The Nagasaki coins found in central Ha Tinh province. (Photo: thanhnien.vn) Ha Tinh (VNA) – The provincial museumof central Ha Tinh province has announced the discovery of some Nagasaki metalcoins at archeological sites in the locality.
The museum’s director Nguyen Tri Son said hisstaff found the coins when they were excavating at sites in the province’s CamXuyen and Ky Anh districts.
According to researchers, the coins wereproduced in the 17th century when the Tokugawa government permitted Nagasaki tocast 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 mainlyvia trade activities in ancient Hoi An city in Dang Trong (Old Vietnam’ssouthern part) and old Hanoi in Dang Ngoai (Old Vietnam’s northern part).
Nagasaki trade coins were inscribed with ancientChinese characters copied from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279). Their diameter wasabout 24mm and each coin had a 7mm square hole in the middle. The edges of thehole were very straight and neat.
The coins found in Ha Tinh had shapes and sizessimilar to those in descriptions of Nagasaki trade coins and they remain inquite good condition.
According to Son, this is the first time theancient Japanese coins have been found in the locality and historians wouldhave a lot work to do in finding out foreign trade activities during theimperial period in Ha Tinh.
The coins are preserved at Ha Tinh Museum forfurther study.-VNA
VNA
