This coin was minted by the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo Period (1603-1868). They were produced from 1853 to 1865, in the final decades of the Tokugawa Shogunate just prior to the Meiji Restoration of 1868. They thereby bear witness to the final years of the Samurai era. 

The silver Isshu Gin played a key role in the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Following the opening of Japan to the west in 1853, Japan’s gold silver ratio was out of sync with the rest of the world. Sailors would acquire Isshu Gins and exchange them for gold coins. These gold coins would then be exported out of Japan at a profit. 

The coin is bar shaped due to Japan’s isolation from the rest of the world, which led to the creation of coin designs that are unique to the country. The coin is made of 1.89 grams of high quality silver (96.8% pure) and measures about 15.5 millimetres by 9.3 millimetres. Weights and dimensions can vary slightly. 

One side features the Japanese characters Isshu Gin (one shu silver). On the other side, the characters Ginza (silver mine) and Joze (the name of the mint official responsible for making the coins) appear. The character Jo (guaranteed) is stamped above these characters. 

This coin is a must have for anyone with an interest in Japanese culture and history. 

You are purchasing one silver coin minted between 1853 and 1865.