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Saturday, September 4, 2010

Gold Koban(10 Ryo) of the Tokugawa Shogunate

Posted by slang on May 26, 2010

Gold koban(10 Ryo) of the Tokugawa Shogunate (source:British Museum)

Gold koban(10 Ryo) of the Tokugawa Shogunate -Height: 134.000 mm Width: 81.000 mm Weight: 102.930 g (source:British Museum)

This is quite an interesting piece of gold coin from ancient Japan issued under the Tokugawa Shogunate government. It is unique because the denomination and mint mark are inscribed in ink! During the reign,copper,gold and silver coins are issued. The gold coins were oval or rectangular slabs; the silver coins were bars or round lumps and later also rectangular slabs. These coins were not made in the same way as the copper coins. They were hammered into the desired shape and then stamped with marks to show that they were official coins.

“EXTRACTED FROM BRITISH MUSEUM ABOUT THIS COIN”

Edo period (AD 1600-1868)

ōban were made of hammered gold with a face value of 10 ryō (ounces). The word ōban means ‘large stamped [piece]‘ in Japanese. The earliest ōban were made in the 1580s, when the feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536/7-98) co-operated with wealthy merchants in the Kansai district of central Japan and monopolized Japan’s metal mines. He then began to mint gold coins of fixed quality.

The earliest ōban had no inscription – ideal for forgers. To overcome this problem, inscriptions and stamp marks were added. By 1586, the value of the ōban and the signature of the Goto family (the hereditary superintendents of the mint) were handwritten in ink on the front of the ōban. A flower stamp (hanaoshi) was also impressed on the surface. The stamp featured the crest of the paulownia flower (kiri) crest, which was later used in official government and imperial seals.

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Filed Under: Japanese Gold coin, Japanese coins, World Coins & Story

1 Yen, Meiji Year 29 (1896) And Year 45 (1912)Tokyo Mint

Posted by slang on September 23, 2009

Earlier article showed a one yen year 1894  Japanese dragon coin which explained some of its features. Below are another two more beautiful Japanese dragon motif coins for those coin collectors who loved the majestic dragon as part of  theme collection.

1 Yen, Meiji Year 29 (1896), Tokyo Mint, Gin countermark on right

1 Yen, Meiji Year 29 (1896), Tokyo Mint, Gin countermark on right

 

1 Yen, Meiji Year 45 (1912)

1 Yen, Meiji Year 45 (1912)

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Filed Under: Japanese coins

Japan 1820-1837 Silver “Bean” Coin Mameita-Gin

Posted by slang on September 16, 2009

Japan Bunsei silver Bean coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. God of Plenty and characters

Japan Bunsei silver Bean coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. God of Plenty and characters

Above picture is the Japan Bunsei silver ”Bean” coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. God of Plenty  and characters, Weight: 8g. Size: ~16×14 mm

Japan Bunsei silver Bean coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. special pattern and characters

Japan Bunsei silver Bean coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. special pattern and characters

Above picture is a Japan Bunsei silver ”Bean” coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. special pattern and characters, Weight: 12g. Size: ~19.5×15.3 mm

Japan Ansei silver Bean coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1859-65, Obv. 2 characters Sei

Japan Ansei silver Bean coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1859-65, Obv. 2 characters Sei

Above picture is a Japan Ansei silver ”Bean” coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1859-65, Obv. 2 characters Sei, Weight: 11.2g.   Size: ~19×15 mm


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Filed Under: Japanese coins

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