The keeper of history through the collection 'Uncle Ho's Silver'

In the middle of the bustling Ho Chi Minh City, there is a quiet space at the Xu Nam Ky cafe, where collector Huynh Minh Hiep has turned ancient coins into vivid pages of history. The collection "Uncle Ho's Silver"

The keeper of history through the collection "Uncle Ho's Silver".

Declaration of Independence in "Uncle Ho's Silver" currency

The story of the country’s first coin collection is not just about numbers and denominations, but a journey back in time. Mr. Huynh Minh Hiep is a “soul keeper” of heritage, spending more than three decades connecting the fragments of the past and recreating a glorious part of the nation’s history.

The first four "Uncle Ho Silver" coins have the following denominations: 20 cents 1945; 5 hao 1946; 1 dong 1946; 2 dong 1946.

After the August Revolution in 1945, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born in a "critical" situation. The young revolutionary government had to face internal and external enemies and an exhausted economy. In that context, the French colonialists opened fire to reoccupy the South, plotting to re-establish their domination. In that situation, building an independent financial system was a vital task. The Party, the Government and President Ho Chi Minh were deeply aware that Vietnam must have its own monetary system to affirm national sovereignty .

The first paper money of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was issued in 1946.

The first set of coins, officially called "financial silver", was born. But the people affectionately called it "Uncle Ho's Silver", because for the first time in history, the image of the beloved leader was respectfully printed on currency. This was not just a design decision but an act of historical significance, turning coins and banknotes into powerful symbols of national independence and national unity.

Even the shortcomings of the banknotes: the material is primitive Do paper, the "variants" with different colors and sizes due to being printed in secret war zones, are also eloquent proof of the resilience and creativity of a government during wartime.

Each coin in Mr. Hiep's collection is a living piece of history. Mr. Hiep shared: "Coins were minted before paper money. In 1945, 20 cents were minted in aluminum with a star shape. By 1946, three other denominations were introduced: 5 hao (with a cauldron shape), 1 dong (with a portrait of Uncle Ho looking sideways) and 2 dong (with a portrait of Uncle Ho looking straight ahead)."

Mr. Hiep also revealed an interesting detail: "On the 1 dong coin, there is a very small engraving of the words 'H.Ngoc'. This is the name of engineer Hoang Nhu Ngoc, who was allowed by Uncle Ho to have his name engraved to recognize his contributions in minting money."

Close-up of two sides of a 1 cent coin.

Paper money was also issued in parallel, with denominations ranging from 20 cents to 100 dong, printed on fragile Do paper but containing unique stories. Due to being printed at many secret printing houses, many notes have different "variants". For example, the 100 dong "green buffalo" note has two versions of Uncle Ho's portrait, one with a large image and one with a small version. The 5 dong note stands out with its special vertical design instead of the usual horizontal one. The motifs on the notes are mainly images of farmers and engineers, clearly expressing the ideology of "all-people, all-out resistance".

In particular, the 5-dong banknotes at that time were issued vertically.

“During this period, the South also had a special type of money called "stamped money". People took advantage of French Indochina silver and stamped it with the seal of the Southern Resistance Administrative Committee for temporary circulation (1949 - 1952). This type of money is extremely rare for collectors and is a testament to the flexibility of the revolutionary government,” Mr. Hiep added.

In addition to "Uncle Ho's Silver", Mr. Hiep also collected "stamped money" of the Southern Resistance Administrative Committee, stamped and temporarily circulated (1949 - 1952).

From personal passion to community legacy

Mr. Huynh Minh Hiep said that his passion journey began in 1993, when he learned about world currencies. After setting the Vietnam Record for the largest collection of world currencies in 2005, he decided to return to his roots and started collecting Vietnamese currencies through the ages. However, the collection that he is most passionate about is the "financial silver" collection - the coins that gave birth to an independent Vietnam.

His passion stems not only from his personal interests but also from his family's patriotic tradition. His great-grandfather was an advisor to the Southern Resistance Administrative Committee, a special historical connection that adds meaning to his collecting work. Collecting resistance coins is not only a joy but also a way for him to continue his father's legacy, becoming a "soldier on the cultural front".

Mr. Hiep's world currency collection is displayed at exhibitions across the country.

It took Mr. Hiep 3-4 years to complete his collection of "financial silver". Mr. Hiep shared: "Coins are harder to find than paper money, especially the 20-cent coin from 1945. I spent many years searching and was only lucky to find it during a business trip to Hung Yen province (old)".

For Mr. Huynh Minh Hiep, collecting is not just for keeping for himself. Therefore, Mr. Hiep has organized many prestigious exhibitions at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum and the Vietnam Women's Museum. An important milestone was in 2010, when his collection was displayed at the National History Museum on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi.

Now, he takes a more intimate approach by displaying the collection at his Xứ Nam Kỳ cafe. He brings history into everyday life, where people can sip coffee and learn about the country's first coins. This approach makes history more engaging and accessible.

Mr. Hiep respectfully displays the "Uncle Ho's Silver" collection in the middle of the Xu Nam Ky cafe so that everyone can come and admire it.

Meritorious Artist Kim Tuyen expressed her deep admiration after admiring the collection: "As a Vietnamese citizen, I feel very precious and want to thank Mr. Huynh Minh Hiep for his contribution in preserving, transmitting, and bringing good messages from ancient coins to everyone."

With a passion for antiques, Mr. Tran Khac Dung, a long-time collector in Ho Chi Minh City, shared his knowledge about the "Uncle Ho's Silver" collection: "What is special is that these aluminum coins were cast from the same machine used to cast bronze during the reign of King Bao Dai. After that, the Government made new molds with the image of a star and Uncle Ho, the beloved leader of the nation. A few months later, the paper money was printed."

Mr. Dung believes that the "Uncle Ho's Silver" collection is not only a historical artifact but also a clear testament to the nation's independence and freedom. "Just like the younger generation is proud of the value of the Declaration of Independence, these first coins also carry great value, for us to be proud of and cherish," Mr. Dung shared.

Mr. Tran Khac Dung discussed the "Uncle Ho's Silver" collection with Mr. Hiep.

From his passion for collecting ancient coins, Mr. Huynh Minh Hiep has turned his personal collection into a valuable treasure, not only a bridge between the past and the present but also bearing a strong historical and cultural mark for the future. These coins not only represent the strength and will of independence of the nation through each historical period, but are also a precious heritage of the collector himself. With a lifetime of passion and deep research, Mr. Huynh Minh Hiep has left an indelible mark, helping historical memories live forever in the hearts of future generations.

According to VNA

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nguoi-giu-lua-lich-su-qua-bo-suu-tap-bac-cu-ho--a427743.html