1042

1042. Vietnam Sycee Bar

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1042.  Vietnam Sycee Bar
1042. Resembling a Hang, or trough for feeding animals, this long, bowed, rectangular bar called nen bac is distinctly Vietnamese type of semi-official sycee, which was later produced outside Vietnam as well for use in the opium trade. Today most specimens come from the west via Thailand where they are called Ngern Rong. This piece weighs 11.59 troy ounces. They were made by bankers (silver merchants); when presented to government officials for testing. a fee was paid Thap (10) Lang and three other "veritification stamps" were added. Bars with these "Royal Stamps" are scarce. Treasury officials would also test scrap brought to them, and cast bars bearing the three royal stamps and the official assayer's name at the lower left side, but without the four verification stamps. The exact alloy of this bar is unknown.