JAPANESE COINS & CURRENCY
COPPER 1 MON COIN OF
THE
SHOGUNS OF JAPAN
In
1668 the Shoguns of Japan introduced a new variety of the copper 1 Mon
coin which featured the Japanese character "bun" on the reverse,
indicating the coin was made at the Edo (now Tokyo) mint. The obverse
has the characters Kan Ei Tsu Ho, which some translate as "precious
currency of the era of perpetual leniency". It was rumored that the
coins were made from copper salvaged from a melted statue Buddhist
statue that contained gold, which made the coins especially desireable.
Due to the special source of metal in these coins was also
reputed to prevent the ill effects of tobacco when a pipe could be cast
from them. The coin continued to be made until 1700 and
remained
in circulation until 1873. It is a notable and inexpensive
coin
of the Shoguns of Japan
Item
JP-EDO JAPAN 1 MON EDO (TOKYO)
MINTMARK (1668-1700) C1.2
VF $3.00
AN
UNUSUAL OLD JAPANESE COIN 
This large oblong bronze 100 Mon coin of Japan, known as the Tempo
Tsuho, was struck from 1835 to 1870, a period of transition in Japan
from the long ruling Shoguns to the modernization of the Meiji
Restoration. The undated coin's unusual shape and large size has made
it a perennial
favorite with collectors.
Item
JP-100M JAPAN 100 MON OVAL
COIN 1835-70 C7
VF $18.00
RECTANGULAR SILVER COINS
OF THE SHOGUNS OF JAPAN
These
unusual rectangular silver and gold coins were some of the last
coins issued by the famous and once powerful Shoguns of Japan. The
Shoguns were the military rulers of Japan, who for hundreds of years
controlled the island nation. They were finally forced from
power in 1867 due to the pressures of modernization brought about by
the United States. Their militaristic influence continued
however, leading to World War II. The silver 1 Bu
(Ichi bu Gin) is approximately 24mm x
16mm. It was issued from 1837 until 1868. It includes an
official countermark on the reverse. The smaller silver 1 Shu
(Isshu Gin) is 14mm x 9 mm and was issued from 1853 until
1865.
The coins are some of the few rectangular coins ever used by any nation
in general circulation. The coins grade Very Fine or
better.
Item
JP-AR1BU JAPAN SILVER 1 BU (1837-68)
VF-XF $49.95
Item
JP-AR1SHU JAPAN SILVER 1 SHU (1853-65) C12
VF-XF $29.95
INEXPENSIVE OLD GOLD
COIN OF THE SHOGUNS OF JAPAN
The Gold 2 Shu (Nishu) was minted from
1860 until 1869. It was one of
the last coins issued by the once powerful Shoguns who ruled Japan
until 1867. The rectangular coin is
approximately 11.5mm x 6.5mm and struck in an alloy of 23% gold, 77%
silver. Despite being over 150 years old it is one of the
least expensive gold coins available
to collectors today.
Item
JP-GOLD2SHU JAPAN GOLD 2 SHU
(1860-69) XF $79.95
RECTANGULAR GOLD COIN
FROM THE MEIJI
RESTORATION OF JAPAN
This rectangular gold 2 Bu (Ni Bu)
was minted in Japan from 1867 to 1869. It was one of the first coins of
the Meiji Restoration. The Meiji Restoration overthew the highly
traditional and once powerful Shogun warlords and restored the Emperor
as the center of the Japanese government. The Meiji
restoration was also a modernization movement, that opened Japan to
western ideas. A few years after this coin was introduced, Japan
adopted western style round coins, so these coins were soon withdrawn
from circulation and many were melted. The coin
is approximately 19 x 12mm, weighs approximately 3 grams and is struck
in .223 fine
gold. It is an interesting and historic gold coin
that represents the end of Japan's traditional ways under the Shoguns
and the introduction of new ways under the Meiji Restoration.
