The first official coins of Japan - the full set completed at last

This was previously posted and featured years ago when my collection was only partial.. However, I am happy and proud to finally share my completed set after almost a decade of searching..

The following thread showcases all of the 12 antique coins of Imperial Japan or 皇朝十二钱 （kochou junisen). These were the first official circulating coins minted in Japanese history. The emphasis on official is noted as only recently in 1998 did researchers dug up what is now regarded as Japan's earliest coins, the Fuuhonsen 富本钱 in the ancient rural capital of Fujiwara ko by half a century. However unlike the 12, the Fuuhonsen was not recorded as official issues for trade and circulation. References to David Hartill's excellent book "Early Japanese Coins" were made and illustrations within for specimens outside of my collection were provided for illustrative purposes. Due to their limited issues and habit of one to ten exchange rates every susbequent issues, they are very to extremely rare.

Prior to the issuance of the 12 antique coins, the Japanese economy relied heavily on a barter system. Semblances of a circulating currency lies in the import of the Kaigen Tsuho 開元通寳 (Kaiyuan Tongbao) from Tang Dynasty, China. Thus the 12 antique coins bear a significance in Japan's monetary history as they were the first official attempt to assert their own independence from an already heavy cultural dominance from China.

The first official coin of Japan - Wado Kaichin (和同開珎）。

Officially, they were also referred to as the Wado Kaiho 和同開寳. The zhen 珎 was an archaic attempt by the Japanese to simplify the intended character of treasure "寳" (pronounced as Ho) by retaining only the centre particle. Officially decreed by the then Empress Genmei in AD708, they imitated the calligraphy of the Tang Kaiyuan (particularly obvious on the Kai character) but using recently discovered copper deposits in the Musashi province. These were separated between the old "Ko" Wado, minted in both silver and copper in 708. Wado incidentally meant Japanese Copper with Wa 和 being the ancient name for Japan and 同 being a possible abbreviation for 銅 meaning copper.

The ko wado is copper but given the infancy of their mintage and purer content, they are significantly cruder and of poor state of preservation.

The following photo displays the ko Wado specimen in my collection.



From 720-759 the new "Shin" Wado was minted after employing Tang Dynasty mint officials to improve their minting techniques. Due to the significant advancements from Tang Dynasty mint officials, the quality is significantly superior both in terms of the consistency and qualitu of the calligraphy and flan (although at a lesser copper purity). The following is a sample of a Shin Wado from my collection for reference



Today, the Wadokaichin remained a symbolic icon of Japan's economic history. The original copper mine has now become a national historical shrine as well as a tourist attraction. The following are pictures of the Wadokuriya shrine. Source:http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-city-guides/wadokuroya-chichibu


The 2nd issue - Mannen Tsuho (萬年通寳）
During the reign of Emperor Junnin, in AD758-64, the Mannen Tsuho or "ten thousand year circulating treasure" was issued for general circulation at a rate of one to ten Wado Kaichins. As I Do not have a specimen in my collection I am attaching a picture from Hartill's Early Japanese Coins (EJC) book.



The 3rd issue - Jingo Kaiho (神功開寳）
The Jingo Kaiho or "Divine Merit Inaugural Treasure" was issued under Empress Shotoku in AD765. Similar to the Mannen, they were issued at an exchange rate of one to ten Wado. It was an attempt to alleviate shortage of currency from hoarding largely due to the exchange ratio as well as lack of appreciation from rural Japan over the use of currency. The following is a specimen in my collection


The 4th issue - Ryuhei Eiho (隆平永寳）

Issued under Emperor Kammu in AD796, the "Eternal Treasure of Prosperous Peace" was issued at a rate of one to ten previous issued coins.


The 5th issue - Fuju Shimpo (富壽神寳）
The "Divine Treasure of Wealth and Longevity" was introduced by Emperor Saga in AD818. This coin marked the beginning of a general decline in the quality of coinage as a shortfall of copper was compensated by an increasing lead content in the alloy.


