SRV 20 Dong

The SRV 20 Dong coin, minted between 1988 and 1990, featured a design that incorporated the Vietnamese national emblem, including a cogwheel and rice stalks, directly echoing the country's socialist symbolism.

This brass commemorative was produced in limited quantities, though exact mintage figures remain unclear due to spotty records from Vietnam's post-war era. Struck at the Hanoi Mint, it measured about 23 millimeters in diameter, with a plain edge that made it easy to stack but prone to wear in circulation.

We know it circulated briefly alongside paper notes, but its commemorative status kept it out of everyday use for most people. The brass composition, likely sourced from domestic alloys, gave it a dull sheen that aged quickly in humid climates.

One oddity: For a coin symbolizing renewal, it didn't circulate long before being phased out—perhaps the numismatic equivalent of a short-lived promise.