From Tokugawa to Meiji: Japanese Coins

Dublin Core

Title

From Tokugawa to Meiji: Japanese Coins

Subject

Numismatics

Description

This small comparative collection shows how Japanese coins demonstrate the economic and political consolidation of Japanese practical rule during the Meiji Restoration. As one can see from the coins in this collection, there is a wide diversity of coins used during the Tokugawa period, ranging from those issued with permission from the Japanese Imperial Government to coins repurposed from different countries. The Tokugawa period saw limited Government control throughout the country, as real power rested with and competitive and often warring Shogunate rulers. During the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese Imperial Government gained more consolidated control over Japan, and issued a consolidated coinage system to be used uniform throughout the country.

Creator

unknown

Source

[no text]

Publisher

[no text]

Date

Tokugawa Period: 1603-1868
Meiji Period: 1868-1912

Contributor

[no text]

Rights

[no text]

Relation

[no text]

Format

Still Photos

Language

English

Type

[no text]

Identifier

[no text]

Coverage

Tokugawa Period to Meiji Period, Japan.

Collection Items

Oban Coin
An Oban Coin from the Keicho Era within the Tokugawa Period in Japan.

Three Japanese Oban from the Tokugawa Period
These three different Japanese Oban demonstrate the diversity of Japanese coins during the Tokugawa Period. Oban could be quite diverse in origin, shape and signatures. They often carried the Japanese Government seal, the mine or province of origin,…

Koban Coin
Koban coins were the second largest denomination of Tokugawa period coins. They were often stamped with the Japanese seal, the mint signature and the name of the province or mine of origin.

Koban Coin
Koban coins were the second largest denomination of Tokugawa period coins. They were often stamped with the Japanese seal, the mint signature and the name of the province or mine of origin.

Ichibuban
Ichibuban were a denomination of the Tokugawa coinage system, valued at 'one bu' or one fourth of a Koban coin.

Aratame Sanbu Silver Coin
During the Tokugawa Period, the coinage system recognized by the Tokugawa era Japanese Government was not standardized. As such, commodity trade and currency exchange with foreign coins also occurred. This coin is one example of the diversity of…

2 Yen Meiji Coin
This coin is from the third year of the Meiji Period (1871). It was worth 2 Yen, and was part of the Meiji Coinage System initiated during the Meiji Restoration. This coinage system represents the consolidation of practical power within the Japanese…

5 Yen Meiji Coin
This coin is from the third year of the Meiji Period (1871). It was worth 5 Yen, and was part of the Meiji Coinage System initiated during the Meiji Restoration. This coinage system represents the consolidation of practical power within the Japanese…

20 Yen Meiji Coin
This coin is from the third year of the Meiji Period (1871). It was worth 20 Yen, and was part of the Meiji Coinage System initiated during the Meiji Restoration. This coinage system represents the consolidation of practical power within the Japanese…

Tsuhou Coin
This Tsuhou coin is a type of cast-copper coin minted in Japan and modeled from Chinese coinage of the times. Chinese coins also were used quite frequently throughout Japan during the Tokugawa era.
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