Watch List notes:

Vietnam (Annam), gold 1 lang hand-engraved currency bar, Emperor Tu Duc (1848-83), unique.cf KM-238 (different ruler); cf Sch-190 (different ruler); Fr-50 (5th ed, for basic type); cf Yunnan Coin Research Association-p. 323 #39/40 (for basic type); cf Paris Administration of Money and Medals-V305 & V306 (for basic type).36.20 grams; 43x12x5mm.Obverse with hand-inscribed Chinese characters "Tu Duc Nien Tao" within rectangle border; reverse with hand-inscribed Chinese characters "Hoang Kim Nhat Lang" within rectangle border; edge with hand-inscribed vine/floral design on sides, square at top and circle at bottom. This general type is extremely rare, the only other examples we could find (but from other rulers) being one of Emperor Gia Long (1802-20, ex-Lawrence Adams, CNG 2016, hammered at $13,000) and one of Emperor Minh Mang (1820-41, ex-King Farouk, Sotheby's 1954, sold again in 2014 for $18,000 hammer, plated in KM); none of this hand-engraved type are yet known for Emperor Thieu Tri (1841-47), the father and immediate predecessor to Emperor Tu Duc (this bar), who was considered the last independent ruler of Annam. XF surfaces with a few marks and one long hairline scratch, toned in the markings. Tested (XRF) at 62% gold and 37% silver.Pedigreed to the Stack's Bowers-Ponterio auction of August 2017 (lot 61005).
($5000-7500)