REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (1955-1975); VIETNAM WAR ERA
RARE GENUINE PRE-1975 KIM-THANH GOLD LEAVES IN ORIGINAL WRAPPER
1.2057 OUNCES OF .9999 PURE GOLD 4 PIECES
KIM THANH WAS A PRE-1975 REFINER/BULLION DEALER IN SAIGON AND HANOI IN VIETNAM, AS WELL AS PHNOM PENH IN CAMBODIA AND THE CROWN COLONY OF HONG KONG. THE BARS OR LEAVES OF GOLD OF ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE ARE .9999 IN PURITY WITH THE COMBINED AND EXACT WEIGHT OF 37.5 GRAMS (1.2057 OZ AGW).
THE PACK CONSISTS OF 3 GOLD LEAVES AND SMALL PIECE OF 15, 15 AND 7.5 GRAM WEIGHT RESPECTIVELY (THE 4TH PIECE IS ON THE 7.5 GRAM REVERSE FOLDED OVER SECTION), WRAPPED TOGETHER IN THE ORIGINAL THIN OIL PAPER WITH MANUFACTURER BRAND PRINTING.
FAMOUS THROUGHOUT SOUTHEST ASIA BEFORE AND DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, THESE BARS WERE USED BY REFUGEES FLEEING VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA TO ESCAPE THE COMMUNISTS. MANY REFUGEES ESCAPED BY BOAT, SAILING INTO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA IN HOPES OF BEING RESCUED BY THE U.S. NAVY, AND EARNING THEM THE EPITHET OF "BOAT PEOPLE". A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER HAD TRANSFERRED THEIR LIFE SAVINGS FROM CURRENCY TO KIM-THANH BARS, SOME EVEN SEWING THEM INTO THE LINING OF THEIR CLOTHING, TO KEEP THE GOLD SAFE, AND TO HELP THEM REBUILD THEIR LIVES ON FOREIGN SHORES.
CONTAINS TWO (95 MM x 35 MM) BAR/LEAVES BEARING THE SAME STAMP WITH COMPANY NAME AT TOP AND CIRCULAR LOGO IN EACH CORNER, WITH THE CITY LOCATIONS, THE WORDS "OR PUR (PURE GOLD)" IN FRENCH AND VIETNAMESE CHARACTERS BENEATH. THE THIRD HALF-BAR/LEAF (42 MM x 36 MM) HAS ONLY THE UPPER HALF STAMPING AS ON THE LONGER BARS. THE ORIGINAL WRAPPER IS WORN WHERE THE CORNERS OF THE BARS HAVE RESTED, BUT WITH THE PRINTING INTACT.
4 PIECES CONTAINS A TOTAL OF 37.5 GRAMS OF .9999 PURE GOLD (1.2057 OZ AGW)
