History of Japanese money. Where does the hole on the Japanese coin come from? Ancient coins of Japan Japanese coin name

Coins of Japan

The Numismatist Club offers a catalog of Japanese coins to choose from for your collection – ancient and modern. We have good prices and conditions for purchasing or exchanging coins.

Edo era coins

In 1603, the power of shoguns - military rulers - was established in Japan. This period of Japanese history is called the Edo era.

There were more than one and a half thousand varieties of coins in monetary circulation, and they were predominantly rectangular in shape. The materials for their manufacture were gold, silver and copper.

From 1853 to 1868 small silver coins were in circulation.

The 4 shu was comparable to the larger bu coin, which was used from 1859 to 1858.

Coins of the Meiza era

In 1868 – 1869 In Japan, the power of the shoguns is becoming a thing of the past. Imperial rule is established in the state. Modern round coins - yen - are introduced into circulation. The name of the coins comes from the Japanese “en” - round.

The gold and silver yen was printed between 1869 and 1871 and was divided into one hundred Sen and one thousand Rin. Sens and Rins went out of circulation in 1954.

Coins of Japan from the Karafuto era

After the war of 1904 - 1904 with Russia, Southern Sakhalin went to Japan, where Karafuto Prefecture was formed (1907). It existed until 1945.

Minting coins in the first half of the 20th century in Japan was difficult due to a shortage of metal.

Commemorative Coin Program of the 47 Prefectures of Japan

The program for minting commemorative coins began in 2008 and was dedicated to the 60th anniversary of local government in Japan. It was planned to mint 47 issues of coins in two denominations: 500 yen (bimetallic: an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel) and 1000 yen ( silver), one for each prefecture.

We draw the attention of numismatists to popular Japan commemorative coins, such as silver ones issued in honor of the Tokyo Olympics, and silver ones dedicated to Olympic Games in Sapporo.

In our catalog of Japanese coins, you can verify their availability using photos and buy the required copies.

In order to combine the Japanese chronology with the European one, you need to subtract one year from the beginning of the era (this is due to the fact that the end of the 1st year of reign coincides with the calendar year, regardless of the duration) and add the date indicated on the coin. For example, a coin 1 Sep 1899 or 32 years of the Meiji era:

1 - 明治 - hieroglyphs indicating the name of the era - “Meiji”;

2 - 三 - a hieroglyph indicating the number “3”;

3 - 十 - hieroglyph representing the number “10”;

4 - 二 - hieroglyph representing the number “2”;

5 - 年

6 - 1 SEN- 1 sen in English;

7 - 大日本 - hieroglyphs denoting the words “Great Japan”;

8 - 銭 - a hieroglyph denoting a monetary unit - “sen”;

9 - 一 - hieroglyph representing the number "1".

So, before us is September 1 of the Meiji era. The hieroglyph before “10” indicates the number of tens, after - units: 3 * 10 + 2 = 32 years. This coin is from the 32nd year of the Meiji era.

To synchronize with European chronology, we subtract 1 year from the year the era was founded (1867) and add 32 years: 1867 - 1 + 32 = 1899.

Hieroglyphs on all coins before 1948 should be read from right to left, after 1948, when the writing reform was carried out, from left to right.

An example of a coin after 1948:

1 - 五 - a hieroglyph indicating the number “5”;

2 - 円 - a hieroglyph denoting a monetary unit - “yen”;

3 - 昭和 - hieroglyphs indicating the name of the era - “Showa”;

4 - 二 - a hieroglyph indicating the number “2”;

5 - 十 - a hieroglyph indicating the number “10”;

6 - 四 - a hieroglyph indicating the number “4”;

7 - 年 - a hieroglyph meaning the word “year”;

8 - 日本国 - hieroglyphs indicating the name of the country - Japan.

Before us is 5 yen 24 years of the Showa era. To find out the year according to European chronology, you need to subtract one year from the year of the beginning of the Showa era and add the year indicated on the coin:

1926 - 1 + 24 = 1949.

Japanese numbers :

一	二	三	四	五	六	七	八	九	十
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10

The year the era was founded is indicated by a special hieroglyph -元 . Therefore, you will never find coins dated from the 1st year of the era.

On some modern coins The year is indicated in European numbers, but according to Japanese chronology.

