Featured The first official circulating coins of Japan. The Twelve Antique Coins of Japan

Wait until you encounter the coins of Annam, etc. It's not by any means only China and Japan who used square-holed, cast Æ "cash"-type coinage.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Thank you for starting this fascinating thread @Loong Siew. As I mentioned elsewhere, I lived in Japan (twenty miles northwest of Tokyo) during the early 1960s (four years). I regret not collecting/researching Japanese coinage, but I was so immersed in researching Nihonto (the Japanese Samurai Sword) that I had little time for any other research pursuits (at least that is my rationalization). But in reference to Japanese copper: raw copper (partially refined?) was frequently used by the Nihonto metal working craftsmen to produce superb furnishings of the highest quality:

fuchi
(upper pommel)

Ter

kashira
(lower pommel)hinge



Made of partially refined copper (suaka) that has attained a lovely chocolate patina with depictions of mythical lion-dog temple/shrine guards (shishi)

I wonder if the same kind of copper was used in minting coins?



.

 

Just a bit of trivia.. there is also a type of Japanese coin that is actually designed after a Tsuba of a Japanese sword.

 

You forgot Korea and South East Asia. Not to mention Central Asia but that is sometimes categorically grouped in under China

 

And speaking of coins and Japanese swords, the "invincibility tsuba" of the powerful Oda Nobunaga is inlayed with the Eiraku Tsuho or Yong Le Tong Bao of Ming China.

https://markussesko.com/2013/05/30/the-invincibility-tsuba/

 

LOL, yeah, I love Electrum... but, I do ADORE gold!

 

I apologize for drifting off-topic with my Japanese sword post and I have removed the sword images.

@Loong Siew -- thank you for posting those excellent coin images.

 

It was an interesting connection.. so no need to apologize

 

@Loong Siew we have discussed these at length many time...just going to have to say - forever on the want list. Well done brother!

 

@jamesicus - did someone say nihonto? I have one. PUT THEM BACK!!!

 

I thought that sounded a little too fantastical to be true, but I was wanting someone more knowledgeable to discuss the subject. Thanks for showing up!

 

Haha.. thanks bro! It is really a set I'm super proud of.. although not sure if I can complete it within my lifetime..

 

I recommend the following book (written in English) for anyone wishing to study Nihonto blades in the most profound way:

• Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords, Kokan Nagayama -- (Kodansha International, Tokyo, 1995.)

Nagayama sensei is designated a Living National Treasure in Japan -- a mukansa (without supervision) polisher and judge for the sword polishing and sword smithing competition of the Nihonto Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK -- Society for the Preservation of Japanese Swords) in Tokyo. The translator of (and contributor to) the book, Kenji Mishina, is a top ranked sword polisher and student of Nagayama. He is designated by the Japanese government to restore and polish blades classified as kokuha (National Treasures). He was invited to England in the late 1980s by Clive Sinclaire, the Dean of British Nihonto collectors and renowned author, in order to lecture about and teach Nihonto polishing and appraisal (kantei). He was subsequently employed by the British Museum and invited by the British Royal Family to polish its (incredible) sword collection. If you really want to study and learn about Nihonto blades, this is the book to get.

 

Let me add on too. So below are some Japanese coins circulated around the late 1600s and late 1700s as well as a " samurai coin " from my collection ( Sorry still haven't figured out how to post pictures directly on the reply). Sorry some of the bottom pics are blurry.

Kanei Tsuho:
1)1 mon, reverse "bun" Kameido mint 1668-1683
2)4 mon, 21 waves (1768-69) Scarcer type but harshly cleaned
3)1 mon, reverse "Gen" Osaka mint, 1741
4)4 mon, 11 waves (1850s?)


https://ibb.co/ntq7Xk
https://ibb.co/cB3i55

The coolest cash coins in my opinion.
1) 100 mon narrow rim type (1835-1869)
2) 100 mon wide rim type (1835 - 1869)

https://ibb.co/bDAVk5
https://ibb.co/g9nbQ5

1 Shu Gin, from Meiji's early reign. Minted 1868-1869. Hartill type 9.87 var X-s.
https://ibb.co/k3Mgsk
https://ibb.co/nb1syQ

@lehmansterms


Some Annamese coins from my collection

Gia Long 1802-1819

https://ibb.co/dCJmsk
https://ibb.co/cQEgQ5


Minh Mang 1820-1840

https://ibb.co/dyrZdQ
https://ibb.co/iDSkk5

Thrieu Tri 1841-1847

https://ibb.co/dnrNXk
https://ibb.co/ndiEdQ

Tu Duc 1848-1883

https://ibb.co/ksst55
https://ibb.co/mXAudQ

Thanh Thai 1889 -1907

https://ibb.co/m70AJQ
https://ibb.co/e9ZsXk

 

More images of the Fuuhonsen ( 富本钱 ):

 

My only Japan, other than some modern coins:

Last of the Samuri...

Japan Meiji Era AV-AR Ingot 1868-1869 Nibu Kin Samurai Shogun Paulonia Chrys


Oh yeah, I have an AE from Carthage that inspired a... Japanese film ...Pteranodon

 

I'll have you know Rodan is the coolest Japanese mutant animal ever, certainly much cooler than Godzilla.

 

LOL, agreed: the Premium on my AE Carthage is as huge as a skyscraper as they modeled Rodan from it.