102mm long, 12mm wide, 59.3 grams.

From an old US collection. Reportedly from an old shipwreck, showing salt water damage. Very interesting and neat silver bar.

In 19th-century Vietnam, a distinctive form of silver currency known as thoi or silver bar money was widely used, particularly under the Nguyễn Dynasty. These silver bars, typically cast rather than struck, came in various weights - commonly 1 lang (about 37.5 grams) - and were often rectangular or boat-shaped with slightly rounded edges. They frequently bore stamped markings indicating their weight, silver content, and sometimes mint location or official approval, such as the seal of a local authority. This form of currency coexisted with copper cash coins and foreign silver dollars, and it played a central role in larger commercial transactions and tax payments. As French colonial influence expanded in the late 19th century, these traditional silver bars were gradually replaced by Western-style coinage.