Japanese coins:

1 yen - 円 - the main monetary unit, appeared in 1871;

Now everyone knows what Japanese money is called - yen, 円 en, which means round. However, the country did not immediately come to a unified currency. In the Middle Ages, there were more than one and a half thousand different coins in the archipelago. Moreover, everything was made of gold or silver. Of course, such diversity primarily reflected the feudal fragmentation of that period. It couldn't last long. The establishment of stable autocracy in most of the archipelago made it possible to overcome it.

• Ancient coins

The history of Japanese money originates in China. The very concept of money was brought to the archipelago from this country. For some time, the Japanese used Chinese currency. However, they realized that this circumstance had a bad effect on the situation in the state. Therefore, around 700 AD, the first own coins began to appear. They were called: Wado Kaichin. This coin copied the Chinese one in shape and weight. However, she was already her own, Japanese.

It was a novelty for people in those days to use metal to pay for real valuables. The government encouraged interest in coins by establishing special rules. For example, land transactions were obliged to be carried out using metal money. The same rule applied to litigation.

A little later released into circulation copper coin. Its name is Kochosen. Translated, it means: copper coin of the Imperial Court. The coin was in circulation from 708 to 958. This currency was affected by the shortage of its own deposits of this ore. Gradually, the share of metal in the coin decreased, and along with this its value fell. The value of the Japanese currency was also affected by the situation in the country. There were continuous feudal wars in Japan. The imperial currency in the regions began to be replaced by its own.

For example, towards the end of the 15th century, a gold coin, Koshu kin, was issued in Kai Prefecture. It had a different shape and was cast in a solid piece without a hole, like the Chinese ones. Moreover, this currency was issued in both round and rectangular versions. In those days - the Sengoku period - Kai was the main gold-mining region. There were many coins by denomination. Ryo is the highest order. The next highest denomination bu was equal to one-fourth of a Ryo. Next, in the same ratio, followed the su, which, in turn, also had a coin of a smaller order. They all had a ratio that was a multiple of four or two.

• Introduction of unified money

By 1590, power in the archipelago passed into the hands of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Having taken control of the country, this ruler decided to introduce his own money. He had enough gold and silver. He introduced a unique coin into circulation: oban. Its weight was 165 grams, dimensions 10 x 17 centimeters, the oban was used as a reward, and not for conducting transactions. In fact, this was one of the first examples of the use of money for political purposes.

The oban coin is one of the largest gold coins in the world.

A unified currency was introduced on the islands by the government of the Tokugawa shogunate (Edo period). Its currency emission system was based on three types of coins: gold (koban), silver and copper. They were used for all types of transactions. However, at first it was necessary to force the population to use new coins.

• The first paper money

In the history of the country there have been cases of the use of currency that had nothing to do with precious metals. They date back to around 1600. The city of Ise (Yamada district) has had brisk trade since the Middle Ages. That's where Yamada Hagaki appeared. This is not exactly money, but rather receipts issued as collateral for payment for a small transaction. The number of such receipts was strictly controlled by two bodies: one consisted of merchants, the second - of Shinto priests (Ise Gegu). The priests of Ise Gegu Shrine were the first to give out prototypes paper money. Society began to trust them.

An interesting fact is that emission in Japan, before the centralization of leadership, appeared in the form of cooperation of merchants (financiers) with the guarantee of monks. This led to the fact that the Japanese had a special attitude towards money, in principle, as well as towards property in general.

No one thought about theft. Today it is impossible to say so confidently about the absence of theft in the country, but the Japanese obediently take forgotten things to the lost and found, and all “misunderstandings” are mainly associated with the participation of foreigners. As a rule, even a lost wallet with money will be returned.

Traditions are a very strong thing. They work with people's consciousness regardless of external influence. And it is quite difficult to overcome this peculiar “sacredness” of the emission, for which holy people vouched in the past.

This factor is also reflected in attitudes towards spending. In Japan there is no such cult of consumption as in the Western world. In general, saving in Japanese is the art of spending money wisely. And this already says a lot.

The population was brought up in the traditions of asceticism. Considering that the ability to manage with little is instilled in people from the cradle, they spend reluctantly and only on the essentials (here, of course, there are two sides of the same coin, but in general the attitude towards money is respectful and careful. The Japanese even pronounce money with the respectful prefix O (okane )お金.)

