JAPANESE COINS & CURRENCY
COPPER 1 MON & 4
MON COINS OF THE SHOGUNS OF JAPAN
In
1636 the Tokugawa shogunate introduced a copper 1 Mon coin.
The four characters on the obverse: Kan Ei Tsu Ho translate as
"precious currency of Kan'ei". It was the first government
issued copper coins in 700 years. Japan continued to use the same
obverse design on copper coins for the next 230 years. In
1668 Japan introduced a new variety of the 1 Mon coin which featured
the Japanese character "bun" on the reverse, indicating the coin was
made at the Edo (now Tokyo) mint. The "bun" type contiued to be
produced until about 1700. A new variety of 4 Mon was
intorduced in 1669. The coin had the same obverse as the 1
Mon, but had 11 waves on the reverse to make it easily distinguishable
from the slightly smaller 1 Mon. It was minted
intermentiedly until 1860. With the introduction of the Yen in 1870,
the 1 Mon was valued at 1 Rin (1/1000 Yen) and the 4 Mon at 2
Rin. The coins were allowed to remain in circulation until
1891. They are inexpensive coins of the Shoguns of Japan.
Item
JP-EDO JAPAN 1 MON EDO (TOKYO)
MINTMARK (1668-1700) C1.2
VF $3.00
Item
JP-4MON JAPAN 4 MON (1669-1860) C4.2 F $4.50
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-AU2SHU JAPAN GOLD 2 SHU
(1860-69) VF $85.00
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-AU2BU JAPAN GOLD 2 BU
(1867-1869)
C21d VF $125.00
OLD JAPANESE 5 RIN COIN
Japan issued the 5 Rin coin for only
four years, from 1916 to 1919. 5 Rin was half a Sen , or 1/200th of a
Yen. It was the lowest denomination minted at that time. The 18.8mm
bronze coin features the denomination within a floral wreath on one
side and the Paulowina crest flanked by two small cherry blossoms on
the other.
Item
JP-5RIN JAPAN 5 RUN 1918-1919 KM41 XF $5.00
\
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
COIN 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 this unusual 5 Fen coin
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 5 Fen was
struck
was struck only two years: 1944 and 1945. Because the material used was
relatively
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-5F45 MANCHUKUO 5 FEN 1944-45 YA13a
AG-G $7.00
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
JAPANESE
INVASION OF
THE UNITED STATES?
When these 10 Dollar notes issued by The Japanese Government started
showing up shortly after World War II, many people took it as proof
that Japan planned to invade the United States, and had their new
currency for the United States already printed. The story was
repeated so many times that many believed it must be true.
Though the Japanese government did print the notes, they were for use
in Malaya, which Japan conquered by early 1942, not the United
States. Like the United States, Malaya called their
currency the Dollar. However, the design is much more suited
to Malaya than the United States. The front features bananas,
breadfruit and coconuts. The back pictures palm trees and a ship
steaming on the horizon. Each note has two sets of block letters,
starting with the letter “M”, which stood for Malaya. As an
anti-counterfeiting measure tiny colored silk threads were embedded
into the paper. These unissued, Crisp Uncirculated 10 Dollar
notes were abandoned by the Japanese forces in Malaya after Japan’s
surrender in 1945. They sat in storage for many years since
then. Today they are historic collector’s items
recalling Japan’s unsuccessful attempt to extend her empire across Asia
in World War II.
Item
PM-MY-JIM$10 JAPANESE INVASION OF
MALAYA 10 DOLLARS PM7c UNC. $3.00
Item
PM-MY-JIM$10x10 10 of the above JAPANESE
INVASION OF MALAYA 10 DOLLARS PM7c UNC.
$15.00
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
1636 the Tokugawa shogunate introduced a copper 1 Mon coin.
The four characters on the obverse: Kan Ei Tsu Ho translate as
"precious currency of Kan'ei". It was the first government
issued copper coins in 700 years. Japan continued to use the same
obverse design on copper coins for the next 230 years. In
1668 Japan introduced a new variety of the 1 Mon coin which featured
the Japanese character "bun" on the reverse, indicating the coin was
made at the Edo (now Tokyo) mint. The "bun" type contiued to be
produced until about 1700. A new variety of 4 Mon was
intorduced in 1669. The coin had the same obverse as the 1
Mon, but had 11 waves on the reverse to make it easily distinguishable
from the slightly smaller 1 Mon. It was minted
intermentiedly until 1860. With the introduction of the Yen in 1870,
the 1 Mon was valued at 1 Rin (1/1000 Yen) and the 4 Mon at 2
Rin. The coins were allowed to remain in circulation until
1891. They are inexpensive 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.
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
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.
Japan issued the 5 Rin coin for only
four years, from 1916 to 1919. 5 Rin was half a Sen , or 1/200th of a
Yen. It was the lowest denomination minted at that time. The 18.8mm
bronze coin features the denomination within a floral wreath on one
side and the Paulowina crest flanked by two small cherry blossoms on
the other. 
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 this unusual 5 Fen coin
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 5 Fen was
struck
was struck only two years: 1944 and 1945. Because the material used was
relatively
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.
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