Although not as good-looking as the Nguyen coin and banned, the Tay Son coin continued to be used during the Nguyen Dynasty.

Bad money but great in quantity because of the policy

According to researchers, in terms of art, coins in the Tay Son period were not as beautiful as coins in other times. The coin was also thin. However, the amount was huge. For example, according to Prof. Do Van Ninh, Institute of Archeology, coins of the Tay Son period - Quang Trung, were widely issued. The quantity of Quang Trung coins also overwhelmed both Vietnamese and Chinese coins in issue at that time.

Tay Son coin

Prof. Do Van Ninh also said in the book Antiquities of Vietnam: "Archaeological excavations show that for the first time in Vietnamese history, Tay Son coins accounted for an overwhelming number compared to China's Qianlong and Jiaqing coins. In remote areas such as Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) or even in remote islands in the middle of the sea such as Van Hai, Quang Trung, Canh Thinh, coins are also distributed a great deal. Also, they are the most conspicuous and abundant archaeological artifacts.

Assoc. Prof-Dr. Nguyen Dinh Chien, former deputy director of the National Museum of History, also said that in Van Don trading port, Tay Son coins were more than Chinese coins in quantity.

The economic policy under Tay Son Dynasty

According to Prof. Do Van Ninh, a lot of money widely distributed is considered a very remarkable evidence of the economic policy of the Tay Son Dynasty. He said that the Tay Son kings, especially Quang Trung, made every effort to build an independent and wealthy economy with new economic policies. “One of the important stages of the new economic policy is the minting and issue of coins. The Tay Son Dynasty has done a great job that had not been done since the 10th century, the beginning of the independence and self-reliance period of our country's history. It was to use Vietnamese coins to replace Chinese coins on the market across the country", analyzed Ninh.

Monument of King Quang Trung, located in Binh Dinh province, Vietnam

Also about the economic policy of the Tay Son Dynasty, the history books recorded in 1789, right after the end of the war against Qing invaders, Nguyen Hue issued the Chieu Khuyen nong (Agriculture Extension Policy). In terms of industry and commerce, the government expanded domestic trade. "To foreign countries, Quang Trung suggested that the Qing Dynasty open the border and open the market to allow circulation of goods and benefit people’s consumption”, historian Ngo Thi Nham recorded in the Bang giao luc.

Professor Luong Ninh from Institute of Southeast Asia, stated in the book A Brief History of Vietnam: "Quang Trung's progressive trade opinion has shown an open economic vision in line with the development tendency of the country and era: opening the border, facilitating trade and commerce so that the goods never stopped being circulated, which benefited the people". Specifically, Quang Trung advocated expanding trade and struggled to force the Qing Dynasty to open gates to trade with our country. Merchant ships from the West were also favored to increase foreign trade.

Tags: Vietnamese currency, Vietnamese currency name, Vietnam currency symbol, Vietnamese coin, Quang Trung king, the Tay Son Dynasty, Vietnamese coin value, Vietnamese coin collection