But their attitude towards unjust gains is the same as that of the peoples of the whole world. There is a Japanese proverb that translates: “When the ear ripens, it hangs its head; When a person gets rich, he raises his head.” In Japan, as in any country, not everyone is a “good” citizen. A person is subject to vices everywhere, even if he was brought up under the harsh pressure of national cultural traditions.

• Yen

Modern currency appeared in the country after the Meiji Revolution and monetary reform in 1871. At the time of the reform, a great variety of money from various clans circulated in the country; the figure is said to be 1,694 types of monetary units. By 1879, the exchange of money was completely completed.

1901 Japanese silver yen with dragon design

An interesting detail: after defeat in the war, the Japanese yen began to quickly depreciate, the rate reached 900 yen per 1 dollar, and in Okinawa (the location of American military bases), the yen was generally withdrawn as a monetary unit and was put into circulation from 1958 to 1972 there were only American dollars.

With the restoration and rapid development of production, the Japanese currency has taken a high place in international financial transactions and has long been one of the most stable currencies in the world. JPY- this is its international code, and in the form of a yen sign it is depicted as follows - ¥.

In the form of coins, Japanese money is issued in the range from 1 to 500 yen (1-5-10-50-100-500)

Also, for significant events, 1000 yen coins are issued with a limited circulation.

100 yen coin

At first, yen were gold and silver. And only at the beginning of the 20th century did the current paper money appear.

Japanese banknotes come in denominations of 1,000 yen, 2,000 (limited edition), 5,000 and 10,000 yen. The banknotes depict prominent people of Japan.

For information: the ratio of currencies is determined by the Central Bank of countries regularly, on weekdays. To determine the ratio of the yen to the ruble you need to look to the corresponding page. In March 2017, the ratio is as follows: 1 yen = 0.52 rubles.

Ancient coins of Japan local rulers

The first gold coin circulated only in a certain area was issued by Koshu Takeda, the ruler of the Kai region. This region was known as the largest gold-mining area during the Sengoku period (late 15th century to late 16th century).

At the end of the Sengoku period, the growing demand for money, which local princes needed to fight feudal wars, provoked an interest in gold and silver mining. This has led to various types of gold and silver coins began to be minted throughout the country. The gold that Mr. Takeda mined on his lands allowed him to mint round and rectangular gold coins very good quality. Coins from the Kai region were called "Koshu kin". Distinctive feature The "Koshu kin" was that their exchange value was equal to their gold weight, which was indicated on the obverse of the coin.

The face value of the coin in the picture (above) is 1 Ryo. The units of measurement adopted for "Koshu kin" were as follows:

1 ryo=about 15g

1 shuchu=1/2 shu

1 itome=1/2 shuchu

1 koitome=1/2 itome

1 koitomechu=1/2 koitome

Since the value was indicated on the coin, all values ​​were multiples of two or four. The units Ryō, bu, and shu (all divisible by four) were subsequently incorporated into the Edo period monetary system as currency units for gold coins.

Coins of Feudal Japan issued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Tensho Oban is a Japanese coin that was issued at the end of the 16th century by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi came to power in Japan. He captured large quantities of gold and silver, taking control of the entire country and began minting new gold and silver coins. This coinage was followed by the all-Japanese unification of money by Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Edo period. The oban coin was not generally used for everyday transactions. In principle, she was not paid at all, but was used for awards and gifts. The signature on the obverse of the oban coin indicates its value - 10 Ryo. However, 10 Ryo here is equivalent not to the face value, but to the weight of the coin (165g). The Japanese Oban coin, 17 cm long and 10 cm wide, is considered one of the largest existing gold coins in the world.

Japanese coins from the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate

The monetary system of Japan, established by the government of the Tokugawa shogunate, was based on three types of coins made of gold, silver and copper. In an attempt to monopolize the power to issue money and standardize the shape and size of coins, the government of the Tokugawa Shogunate created a common currency system for the entire country. The shogunate established an equal value for all Japanese gold coins, which was calculated in proportion to the value of 1 koban, equal to 1 Ryo. Silver coins were valued by weight, the unit being mom"me equivalent to 3.75 grams. Copper coins were used for exchange along with gold coins.

