This item is a silver coin issued in Japan in 1906. It weighs 10.125 grams and contains 80% silver. The coin in the image is from the Meiji era, a period in Japan's history when the country opened up to the world and began adopting Western culture. It is in very good condition with few scratches, allowing you to get a strong sense of that historical era.

[Detailed Historical Background]

The "Tenpo Ichibu Gin" began casting on December 4, 1837, and it entered circulation on December 18 of the same year (January 13, 1838). Later, it was also referred to as "Koichibu Gin" after the issuance of the "Ansei Ichibu Gin."

While it had a silver content close to pure silver, it weighed only 9.2 momme per ry?, far less than the 15.6 momme per ry? of the H?j? Gin's silver content, as it served as nominal coinage (a fixed value coin) aimed at generating profits from the difference (seigniorage) to cover the financial difficulties of the shogunate.

The issuance of the Tenpo Ichibu Gin and later the Ansei Ichibu Gin far exceeded the amount of the contemporaneous chogin (a traditional coin with the same face value), leading to the dominance of counted silver coins in circulation. After the introduction of the Ichibu Gin, it contributed significantly to the outflow of Koban (a larger gold coin) after Japan opened its ports to the world.

This was a significant reduction, with a drop of about 42.5% compared to the weight of 4.0 momme equivalent to two shu silver coins of Bunsei Nanban Gin. As the silver content decreased, the use of more refined Hanabiragin (silver) was adopted. The government officials initially planned to inscribe "Hanabori Ichibu Gin" on the surface, as Hanabiragin was of higher quality, but it was opposed by Tadakuni Mizuno. Instead, they used only "Ichibu Gin" without the "Hanabori" notation and placed 20 cherry blossoms around the rim. This cherry blossom design led to the coin's nickname as "Sakura Ichibu Gin" (Sakura One Rin Silver).

The reverse side bears the character "?" (Kore) with eight and nine strokes crossing, and the presence of a smooth finish on the side and imprinted cherry blossom petals characterizes the Tenpo Ichibu Gin. The practice of determining the coin type based on the location of the reverse cherry blossoms' imprint has become the established method.

The "Bui Ichigin" (mintage profit) from the blowing of Tenpo Ichibu Gin with government ash silver and recycled old silver was initially set at 2.5% of the mintage in the early days of its issuance and reduced to 1.6% from Tenpo 14 (1843). On August 17, Tenpo 14 (September 10, 1843), Tadakuni Mizuno ordered a temporary cessation of gold and silver blowing at the mint and the Tenpo Ichibu Gin was also temporarily halted. The mintage amount from the start of casting to the suspension was recorded as 15,153,802 ry? in the "Ginzakashika Goy? Tomari" record, with the seigniorage income gained by the government from reblowing set at 2,430,000 ry?. This temporary suspension was considered part of the new monetary reform planned by Tadakuni Mizuno, but due to fierce opposition from various quarters following the announcement of J?chi-rei (the Upheaval Edict), it was met with strong resistance. About a year later, on September 13, K?ka 1 (October 24, 1844), casting of the Tenpo gold and silver coins resumed following the dismissal of the Roju (Elders).

Store Management ID:katiri_coin