Item
JP-GOLD2BU JAPAN GOLD 2 BU,
(1867-1869)
C21d VF $99.75
LAST JAPANESE GOLD KOBAN
This oval 1 Ryo Manen era Gold Koban was the last Japanese Koban issued
by the Shoguns of Japan. The Manen era gold koban was minted from 1860
until 1867. It weighs 3.3 grams and is struck in an alloy of
.574 fine gold and .426 fine silver. It is approximately 33mm
x 45 mm. The obverse has two fan shaped kiri crests, the signature of
the mint official and the denomination. Stamps of mint
officials are on the reverse. The coin was hand struck at the Edo
(Tokyo) mint. The coin is guaranteed to be genuine and comes
with a JNDA (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Association) certificate of
authenticity.
Item
JP-KOBAN JAPAN 1 RYO MANEN ERO GOLD KOBAN (1860-1867) C22d VF $1200.00
JAPAN
MULTI-COLORED SILVER EARTHQUAKE
RELIEF COINS
Japan issued these two multi-colored silver 1000 Yen coins in 2015 to
help raise funds for the rebuilding effort after the Great East Japan
Earthquake, also called the Tohoku Earthquake which occurred March 3,
2011. The magnitude 9.1 earthquake was the largest ever
recorded in Japan. The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami
waves that may have reached heights over 130 feet (40.5m), traveled up
to 6 miles (10km.) inland and led to the meltdown of the Fukushima
Nuclear Power Plant. As of 2015, when the coins
were issued, almost a quarter of a million people were still displaced
from their homes. The first coin depicts a fishing boat with
numerous flags and banners coming to the rescue. Ears of rice
are to the left It has a mintage of 60,000. The
second coin features an origami paper crane flying over the
reconstruction zone. It has a mintage of only
40,000. Both coins have the same reverse depicting a tree and
birds in flight. The legend translates as "Let's do our best
Japan". The coins are dated Heisei ear year 27, which
corresponds to 2015AD. They are 40mm and contain 1 troy ounce
of .999 silver and come in their original boxes with Certificates of
Authenticity.
Item
JP-BOAT JAPAN 1000 YEN 2015 BOAT Y242 PROOF $75.00
Item
JP-CRANE JAPAN 1000 YEN 2015 CRANE Y243 PROOF $75.00
UNUSUAL FIBER
COINS FROM WWII JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF CHINA
Manchukuo was a Japanese puppet state carved out of Northeastern China
prior to World War II. Due to a severe metal shortage towards
the end of the war, it issued these unusual 1 Fen and 5 Fen coins
struck in a thick, red material rather than metal. The coins are dated
in the year of the reign of Emperor Kang Te of
Manchukuo. Kang Te was formerly known as Pu Yi, who
was the last Emperor of China until he was deposed in 1911. The
Japanese used him as the figurehead leader for Manchukuo. The
1 Fen struck only a single year; 1945. The 5 Fen was struck
in 1944 and 1945. Because the material used was relitively soft, the
coins show considerable wear. These historic World War II coins are
some of the few circulating non-metallic coins of the 20th century.
Item
MAN-1F MANCHUKUO 1 FEN 1945 Y13a
G-VG 7.00
Item
MAN-5F MANCHUKUO 5 FEN 1944-45 YA13a
G-VG $7.00
JAPANESE
MILITARY CURRENCY
FOR CHINA
Japan issued Military Currency starting in 1938 for use in
the areas of China that they occupied. Because civilians were forced to
accept the Military Yen, which was not backed and could not be
exchanged into Japanese Yen, it cost the Japanese government virtually
nothing to purchase whatever they wanted. This 5 Yen note
used a
modified version of the homeland 5 Yen note. The note lacked
the
text that translated as "Bank of Japan Convertible Silver Note".
Instead it had a bright red 4 character overprint that
translates
as "Military Note".
Item
PM-CN-5Y-OVPT2 5 YEN JAPANESE MILITARY NOTE
FOR
CHINA ON MODIFIED JAPANESE NOTE PM25 F
$3.00
JAPANESE
INVASION MONEY
As Japanese forces conquered Burma, Malaya and the
Philippines in World War II they introduced their own
currency. Anyone found with any other type of currency was
subject to severe punishment. As English was the official
language of these three colonies, the notes were printed in English and
were denominated in the currency that had been in
circulation. The notes were only labeled “THE JAPANESE
GOVERNMENT” without mentioning the colony. The red 10 Rupee
note for Burma depict the Ananda Temple in Bagan. The dark
blue and yellow 10 Dollar note for Malaya bananas, breadfruit and
coconuts and a ship steaming in the horizon on the
back. The black and light blue Philippine 10 Pesos
note depicts a banana plantation.
