Reference
Note:
Thierry (JONS) states (p. 39) "These were clearly struck with dies engraved by foreigners (probably French) living in Vietnam". He also states that this coin (HCR 58825) and HCR 58824 are die-linked. Thierry identifies these coins as struck patterns and gives a non-specific date to the 19th century. However, the first known official struck patterns from Vietnam were made by Dietrich Uhlhorn in 1870 for Emperor Tu Duc (Daniel, 2016) before various styles of sapeques were minted by the French colonial administration. https://issuu.com/jean388/docs/the_second_issue_of_jean/79
The HCR pattern coins were further discussed in the following paper (not yet seen): Thierry, F. (2012) Nouveaux documents sur les essais de frappe de sapèques au Vietnam. Revue Numismatique 6 (168): 427-435. January 2012.
This specimen
Yes
Reference
Note:
Thierry (2012c) provides more information regarding the series of machine-made cash coins in the HCR. He suggests that those coins which lack a ticket are nonetheless part of the C. T. Gardner collection and while unable to pinpoint the makers he suggests they were all made during the closing years of the 19th century or the opening years of the 20th. A date of 1870 – 1902 has been used for this database pending more precise information. Born in 1842, Christopher Gardner would be likely to have retired from his diplomatic duties at or before reaching age 60, in 1902. Note the change in axis of the diamond-shaped cut hole by 90 degrees relative to the otherwise identical HCR 58824.
This specimen
Yes
