Tiền

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For the river Tiền, see Tiền River.
A tiền coin issued under Emperor Minh Mạng in 1833.

The tiền (Hán tự: 錢) was a currency used in Vietnam during the 19th and 20th centuries. The name is a cognate with the Chinese qián (錢), a unit of weight called "mace" in English.

In the early 19th century, silver and gold bars were traded as currency in imperial Vietnam with values of up to 10 tiền (approximately 40 grams, or 1 tael). Bars of 1 tiền weighed between 3 and 4 grams.[1] During this time, silver and gold coins were minted (using Vietnamese characters and design, but of types resembling either Chinese cash or Western coins) with denominations of up to 10 tiền being minted.

During the Minh Mạng period (1820–1841) dragons on silver tiền coins were often depicted facing dexter (to the right), while during the Thiệu Trị period (1841–1847) and later these coins depicted dragons guardant (facing forwards).[2]

These coins continued to be minted in varying quantities into the 20th century in French Indochina, although circulating alongside the French Indochinese piastre.

Tiền decorations[]

The Tiền was also a name of decorations given by the government of the Nguyễn dynasty until 1945, like in Imperial China these coins came in the form of , but after French colonisation the Tiền was also awarded as European-style medals called the ("Cash coin of Honour").[3]

Tiền 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").[3] The Sapèque d'Honneur medal was further subdivided into the Sapèque d'Argent (made of silver) and the Sapèque d'Or (made of gold).[3]

These decorations generally took the shape of silver or gold cash coins as well as , but would often have more elaborate designs and (often) different inscriptions.[3]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ ED. TODA. (1882) ANNAM and its minor currency. Retrieved: 23 July 2017.
  2. ^ De Rode Leeuw - Armorial of Vietnam by Hubert de Vries. Retrieved: 19 August 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Gillingham, Harrold E. (Harrold Edgar), 1864-1954 (1928). "Notes on the decorations and medals of the French colonies and protectorates". American Numismatic Society. Retrieved 20 March 2021.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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