Tran Tan Cong Bao
 

Figure 23.1, Tran Tan Cong Bao, diameter 24.3 mm., weight 3.60 grams.
Tran Tan Cong Bao is perhaps one of the most celebrated rebel coins of Vietnamese history. Toda has attributed the coin to a rebel named Tran Tuan in 1511. Gosen has alternatively attributed the coin to a rebel named Tran Cong Ninh in 1516, but also discusses Tran Tuan and the date 1511. The only information on this rebel known to the author is from Toda which, although possibly inaccurate, makes for a good story.

Tran Tuan was very successful in his efforts. He defeated the general Trinh sent to oppose him and then planned to siege the capital, but his confidence would be his undoing. One night, with no guards posted, general Trinh and a party of 30 crept through the camp into the sleeping rebel's tent and murdered him. This was unfortunate for Tran Tuan, but fortunate for the author because Tran was the family name of the previous, Chinese, owner of the coin, which he cherished greatly since no Chinese coin uses the character Tran. Only at learning of poor Tran Tuan's ineptitude at self defense would he agree to relinquish the coin.

Two varieties of the coin are listed in the literature. Illustrated Plates shows a large variety which measures 24 mm. in diameter, and Gosen's book lists two pieces both with a diameter of 23 mm. The piece pictured in figure 23.1 is the larger variety with a diameter of 24.2 mm. Tran Tan Cong Bao is a well celebrated piece and was assigned the highest price of any official Vietnamese coin by Ding Fu Pao in his original book. For this reason the coin is often faked and high quality forgeries have been seen lately. For more information about forgeries of this coin and several examples of both real and fake pieces please see the  Tran Tan Cong Bao Forgeries  page.
 

Dr. R. Allan Barker
Singapore
February 2, 2000

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