VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s history is clearly reflected through ancient coins. Each coin is associated with a dynasty, a king and a historical period of the country.
Mr. Dang Duc Dung has spent 25 years to seek and research ancient coins of Vietnam. He currently owns an invaluable collection of coins. He has published a book about the coins, through which tells Vietnam’s history.

Visiting Dung’s home on Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Binh Thanh district, HCM City, one will see a large-sized picture of Vietnam’s coins which were cast for centuries ago amid the house. The house is also decorated by many jars of ancient coins, coins and pictures of coins.

Confirming Vietnam’s sovereignty by coins

Dung’s collection of ancient coins is invaluable but Dung said he is willing to share it with anyone who loves ancient coins.

On an online forum on Vietnamese ancient coins, called Gia Dinh Tien Co (Gia Dinh ancient coins), managed by Dung, the bonus for good articles about ancient coins are valuable ancient coins. Dung expected to transfer the passion for ancient coins, knowledge of Vietnam’s history and patriotism to others, through deep entries about coins.

Showing a coin named “Dai Binh Hung Buu”, Dung said: “In 968, Dinh Bo Linh put down the revolt of 12 armies and came to throne. He became Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang and named the country Dai Co Viet. The Dinh Dynasty used the Dai Binh Hung Buu coin.”

“This was the first coin of independent Vietnam. Before the Dinh Dynasty, our country was ruled by China and we used Chinese coins. After acceding to throne, Dinh Tien Hoang cast coins to prove our country’s sovereignty after over 1,000 years ruled by Chinese. Hung Buu means prosperous Dai Co Viet,” he explained.

The back side of “Dai Binh Hung Buu” coin has the symbol of the Emperor. As it was cast for the first time, the technique is very simple. Dung said he has three types of “Dai Binh Hung Buu” coins: one with the family name of the Emperor (Dinh) above the square hole on the back side, one with the word Dinh below the square hole on the back side and one with the back side without the word Dinh.

“Vietnam’s history is clearly shown through ancient coins. Each coin is associated with a dynasty, an emperor and a historical period of the country. For example, descendants can understand the heart of Emperor Dinh Bo Linh and the historical meaning of his decision to cast the first coin to confirm Vietnam’s sovereignty,” Mr. Dung analyzed.

Historical films
It is said that Vietnam’s historical books are very dry and boring, which discourage students from studying and remembering history. They even know more about China’s history through Chinese television series on Vietnamese channels.

“Based on that reality, I thought of writing a book telling historical stories through ancient coins for children to encourage them to study history,” Dung said.

He was absorbed in introducing ancient coins and the history of feudal dynasties that are associated with them. “This is the coin cast by King Quang Trung. It is thin and light because at that time our country was very poor,” he explained.

He pointed to the Quang Trung Thong Buu coin, with words Binh Nam in the back side, and analyzed: “When Qing invaders attacked our country, Qianlong Emperor cast coins with An Nam words (name of Vietnam at that time) in the back side and gave them to Qing troops. After defeating Qing army, Quang Trung Emperor collected these coins to melt down and cast Quang Trung Thong Buu coins, with Binh Nam (peaceful An Nam) words in the back side.”

Pointing to a zinc-made coin, he said: “This is the coin cast by Lords Nguyen in southern Vietnam. They bought zinc from Dutch people to cast these coins since the southern Vietnam did not have any bronze mines. Casting zinc coins remained until the reign of Tu Duc Emperor.”

Collector Dung said the Le Dynasty is the longest dynasty in Vietnam’s history. This is also the dynasty that cast the highest number of coin types in Vietnam.

Holding a ring of Hong Duc coins, cast under the reign of Le Thanh Tong Emperor, he said that this type of coins is highly appreciated by coin collectors at home and abroad.

“The coin was cast with high technical level. Coins cast by the Le dynasty have different characters and they are considered the best coin samples,” he added.

Work of lifetime

Mr. Dung said that he is working on a set of cartoons on ancient coins. The first episode is about the “Dai Binh Hung Buu” coin.

“Each chapter will introduce a king in Vietnam’s history, associated with the coin of that dynasty. It is okay if the cartoon is printed on low-quality papers, as long as it is cheap, less than VND20,000 ($0.8) a book, so any kid can buy it. If I publish a book per a month, featuring a coin and a dynasty, perhaps I have to publish this series for ten years,” he said.

But he was afraid to not have partners to publish the cartoons together. “Profit is the top priority now. If my books are cheap, nobody wants to cooperate.”

Dung said if he could not find a partner, he would perform this project alone, when he is capable. “At that time, I will present them to poor students and students in the remote and isolated areas,” he said.

Dream of a museum for ancient coins

Having a museum of ancient coins is the wish of Mr. Dung and other collectors.

In 2005, a foreign high-ranking official paid a visit to Vietnam. In his schedule, he noted “visiting Vietnam’s coin museum” but at that time, Vietnam did not have such a museum, Dung told.

“It is a pity! Our country has the highest number of ancient coins which are very beautiful, but we have not had a museum for them,” he wondered.

According to the government-approved plan on Vietnam’s museum system to 2030, a museum for Vietnamese money will be built in 2010-2020. The State Bank of Vietnam suggested building such a museum and collector Dung is an enthusiastic supporter. But such a museum is still a dream of coin collectors. While waiting for a national museum, Dung wanted to open his own museum of ancient money.

PV