Ancient Japanese coins found in central province

Ha Tinh (VNA) – The provincial museum of central Ha Tinh province has announced the discovery of some Nagasaki metal coins at archeological sites in the locality.

The museum’s director Nguyen Tri Son said his staff found the coins when they were excavating at sites in the province’s Cam Xuyen and Ky Anh districts.

According to researchers, the coins were produced in the 17th century when the Tokugawa government permitted Nagasaki to cast coins for trade in the period from 1659 to 1685 with other countries, including Vietnam under the rule of Nguyen Lords (1558-1777).

They said the coins came into the country mainly via trade activities in ancient Hoi An city in Dang Trong (Old Vietnam’s southern part) and old Hanoi in Dang Ngoai (Old Vietnam’s northern part).

Nagasaki trade coins were inscribed with ancient Chinese characters copied from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279). Their diameter was about 24mm and each coin had a 7mm square hole in the middle. The edges of the hole were very straight and neat.

The coins found in Ha Tinh had shapes and sizes similar to those in descriptions of Nagasaki trade coins and they remain in quite good condition.

According to Son, this is the first time the ancient Japanese coins have been found in the locality and historians would have a lot work to do in finding out foreign trade activities during the imperial period in Ha Tinh.

The coins are preserved at Ha Tinh Museum for further study.-VNA