Four Chinese characters - Gia Long Thong Bao (Vietnamese reading) / Blank. 22.5mm, 2.09 grams. Issued 1802-1819. Hartill 25.35; KM 169.1a. The Nguye>?n Dynasty was the last ruling family of Vietnam. Their rule lasted a total of 143 years. It began in 1802 when Emperor Gia Long ascended the throne after defeating the Tây So9n Dynasty and ended in 1945 when Ba2o Ða-.i abdicated the throne and transferred power to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. During the reign of Emperor Gia Long, the nation officially became known as Vie>-.t Nam, but from the reign of emperor Minh Ma-.ng on, the nation was renamed Ða-.i Nam (literally "Great South"). Their rule was marked by the increasing influence of French colonialism; the nation was eventually partitioned into three, Cochinchina became a French colony while Annam and Tonkin became protectorates which were independent in name only.