To better understand the currency units in the story, the author would like to provide a brief overview of the monetary system used.
Metal Currency (Copper Coins)
This was the primary and most common form of currency throughout the Tran Dynasty period.
Material and Design: The coins were cast from a copper alloy, round in shape with a square hole in the center (known as "thong bao" coins). This design made it convenient to string the coins together for easy storage and transactions.
Units of Account: The monetary system of this era consisted of the Quan (貫), Tien (錢), and Dong (文).
1 Quan = 10 Tien.
1 Tien = approximately 60 - 70 Dong (this number was not always fixed).
Names and Identification: Each coin was typically inscribed with the era name of the reigning emperor. Consequently, there were many different types of coins corresponding to the various Tran emperors. Some typical examples of Tran Dynasty copper coins include:
Kien Trung Thong Bao (under Emperor Tran Thai Tong)
Nguyen Phong Thong Bao (under Emperor Tran Thai Tong)
Thieu Phong Thong Bao (under Emperor Tran Du Tong)
Dai Tri Thong Bao (under Emperor Tran Du Tong)
Khai Thai Thong Bao (under Emperor Tran Minh Tong)
Paper Money: "Thong Bao Hoi Sao"
Towards the end of the Tran Dynasty, when real power was in the hands of Ho Quy Ly, a major monetary reform took place with the introduction of the first paper money in Vietnamese history.
Date of Issue: In 1396, Ho Quy Ly issued paper money named "Thong Bao Hoi Sao."
Purpose: The issuance of paper money served several purposes:
To overcome the shortage of copper for minting coins.
To recall copper metal from the populace and concentrate it in the state treasury for weapons manufacturing.
To strengthen the court's control over the economy.
Circulation Policy: The state compelled the people to exchange their circulating copper coins for "Thong Bao Hoi Sao" paper money. Anyone found hoarding or using the old copper coins would be severely punished.
Denominations: The paper money came in various denominations, distinguished by illustrations such as seaweed, turtles, unicorns, and phoenixes. The denominations included: 10 dong, 20 dong, 30 dong, 1 tien, 2 tien, 3 tien, 5 tien, and 1 quan.
However, because the populace was unfamiliar with using paper money and due to the coercive nature of the policy, "Thong Bao Hoi Sao" was not widely accepted and quickly lost its value, causing significant disruption to the economy at the time.
In summary, the official currency of the Tran Dynasty was the copper coin, with units of account being the Quan, Tien, and Dong.
However, history also records the appearance of "Thong Bao Hoi Sao" paper money during the final period - a groundbreaking but ultimately unsuccessful event in Vietnam's monetary history.
Of course, this is only for reference. The author is not a scholar with profound knowledge; all materials were found in history books and on the internet. Please treat it as a kind of fictional currency.