{"product_id":"19th-century-vietnam-tael-silver-banana-bar-371-grams","title":"19th Century Vietnam Tael Silver Banana Bar (371 grams)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 19th Century Vietnam Tael Silver “Banana Bar” is a distinctive and culturally important form of bullion that circulated widely throughout Vietnam during a period of active regional trade. Cast in high-purity silver and shaped into a gently curved, elongated form, these bars earned the nickname “banana bars” and became a trusted medium of exchange as well as a reliable store of wealth. Local assayers frequently produced them by melting down a mix of high-grade foreign coins—most commonly Spanish and Mexican 8 reales—alongside other regional bullion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause of this practice, genuine examples typically test between \u003cstrong data-end=\"742\" data-start=\"725\"\u003e95–98% purity\u003c\/strong\u003e. Each bar’s individually cast character, subtle surface variations, and occasional assayer marks provide clues to its origin and circulation.\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 371 grams\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Thompsons Coins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49540480237801,"sku":"TC06949","price":1195.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0604\/9824\/7913\/files\/IMG_2396.jpg?v=1764628950","url":"https:\/\/thompsonscoins.com.au\/products\/19th-century-vietnam-tael-silver-banana-bar-371-grams","provider":"Thompsons Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}