Vietnam gold "leaf bars"/wafers (taels)

fruitloops

Please correct me if I'm wrong, butI believe these coins are called taels. I recently picked up an almost 8 gram one from the ANA national money show in phoenix. I know next to nothing about them other than the fact that apparently some of the larger ones were produced in the USA and not vietnam (and have USA on them). This is what the dealer told me. I'm also interested in the history of them as I heard they were smuggled out of vietnam due to their extreme thinness. I find them fasinating and would like to know how they are produced. Does anyone here know the history of the coins or have any more knowledge on them, where I can find more pieces and history of them? I was told by a dealer at the same show to be cautious; he said they are not as rare as some people may think, he said they were common and it is common practice to put the 1920 or 1930 date on a bar that is still struck today.

Here's a picture of a 14 gram one on clark smiths website.

Blackhawk

First that I've heard of them...thanks for sharing. You've got me curious about the pieces.

fruitloops

<< <i>First that I've heard of them...thanks for sharing. You've got me curious about the pieces. >>



I know! They are fasinating huh? Here's a good link that explains them well and has a nice story with it: Here

They come in rice paper I think, so far I've seen them in long bars, the 14 gram one clark is selling, and mine which is about a 1/4 of an ounce close to 8 grams.

trozau

From Wikipedia: " The tael is the name used in English to refer to various weight measures of the Far East. Most commonly, it refers to the Chinese tael (Chinese: 両, liǎng in Mandarin, leung in Cantonese[1]; lượng in Vietnamese), a part of the Chinese system of weights and currency . There were many different weighting standards of tael depending on the region or type of trade. In general the silver tael weighed around 40 grams. The most common government measure was the Kùpíng (庫平 "treasury") tael, weighing 1.2 Troy ounces (37.3 g). A common commercial weight, the Cáopíng (漕&#24179 tael weighed 1.18 Troy ounces (36.7 g) of marginally less pure silver."

Gold is commonly sold and traded in that form in Vietnam. I do not believe they are used as a coin/currency.

lordmarcovan

I know absolutely zip-zilcho-nada about these, but they're cool lookin'.

Had you not mentioned the one you posted was on Clark Smith's site, I'd have been suspicious of it being a fantasy of some sort.

But that's an understandable knee-jerk reaction, I suppose, knowing nothing about these as I do.

Hussulo

Don't know anything about them, but it is a very neat piece.

sumnom

Let me add to the chorus of ignorance! I don't know anything about them but they sure look interesting. Thank you for sharing the image with us. I look forward to learning more.

fruitloops

<< <i>From Wikipedia: " The tael is the name used in English to refer to various weight measures of the Far East. Most commonly, it refers to the Chinese tael (Chinese: 両, liǎng in Mandarin, leung in Cantonese[1]; lượng in Vietnamese), a part of the Chinese system of weights and currency . There were many different weighting standards of tael depending on the region or type of trade. In general the silver tael weighed around 40 grams. The most common government measure was the Kùpíng (庫平 "treasury") tael, weighing 1.2 Troy ounces (37.3 g). A common commercial weight, the Cáopíng (漕&#24179 tael weighed 1.18 Troy ounces (36.7 g) of marginally less pure silver."

Gold is commonly sold and traded in that form in Vietnam. I do not believe they are used as a coin/currency. >>



Do you know if these pieces have collectors premium?

I paid $300 for mine and its 7.79 grams (exactly 1/4 oz of gold) and the spot price of 1/4 oz is $243.05 melt. The guy selling it to me was pretty reputable and he told me it has a 20% collectors premium. So I added %20 of the melt and it came up to around $291. So that leaves at least 9 dollars profit I'm sure he made more.

trozau

<< <i>Do you know if these pieces have collectors premium?

I paid $300 for mine and its 7.79 grams (exactly 1/4 oz of gold) and the spot price of 1/4 oz is $243.05 melt. The guy selling it to me was pretty reputable and he told me it has a 20% collectors premium. So I added %20 of the melt and it came up to around $291. So that leaves at least 9 dollars profit I'm sure he made more. >>



AFAIK, they are bought and sold as bullion. For that reason, I have not dabbled into them and have preferred to go with the more recognized gold bullion coins. With the current gold uptrend (which I believe will still continue) you should make up the extra premium you paid sooner or later.