The 6th issue - Jowa Shoho (永和昌寳）
Issued in AD835 during Emperor Ninmyo's reign, the "Flourishing Treasure of the Jowa era" at a rate of one to ten of the older coins.



The 7th issue - Chonen Taiho (長年大寳）
The "Great Treasure of Many Years" was issued also by Emperor Ninmyo in AD848, the first year of the Kasho era.


To be continued...

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Very informative, thanks for sharing

 

The 8th issue - Nyoyaku Shimpo (僥益神寳
Issued in AD859 under the reign of Emperor Seiwa. The "Divine Treasure of Abundant Profit" was issued similar to previous issues at one to ten exchange rate of earlier coins. This coin is probably the toughest of the 12 to acquire due to its extreme rarity and is often the gap for most collection sets.


The 9th issue - Jogan Eiho (貞觀永寳）
The "Everlasting Treasure of the Righteous Contemplation Era" were issued also by Emperor Seiwa during the 12th year (AD870) of the Jogan Era. Most notably their quality was one of the poorest of the twelve and received severe court reprimand.


The 10th issue - Kampyo Taiho (寛平大寳）
The "Great Treasure of the Liberal Peace Era" was Issued by the Emperor Uda in AD890 during the Kampyo era despite an acute shortage of copper.


The penultimate issue - Engi Tsuho (延喜通寳）
The "Circulating treasure of prolonged happiness" was issued by the Emperor Daigo in AD907. This period marked a growing disgust by the people over these coinage as a poor workmanship (small size and heavy lead content or full lead issue) marked an eventual end of Japanese coinage in the next issue.


The last of the twelve - Kengen Taiho 乾元大寳
The last "Great Treasure of Heavenly Origin" marked the end of Japanese coinage. Issued in AD958 by Emperor Murakami, they were characteristic of poor workmanship and debasement. In 987, an imperial decree prohibited the use of coinage which marked an end of Japanese coinage for the next 6 centuries.

 

Thanks.. back then i only had 5 of the 12.. only this year i was fortunate enough to finally complete the 12..

 

Very interesting coins and history around them. Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks.. my pleasure..

 

Wow! What an achievement! Congratulations!

 

Thanks.. It took many years piece by piece to accumulate.. Initially I thought I'd never complete the set due to the Nonyaku but after I got that, the rest slowly came through..

 

Incredible achievement!

My first major project was a Japanese type set, and I have yet to even acquire one of the Twelve. Tried a few times in Stephen Album auctions, but always get blown out of the water.

Must have set you back quite a bit - I don't recall any of these issues hammering for less than about $300, and typically more than $1,000.

 

Thanks.. they do cost me quiet a bit.. the cheapest would probably be the Jingo among the lot..

 

Fascinating coins and historical information.

I think only a strong central government would have been able to establish a token-coinage with artificial (?) exchange rates. I would not be surprised if acceptance of these coins was mandatory under the threat of death (much like the paper money issued during the French Revolution).

The contrast to contemporary Merovingian Europe could not be greater. In Japan, a centralized state issued token-state money. In Merovingian Europe, the king and various local authorities issued intrinsically valuable money through a system of private monneyers.

In Europe it took many more centuries before state-issued token money could be established, first in Sweden in the 16th century, followed by subsequent experiments in France and England.

 

This was an experiment inherited from the Chinese of a state controlled financial system. In Japan, after these 12, various imported coins and local issues were prevalent very much like the European system you described. The strength or trust of the currency also mirrored its quality as you can see significant deterioration of its make and alloy.

It will take many centuries later until the reunification of Japan under Hideyoshi that you see another local issue for Japan.

 

A fantastic set, @Loong Siew. I've acquired quite a few bita-sen this year so as to have some Japanese coins earlier than the typical kanei tsuho, but that doesn't compare to these beauties!