xã hội. (in Vietnamese)
* Trương Hữu Quýnh, Đinh Xuân Lâm, Lê Mậu Hãn chủ biên (2008), Đại cương lịch sử Việt Nam, Nhà xuất bản Giáo dục. (in Vietnamese)
* Viện Sử học (2007), Lịch sử Việt Nam, tập 4, Nhà xuất bản Khoa học xã hội. (in Vietnamese)
* [[Trần Trọng Kim]] (2010), Việt Nam sử lược, Nhà xuất bản Thời đại. (in Vietnamese)
* ''Catalogue des monnaies vietnamiennes'' (in French), François Thierry
* Yves Coativy, "Les monnaies vietnamiennes d'or et d'argent anépigraphes et à légendes (1820–1883)", ''Bulletin de la Société Française de Numismatique'', février 2016, p.&nbsp;57-62, (in French)
* Tien Kim Loai Viet Nam (Vietnamese Coins), Pham Quoc Quan, Hanoi, 2005. (in Vietnamese)
* W. Op den Velde, "Cash coin index. The Cash Coins of Vietnam", Amsterdam, 1996.

== External links ==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100921001109/http://vnbanknotes.com/index.php?route=common%2Fhome Collection Banknotes of Vietnam and the World]
* [http://art-hanoi.com/collection Coins and Banknotes of Vietnam and French Indochina]
* [http://art-hanoi.com/toda/online.html Cash coins of Vietnam 968 - 1945. ''Online Identifier'']

{{Commons category|Coins of Vietnam}}

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{{n-before|currency=[[Chinese wen|Chinese cash]]|reason=independence}}
{{n-currency|location=[[Vietnam]]|start=970|end=1948}}
{{n-after|currency=[[French Indochinese piastre]],<br>[[North Vietnamese đồng]]|reason=[[Abdication of Bảo Đại|abolition of the monarchy]]}}
{{end}}

{{Vietnamese cash coin}} 
{{Asian cash}}
{{Vietnamese currency and coinage}}

[[Category:Currencies of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Ancient currencies]]
[[Category:Medieval currencies]]
[[Category:Modern obsolete currencies]]
[[Category:Economic history of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Cash coins]]