File:Toda No. 76 景興通寶.gif

English: XVI.

The 黎 Le Dynasty. - 1428-1785. (continued) 25th King. - 顯宗 HIEN-TONG. 1740-1786. The rebellions which broke out in Tunquin during this period, were almost without number. Princes belonging to the Royal family, generals, civil mandarins, common people, and out-casts from the hills, all rose in the provinces against the tyranny of the Trinh, as well as for their personal interests. Hien-tong was no more king than his predecessors, and Trinh-dinh bore up bravely against the weight of so many wars, which were at last subdued through the good organization of his army, and owing to the rapidity with which he moved from one province to the other. He died in 1765 and was succeeded by his son 鄭參 TRINH-SUM, who, having restored peace in Tunquin, availed himself of the troubles in Cochinchina caused by the 西山 Tay-son rebellion, to invade that country with an army of thirty thousand men, who soon occupied Hue, the capital of the Nguyen. Trinh-sum received there the submission of the rebel chief and handed over to him the government of the Quang-nam province. Hearing that rebels had made their appearance in Tunquin, Trinh-sum hurried back to Ha-noi, having king Hien-tong still with him. He died in 1781 and was succeeded by his son 鄭佳 TRINH-GIAI, who, seeing his power seriously endangered by a rebellion among his own troops, committed suicide in 1785, to avoid falling alive into the hands of the Tay-son chief 文惠 VAN-HUE. King Hien-toing was ill in his palace, when the rebel entered it and submitted at once to the royal authority. The king died in the 9th moon of 1785. In 1740 King HIEN-TONG ascended the throne, and during his reign a larger quantity of cash were cast than during that of any former king. Some of the coins issued under his directions have on the reverse the characters denoting the province or mint in which they were cast; and others, instead of the characters 通寶 thong-bao, current coin, or 元寶 nguyen-bao, original coin on the obverse, have other characters substituted as will be seen hereafter. It was also at that time that the casting of larger cash began, these being meant to be given away as a royal reward to deserving officers; but owing to their number and the value of the copper used they soon found their way into circulation.

No. 76. (Barker: 68.1-68.34) Obverse: 景興通寶 Canh-hung-thong-bao.

Reverse: plain, with a broad rim. Red and white copper.