An unusual coinage. Ouchi clan trial coin. Tokugawa Akitake. Bunkyu period 1861-1863. Obv: 大内家系 （Ouchi Kakei). Rev: 存是货术（Son zeka jutsu). Zeno: 180220。 Although referred to in Zeno as Oura, the name in Kanji is actually Ouchi, another notable Japanese clan. Unlisted in Early Japanese Coins by Hartill and Munro. These were trial strikes issued by the Ouchi clan, one of the powerful Japanese clans that was dominant since the Ashikaga Shogunate. Apparently one of the Gonsake 三家 or 3 houses of the ruling Tokugawa family at the Mito-han. It bears an interesting double holed design. Unfortunately the design and trial strikes were not approved by the government for circulation. Extremely rare.
This specimen seems to show a tiny gap in the edge of the hole on both sides as if it were a feature of the design (but possibly not completely opened/trimmed). Is this a feature or just a minor fault in casting? If a feature, was it to allow something to pass through? Is anything known that would shed light on the obvious question, "Why two holes?"
There is a small gap between them. It is a conscious feature of the coin. If you refer to Hartill's Early Japanese Coins book, such coins exists and only the Kochi clan specimen was catalogued.. also having 2 holes. I believe the 2 holes was not intentional but rather resulting from the 2 edges of the ends touching each other.. I also believe it is an intentional design to replicate an existing design reminiscent of an "barbell" rounding into a circle
Looks like you could break this design in half in order to make change, although I don't think the Chinese designed their coins to be hacked like an English penny or Spanish 8-Reale.................or did they?
I don't think they intended to allow this broken as change. It's just a design. Moreover it is but the size of a large cent
I've had the idea that the clans issuing their own coinage and hanhatsu did so without much government oversight - with hanhatsu there were reportedly some instances of issuers going insolvent - vis a vis the wildcat banking schemes in the USA. When the coinage and whole monetary system converted to the yen ca. 1871 oversight was much more prevalent - eliminating private coinages and strictly enforcing privately issued banknotes in a system greatly resembling the National Banking Act of 1864 in America. In fact those privately issued notes even closely resemble National banknotes because they were printed by Continental Banknote in the USA.
Yes you are correct. The hansatsu were more like promissory notes or cheques which can be exchanged for the amount. But even during the early years of the Meiji restoration each clan or Daimyo were like a government to themselves with the weakening Tokugawa Shogunate and consolidation of Imperial power. So much variety and designs during such a short period of time
I only own one Hanhatsu note. From of all places, Hiroshima. I have travelled to Japan and absolutely love the place. Such a very pretty country and amazing people. Then I went to China and same thing. And my reading abilities in Kanji are limited but I managed.
Some people collect hansatsu extensively although I don't have that much myself. Though I do find them pretty fascinating as the designs look pretty oriental and like bookmarks really. I love Japan and thus one of the reasons why I chose this field of Japanese numismatics as a key field of collection..
