JAPANESE COINS & CURRENCY
COPPER 1 MON COIN OF
THE
SHOGUNS OF JAPAN
In 1626 the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan
introduced a new cast copper
coin known as the Kanei Tsuho. It replaced a mixture of
Chinese coins and privately minted coins that were in circulation. The
1 Mon Kanei Tsuho coin was the lowest denomination issued and served
as the mainstay of the Japanese economy for over 200 years, until the
Shoguns were replaced in the Meiji Restoration in 1867.The obverse has
the characters Kan
Ei
Tsu Ho, which translates as "Current Treasure of Kan-ei". Kan-ei refers
to the era of the Shogunate that lasted from 1603 to 1644, however the
inscription continued long after that era. In 1668 a new variety was
introduced, with the Japanese character "bun" on the reverse,
indicating the coin was made at the
Edo (now Tokyo) mint. The Edo coins are of good quality and are well
made. They continued to be issued until about 1700. It is a
notable and
inexpensive coins from an important period of Japanese history.
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 $15.00
RECTANGULAR GOLD
& 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 Gold 2 Shu (Nishu) was minted from 1860 until 1869. It is
approximately 11.5mm x 6.5mm and struck in an alloy of 23% gold, 77%
silver. It is one of the least expensive gold coins available
to collectors. The silver 1 Bu (Ichibu) 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) 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. Despite being almost 150 years old or older, these
remarkable and historic coins are quite reasonably priced.
Item
JP-C18 JAPAN GOLD 2 SHU (1837-69)
VF out
Item
JP-C16 JAPAN SILVER 1 BU (1837-68)
VF-XF $49.75
Item
JP-C12 JAPAN SILVER 1 SHU (1853-65) C12
VF-XF out
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
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-C21 JAPAN GOLD 2 BU, (1867-1869)
C21d VF $99.75
SCARCE WWII CLAY
COIN FROM JAPAN
By the end of World War II Japan suffered from a severe shortage of
metal needed to make coins. Emergency coins were made out of
clay, however the coins circulated for only for only a few days in
cental Japan before the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945. This
scarce clay 1 Sen coin circulated for only a few days at the end of
World War II in central Japan. The unusual, undated 1 Sen
coin features Mt.
Fuji on one side and sakura blossems on the other. The 15mm
coin is made from red or brown clay.
It is quite scarce and unknown to many collectors.
Item
JP-110 JAPAN CLAY 1 SEN (1945)
KM110
UNC. $32.00
JAPAN
CELEBRATES EXPO '70
Japan
issued this copper-nickel 100 Yen coin to commemorate Expo '70, held in
Osaka. It was the first World's Fair held in Japan.
Seventy seven nations participated in the event and over 64
million people attended the six month event. It set a record
for the most visitors until the 2010 Shanghai Expo. The
attractive 28mm coin features Mount Fuji on one side and the Expo logo
on the other. The coin is dated the 45th year of the Showa
Era (reign of Emperor Hirohito), which corresonds to 1970.
Item
JP-EXPO70 JAPAN 100 YEN EXPO '70 Y83 UNC. $4.00
WORLD WAR II
JAPANESE MILITARY CURRENCY USED IN CHINA
Reduced
size images
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. The
initial issues of Military currency were created by taking partially
completed Japanese homeland notes and overprinting them on the front
and back with four large red characters that read "Military
Note".
Item
PM-CN-M5YOVPT JAPANESE MILITARY 5
YEN OVERPRINTED NOTE FOR CHINA, 1938-44 PM25 F $3.00
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
MENG CHIANG
JAPANESE PUPPET BANK
During
the 1930's Japan conquered much of Northern China. The Meng
Chiang Bank was a puppet bank established by the Japanese to provide
currency for the area between Mongolia and Manchukuo, known as Inner
Mongolia. In 1938 the Bank issued its only coin: a
copper-nickel 5 Chiao. One side of the coin features a pair of stylized
dragons and the denomination. The other side has a
floral design.
Item
MENG521 MENG CHIANG BANK 5 CHIAO 1938 (KM521)
VF-XF $10.00
JAPANESE INVASION OF
THE UNITED STATES?
When these notes issued by Japan started showing up during
World War II, many people took it as proof that Japan was about to
conquer the United States and had already printed new currency for the
United States. After all, the notes were clearly denominated in Dollar
or Cents and had the words "THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT" in large
letters. The story was repeated so many times that many
believed
it must be true. Though the Japanese government did print the
notes, however they were for use in Malay, which Japan conquered by
early 1942, and not the United States. Like the
United
States, Malaya used dollars and cents. The Uncirculated 10
Dollar notes pictures features bananas, breadfruit and coconuts on the
front and palm trees and a ship steaming in the horizon on the
back. These are historic collector’s items
recalling
Japan’s unsuccessful attempt to extend her empire across Asia in World
War II
Item
PM-MALAYA10 MALAYA 10 DOLLARS
JAPANESE INVASION NOTE, PM7c UNC.
$3.00
Item
PM-MALAYA10x10 10 PIECES OF MALAYA 10 DOLLARS
JAPANESE INVASION NOTE, PM7c AU-UNC. $18.00
Item
PM-MALAYA10x100 100 PIECES OF MALAYA 10
DOLLARS
JAPANESE INVASION NOTE, PM7c AU-UNC. $95.00
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In 1626 the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan
introduced a new cast copper
coin known as the Kanei Tsuho. It replaced a mixture of
Chinese coins and privately minted coins that were in circulation. The
1 Mon Kanei Tsuho coin was the lowest denomination issued and served
as the mainstay of the Japanese economy for over 200 years, until the
Shoguns were replaced in the Meiji Restoration in 1867.The obverse has
the characters Kan
Ei
Tsu Ho, which translates as "Current Treasure of Kan-ei". Kan-ei refers
to the era of the Shogunate that lasted from 1603 to 1644, however the
inscription continued long after that era. In 1668 a new variety was
introduced, with the Japanese character "bun" on the reverse,
indicating the coin was made at the
Edo (now Tokyo) mint. The Edo coins are of good quality and are well
made. They continued to be issued until about 1700. It is a
notable and
inexpensive coins from an important period of Japanese history.
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
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.
By the end of World War II Japan suffered from a severe shortage of
metal needed to make coins. Emergency coins were made out of
clay, however the coins circulated for only for only a few days in
cental Japan before the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945. This
scarce clay 1 Sen coin circulated for only a few days at the end of
World War II in central Japan. The unusual, undated 1 Sen
coin features Mt.
Fuji on one side and sakura blossems on the other. The 15mm
coin is made from red or brown clay.
It is quite scarce and unknown to many collectors. 
Japan
issued this copper-nickel 100 Yen coin to commemorate Expo '70, held in
Osaka. It was the first World's Fair held in Japan.
Seventy seven nations participated in the event and over 64
million people attended the six month event. It set a record
for the most visitors until the 2010 Shanghai Expo. The
attractive 28mm coin features Mount Fuji on one side and the Expo logo
on the other. The coin is dated the 45th year of the Showa
Era (reign of Emperor Hirohito), which corresonds to 1970.
During
the 1930's Japan conquered much of Northern China. The Meng
Chiang Bank was a puppet bank established by the Japanese to provide
currency for the area between Mongolia and Manchukuo, known as Inner
Mongolia. In 1938 the Bank issued its only coin: a
copper-nickel 5 Chiao. One side of the coin features a pair of stylized
dragons and the denomination. The other side has a
floral design. 
