1841-7 Annam T, KM-255, NGC AU55. This undated Tien is labeled Annam, a name of Vietnam used prior to 1945. The silver coin is toned dark olive, tan, and steel-grey on both sides. Some wear is seen, in keeping with the grade. The surfaces are original and clean, for the grade. The coin is holed with a square hole punched in the center, which was flattened on both sides after punching.

The obverse inscription is Thieu Tri Thong Bao. The reverse is blank because this coin was used as a presentation piece and not meant for circulation. It is made from silver and weighs 1.800 grams.

The Emperor Thieu Tri was the son of Minh Mang. He reigned from February 1841 until his death in 1847. As emperor, he followed conservative policies including isolation and Confucianism. He had some curiosity about the West, but, like his father, he was suspicious of outsiders. When French missionaries ignored a ban from operating in the country, Thieu Tri began to imprison them. In response the French government sent a military expedition to Indochina (Vietnam) to protect French interests and free the missionaries. In 1845 there was almost a clash with the United States when the warship USS Constitution was sent to force Thieu Tri to free an illegal French missionary who had come to Vietnam many times.

In 1847 a French task force destroyed the Vietnamese coastal forts and several junks. The emperor ordered that all Christians be executed, but the order was not put into effect, and Thieu Tri died soon afterwards.