Commodore Matthew Perry's infamous “Black Ships” entered Edo (Tokyo) Bay in 1853. After maintaining strict international isolation for over 200 years, Japan finally opened to foreign influence and trade when U.S. But this traditional feudal structure began to deteriorate in the face of external threats. Gold coins were generally hoarded by those lucky enough to acquire them.įor over 250 years, from 1600 to 1868, warlords known as the Tokugawa shogunate ruled over a Japan divided into fiefdoms, each controlled by a local daimyo, or samurai lord. Instead, everyday purchases in Tokugawa era Japan were made using lower value copper or silver coinage. Tokugawa Shogunate Shu Japanese Gold Coins for Sale on eBayĭue to their high purchasing power, most Japanese gold coins only received light wear. The warm, soft glow of their electrum alloy accentuates the intricate details of the pieces, giving them a compellingly tactile sensibility. Covered in exotic Japanese calligraphy and stylized paulownia flowers, shu and bu gold coins unequivocally exude the style of traditional samurai Japan. These smaller shu and bu Japanese gold coins from the Tokugawa shogunate have an unusual rectangular shape surrounded by finely beaded borders that is reminiscent of a miniature bar or ingot. These coins are called isshu-kin (one-shu gold), nishu-kin (two-shu gold), ichibu-kin (one-bu gold) and nibu-kin (two-bu gold), respectively. Most Tokugawa period Japanese gold coins available in the market today are smaller one (ichi) or two (ni) shu or bu denominations. Likewise, a similar one bu coin in gold would be called an ichibu kin, or "one-bu gold".
Therefore, a one bu silver coin would be called an ichibu gin, which translates as "one-bu silver". The Japanese word for silver is "gin" and their word for gold is "kin". Larger denomination ryo coins were exclusively gold. Shu denominations, the smallest of the three, were often, but not always, minted in silver. But, in reality, coins traded by weight as bullion pieces. Theoretically, 16 shu equaled 4 bu, which also equaled 1 ryo. The monetary system of Tokugawa era Japan consisted of a disorganized mish-mash of bronze, silver, electrum (an alloy of gold and silver) and gold coins issued in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. At this point in its history, Japan was ruled by traditional samurai lords who had cultivated their warrior philosophy for more than a millennium. Feudal Japanese gold coins are remnants of a time when Japan was still largely agrarian, feudal and isolated.
Minted from the early 17th century until just after the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1869, these distinctly Asian coins reflect the rich samurai culture of feudal Japan. Those who understand these subtleties also know that genuine items of great beauty and real value are still available for those willing to take the time to look.įeudal-era Japanese gold coins are one interesting possibility.
But these unconvincing copies are pale facsimiles - mere shadows - of the real article. In modern times, ingenious humans have found innumerable ways to imitate the finer (and by implication more expensive) things in life. The counterfeit has been with us for a very, very long time. Even the ancient Romans were deceived by unscrupulous merchants who peddled brass as gold to the unwary. A world overrun by imitations isn't a particularly new phenomenon either. We are surrounded by fake wood, fake leather and even fake breasts. Tokugawa era Japanese gold coins are often called "samurai money" as an ode to their feudal origins. The pale gold color is due to the fact that this coin, like most Japanese gold coins of the period, was minted from a gold-silver alloy known as electrum. Here is a fine example of a nishu-kin (2 shu) gold coin minted during the Japanese Tokugawa shogunate between 18.
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