Nguyen Dynasty Poem Cash Coin

My newest and largest acquisition yet!




It is a cash coin from the rule of emperor Minh Mang casted sometime between 1837 and 1841 in the imperial city of Hue. The obverse reads Ming Mang Thong Bao with a poem reverse reading Dac Vi Dac Danh Dac Loc Dac Tho, meaning "Successfully obtained honorable life" (straight from Google translate). My translation is Advance in position (social ranks/class),advance in fame, advance in wealth and advance in age.

These large cash coins have a value of 60 Van but were not originally intended for circulation, they were kept as charms and presentation pieces as evidenced by many being holed to attach a string to. The large cash coins casted during the reign of Ming Mang come either in a 4 or 8 inscription poem taken directly form Confucian text.
These are mainly acquired by government officials as a royal reward.

I have just recently received this coin form the dealer. It is currently housed in a Ziploc bag and taped to the inside of my binder until the real 2.5x2.5 holders come.

My example weighs 27.67 grams with a diameter of 61.3 mm. It once had a hole at 12 o'clock but was repaired. It is not a rare coin but is scarce.