The emergence of paper money in Japan

The first Japanese paper money circulated appeared in Ise, Yamada district (now Ise city, Mie prefecture), where trade had been carried out since medieval times.

Yamada Hagaki, medieval paper money, was issued by private individuals and used in place of silver coins for small exchanges; they were issued in the form of a receipt. The amount of Yamada Hagaki was controlled by a special department of merchants, as well as Shinto priests at the Ise Gegu Shrine (one of the two buildings of the temple), and they also issued paper currency. Such a monetary system, established and stable, gained the trust of the public, and Yamada Hagaki became widespread in the Yamada region. Paper money was also issued in neighboring regions of Japan, and the use of paper money as a medium of exchange ( Fuda-zukai) became a common practice among traders in the Kinki region.

Gold coins of Japan from the Edo period

Japan's first gold coin, issued by Tokugawa Ieyasu in Keichō 6 for national use (1601).

In 1600, immediately after the victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu officially established the "Kinza" - "Gold Mint" and "Ginza" - "Silver Mint" for the minting of gold and silver coins. The Koban and Ichibu kin were minted as gold coins, and the units of account of the old Japanese Koshu kin (Ryo and bu) coins were used to express the value of the new ones. The koban in the picture above has stamps that indicate the name of the master with his signature - "Goto Shozaburo Mitsutsugu" ("Mitsutsugu" for short) and the denomination of the coin - 1 Ryo. From the 8th year of Genroku (1695), when the first re-minting took place, to the 1st year of the Man'en era (1860), the Koban coin was re-minted as many as eight times!

Japanese Koban coins from the Edo era

Koban coins issued during the Edo period.

During the Edo period, the number of gold and silver coins in circulation was adjusted by the government about 8 times. The first measures to increase the production of coins were taken in the 8th year of Genroku (1695). However, an increase in the money supply inevitably led to inflation, then, on the advice of AraiHakuseki, Kinza and Ginza began to mint coins with a higher gold content. These Koban were called Shotoku Koban and Kyoho Koban. With the advent of the Shotoku and Kyoho coins, the amount of money in circulation decreased sharply, as the shogunate government set the face value of the minted coins to twice that of the previous ones. So, for one new koban they demanded two old ones. This slowed down the pace of economic activity and created deflation.

The government of the shogunate carried out reflation in the country due to an increase in the money supply in the year 1 Gembun (1736). These measures were taken at the suggestion of the shogun's prominent advisor Ogyu Sorai. As a result, Gembun Koban issued at that time continued to circulate in the country for the next 80 years, revitalizing Japan's economy.

Towards the end of the Edo period, coins began to be issued more and more often - the shogunate government was again overtaken by a shortage. With the increase in output, Koban gradually lost its value, which ultimately led the country to severe inflation. Man'en Koban, last coin, issued during the Edo period, was extremely small in size, and its silver content reached only 1/8 compared to Keicho Koban.

Minting of gold coins in Japan (Edo period)

These scrolls show the process of minting Koban coins from the Edo period at the Kinza gold yard.

During the Edo period, Koban and Ichibu Kin (other gold coins except Oban) were minted at Kinza mints.

Kinza were located in Edo, Kyoto and Sado (late 17th century) before the beginning of the Genroku era. Genroku (1695) they began to concentrate in Edo (now Tokyo). Today, the main office of the Bank of Japan is located in one of the places where the Kinza Mint was once located.

Oban coins were minted in Obanza, and silver money in Ginza (translated as "Silver Mint").

Gold bars were first heated in a fire to soften them, and then hammers were used to hammer the bars into thin oblong plates.

The oblong plates (the so-called “bu sao”) were cut into pieces of equal size and weight.

Then the gold sheets were cut, tapped with a special hammer and fired. This created the rough shape of a Japanese coin.

At the next stage, the koban was sent for final minting, with the help of which all irregularities were removed and the coin was given the desired shape.

The coins were polished with sand and colored using various chemicals. Then the koban were burned and washed first in salt and then in fresh water. After this, the gold color of the coin became very bright.

When minting was completed, all coins were checked to ensure they conformed to the accepted shape and weight. Each coin had a stamp that confirmed its authenticity and compliance with all standards.

