Identify Large 4 7/8" Bronze Chinese Coin Token Souvenir?

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Author	Replies: 4 / Views: 1,303
Bonzodog New Member United States 3 Posts	Posted 07/21/2018 11:34 am Just got this at an estate sale. Measures 4 7/8" in diameter. It is patinated bronze. Looks like reproduction of a bronze coin or good luck charm? Obverse characters appear to read Ming (dynasty) Ming (mandate) Tong Bao (Currency). Reverse has characters for BIG (1st character on right) and GATE (4th character from right). Looks like a depiction of the Meridian Gate in the Forbidden City? Any further information that could explain exactly what this coin/charm is would be much appreciated! Report this Post to the Staff

jbuck Moderator United States 187914 Posts	Posted 07/22/2018 12:33 am to the Community! Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
gxseries Pillar of the Community Australia 3831 Posts	Posted 07/22/2018 03:20 am The reign seems to be Vietnamese. I can't recognize what it is. My partial coin collection http://www.omnicoin.com/collection/gxseries My numismatics articles and collection: http://www.gxseries.com/numis/numis_index.htm Regularly updated at least once a month. Report this Post to the Staff
Bonzodog New Member United States 3 Posts	Posted 07/22/2018 07:39 am Thank you for that clue! I found an explanation of the obverse of the coin on the website Primaltrek.com and it is indeed Vietnamese. The inscription in Vietnamese reads "Minh Mang Thong Bao" or "ming ming tong bao" (in Chinese) and was used on coins cast during the reign (1820-1840) of King Nguyen Than To of the Nguyen Dynasty. Because Minh Mang has the auspicious meaning of "intelligent decree" or "bright life" the inscription is also found on Vietnamese charms and amulets. It is likely that this is some sort of souvenir piece - but I still would like to find out what the reverse depicts and what the reverse inscription means - something about a gate. Report this Post to the Staff
Bonzodog New Member United States 3 Posts	Posted 07/22/2018 07:47 am I just looked online and the reverse depicts the Hue Imperial Palace. I would imagine this was a souvenir someone picked up during the Vietnam War era. Report this Post to the Staff
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