Hoards Unearthed in Northern Vietnam: As Evidence of Contemporary Monetary Flow in the Middle and the Modern Ages

Abstract

This paper focuses on recent research on cash hoards uncovered in northern Vietnam. Since 2006, authors have examined three hoards. Hoard No. 1 was probably buried in the beginning of the 19th century AD. Most coins contained inside a jar were minted during the Le Dynasty, whereas some Chinese and Japanese coins were also included. Chinese coins were mainly minted in Yunnan, indicating the monetary flow between Yunnan and northern Vietnam. Japanese coins, including Kan’ei-tsuho, prove the commercial relationships between Japan and Vietnam.

Hoard No. 2 probably was stored in the end of 14th or the beginning of 15th century AD, in which Northern Song coins predominated. Most coins were found as strings of cash that shows the actual form of usage at that time or of transport. Hoard No. 3 is most likely to have been buried some time between the 16th and the 18th century AD. Only low quality coins illegally minted in Vietnam were contained in a ceramic jar without any high quality ones minted by the state.

Close study of unearthed cash hoards has only recently started and has the possibility to throw light on the monetary flow in the middle and the modern ages of northern Vietnam.