安南嗣德通宝兆民赖之。 ANNAM. 5 Tien, ND (1843-83). Tu Duc. NGC MS-63. 此大尺寸银币正面可见龙穿云图，设计华丽精美。反面为“嗣德通宝兆民赖之”。细节满打锐利，正面底板呈哑光质感，粼粼光泽点缀极具神秘感的设计。表面全无包浆，亦不见碍眼留痕或磕碰。市面上鲜少露面的版别，收藏大规格银钱的藏家必定关注。 KM-456.2; Sch-349.3; Thierry-V288 (gold); Thierry Supplement-Not listed; T.Z.S.L.-pg. 289 # 87; Dav-132. A remarkably intricate and quite whimsical design decorates the obverse of this engaging large-sized silver type, featuring a facing dragon against a cloudy backdrop. On the reverse appears the characters "Tu Duc Thong Bao Trieu Dan Lai Chi". The details are fully struck up and sharply defined, the somewhat matte-like texture of the obverse fields providing a shimmering backdrop to the lively mythical design. Overall the surfaces are untoned and relatively free of distracting marks or hits. A tantalizing and unlikely survivor from an issue that very seldom appears on the marketplace as a whole, and sure to attract much attention from connoisseurs of large-denomination silver Tien types.The inscription, translated as "The whole nation will be confident", on this type was borrowed from a chapter in the "Tho Kinh", a manuscript of penal laws of the Prince of Lu. This appears to follow the teachings of Confucius who believed in a well-ordered society tied to tradition and the past, but also valued academia and held the view that the country resembled a large family guided by a righteous and just ruler. Confucius believed that the ideal ruler governed by compassion, not force, and would avoid war while tending to the needs of the less fortunate. Though a ruler who failed to set a good example for his subjects, their reign would end in disaster.
