Reference
Note:
Hartill (GCC, pp. 144 and 152) illustrates nine small varieties of An Pháp Nguyên Bảo, of which seven have a long-armed seal or Li script 寶Bảo. Hartill included all but one of the seven ‘long-arm’ Li script bảo type among his category: ‘Small Copper – Distinct Calligraphy, Group 1. (“An Phap type”)’. HCR 58864-58869, 58871-58872 have a rim breadth to diameter ratio > 1: 7 which is closest to that of Hartill’s Figure 2.800. The cramped characters and the leftward-leaning thick right-hand vertical stroke of 法 are characteristic for this variety. Hartill has reviewed the various hypotheses for the chronology of An Phap-type coins advanced by Thierry and others. He proposes (GCC, p. 143) that they were manufactured in North Vietnam under the Mạc between 1540 and 1590, somewhat earlier than proposed by Thierry (CMV). This provisional dating has been followed here.