Item
PM-JIM3 JAPANESE INVASION MONEY: BURMA 10
RUPEE, MALAYA $10 &
PHILIPPINES 10 PESOS VF-AU
$4.00
Item
PM-JIM3x10 10 SETS OF THE ABOVE THREE
JAPANESE INVASION MONEY VF-AU
$22.50
BOOK: JAPANESE CERAMIC COINAGE, CIRCA
1945
By
Gregory Hale A detailed study of the varieties, designs,
production techniques, and factories that made these scarce and
mysterious ceramic coins made by Japan in the closing days of World War
II. Contains a listing that includes many little-known
varieties
of this unusual coinage. Well-illustrated. 48 pages, softcover, 5.75" x
8"
Item BOOK-CERM JAPANESE CERAMIC COINAGE
BOOK $22.00
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In
1668 the Shoguns of Japan introduced a new variety of the copper 1 Mon
coin which featured the Japanese character "bun" on the reverse,
indicating the coin was made at the Edo (now Tokyo) mint. The obverse
has the characters Kan Ei Tsu Ho, which some translate as "precious
currency of the era of perpetual leniency". It was rumored that the
coins were made from copper salvaged from a melted statue Buddhist
statue that contained gold, which made the coins especially desireable.
Due to the special source of metal in these coins was also
reputed to prevent the ill effects of tobacco when a pipe could be cast
from them. The coin continued to be made until 1700 and
remained
in circulation until 1873. It is a notable and inexpensive
coin
of the Shoguns of Japan
These
unusual rectangular silver and gold coins were some of the last
coins issued by the famous and once powerful Shoguns of Japan. The
Shoguns were the military rulers of Japan, who for hundreds of years
controlled the island nation. They were finally forced from
power in 1867 due to the pressures of modernization brought about by
the United States. Their militaristic influence continued
however, leading to World War II. The silver 1 Bu
(Ichi bu Gin) is approximately 24mm x
16mm. It was issued from 1837 until 1868. It includes an
official countermark on the reverse. The smaller silver 1 Shu
(Isshu Gin) is 14mm x 9 mm and was issued from 1853 until
1865.
The coins are some of the few rectangular coins ever used by any nation
in general circulation. The coins grade Very Fine or
better.
The Gold 2 Shu (Nishu) was minted from
1860 until 1869. It was one of
the last coins issued by the once powerful Shoguns who ruled Japan
until 1867. The rectangular coin is
approximately 11.5mm x 6.5mm and struck in an alloy of 23% gold, 77%
silver. Despite being over 150 years old it is one of the
least expensive gold coins available
to collectors today.
This rectangular gold 2 Bu (Ni Bu)
was minted in Japan from 1867 to 1869. It was one of the first coins of
the Meiji Restoration. The Meiji Restoration overthew the highly
traditional and once powerful Shogun warlords and restored the Emperor
as the center of the Japanese government. The Meiji
restoration was also a modernization movement, that opened Japan to
western ideas. A few years after this coin was introduced, Japan
adopted western style round coins, so these coins were soon withdrawn
from circulation and many were melted. The coin
is approximately 19 x 12mm, weighs approximately 3 grams and is struck
in .223 fine
gold. It is an interesting and historic gold coin
that represents the end of Japan's traditional ways under the Shoguns
and the introduction of new ways under the Meiji Restoration.
This oval 1 Ryo Manen era Gold Koban was the last Japanese Koban issued
by the Shoguns of Japan. The Manen era gold koban was minted from 1860
until 1867. It weighs 3.3 grams and is struck in an alloy of
.574 fine gold and .426 fine silver. It is approximately 33mm
x 45 mm. The obverse has two fan shaped kiri crests, the signature of
the mint official and the denomination. Stamps of mint
officials are on the reverse. The coin was hand struck at the Edo
(Tokyo) mint. The coin is guaranteed to be genuine and comes
with a JNDA (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Association) certificate of
authenticity. 
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