Silver coins of Japan from the Edo period

Low quality silver coins issued during the Genroku-Hoei era. These coins were called "Yotsuho Chogin" because they had four stamps with the sign "Ho", which stood for "Hoei" (the era in which the coin was minted).

Gold and silver coins of poor quality were issued one after another during the era Genroku-Hoei(as the period of minting new coins was called) to cover the budget deficit of the shogunate government. The silver content of Hoei Yotsuho Chogin coins was sharply reduced to only 20%, while in the early Edo period Keicho Chogin and Mameitagin coins were 80% pure silver. To stabilize the exchange rate of silver against gold, the government tried to issue high quality coins in the early 18th century, but this came to nothing. The rate stabilized only in 1717, when the use of cheap HoeiChogin was prohibited.

Maintaining a stable exchange rate of silver coins in relation to gold coins became the most important monetary issue of those times.

Japanese silver coins from the Edo period with a fixed value.

The first silver coin whose value was directly related to gold coins.

In an attempt to establish a stable exchange rate for silver relative to gold, the Tokugawa shogunate government first issued a silver coin with a fixed denomination of 1/12 ryo in Meiwa 2 (1765). This Japanese coin was called Gomon "me gin. However, the exchange houses did not support Gomon'me. They feared that the policy would lead to a reduction in profits by eliminating the exchange of gold and silver. Then in the 9th year of Meiwa (1772) the Meiwa Nanryo Nishu gin was minted - silver coin with a set value. It was established that 8 Nanryo Nishu equals 1 koban. A clear exchange rate allowed them to be used not only in Edo, where gold coins were common, but also outside of it, for example in Kansai. In fact, silver coins became an auxiliary currency of gold koban. On the front side of the Meiwa Nanryo Nishu gin there was a stamp that read: “8 coins can be exchanged for koban of 1 ryo,” and one such coin was equivalent to one kin Nishu (1/8 ryo). “Nanryo” literally means "silver of excellent quality", and this coin was indeed almost entirely pure silver.

Tsutsumi kingin - Japanese coins for large transactions

Pack of 50 Tempo Kobans Edo era	Pack of three silver coins Edo era

"Tsutsumi Kingin" - These are sealed packages containing a certain number of gold and silver coins. They were used to pay for a large number of transactions and made it possible to carry out monetary transactions without counting small coins.

Such paper packages were sealed at the Gold or Silver Mint, as well as in private exchange houses called Ryogaesho: a certain amount of money was placed in a paper bag, and their value was written in ink on the front side. Tsutsumi Kingin were widely used as a medium of exchange during large transactions. Their value was never in doubt and was guaranteed by the high reputation of the mints. So no one even thought about checking whether the amount written was true or not.

Japanese copper coins from the Edo period

Copper coins issued by the Tokugawa Shogunate government.

Although the Tokugawa Shogunate government sought to unify Japan's monetary system by issuing gold and silver coins, Toraisen copper coins were still in use as their share of circulation was too large to be replaced. In the year 13 Kan'ei (1636), the government of the Tokugawa shogunate decided to unify all copper coins of Japan and issued the Kan "ei Tsuho - the same round coin with a square hole in the center that came to Japan at the very beginning of their monetary history. As a result, these coins continued to be issued for 200 years to meet the growing demand for copper money.

In the second half of the Edo era, the quality of Kan'ei Tsuho sharply deteriorated due to an increase in their production. Then they began to mint coins from brass and TempoTsuho Hyakumonsen - a large copper coin. Its denomination was 100 mon, although in reality, the copper that was used to make the coin cost about five and a half mon.

Oban is an oval gold Japanese coin.

(1601)	(1725)	Man"en Oban (1860)

Oban are special Japanese gold coins used as awards and gifts.

Oban was a big gold coin, which was minted primarily for awards and gifts. This explains why the denomination of the coin (10 ryo), as well as the attribution mint and the name of the master were written on the obverse of the coin in ink, and therefore could easily be erased.

10 ryo was then equal to 165 grams of gold and was not equivalent to the value of 10 koban. So, if the oban was used as a medium of exchange, the coin was graded by its gold content. For example, Kyoho Oban cost 7 ryo and 2 bu (7.5 ryo).