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The 2nd Floor - The 3rd Exhibition Room - Present Japan Mint and Interactive Exhibit
We have ancient Chinese and Japanese coins such as "Fuhonsen", "Wadokaichin", "Kochosen" and knife money. Moreover, we have "Obang", "Kobang", gold and silver coins produced in the Meiji era, circulating coins, and commemorative coins.
Some of them such as "Obang" have scarcity value and others such as "Takenagashikin" can be found only in the Mint Museum.
For more information, please visit History of Japanese Coins.
"Tensho-Obang"
"Tensho-Obang" was gold coin made by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. The fineness of this gold was high and this coin was one of the biggest gold coins in the world.
"Takenagashikin" (existed only in the Mint Museum)
"Takenagashikin" was manufactured at the era of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. It was made by pouring gold into a bamboo-shaped cast. It was discovered from the Yodo River in Osaka in 1935.
Gold Coins Produced in the Meiji Era
Under gold standard system the Meiji government issued new coins to control and stabilize the circulation of currency after the Meiji Restoration. When they discussed a design of coins, a proposition was made to adopt the portrait of the emperor as the design of coins, which was, however, refused for fear that the august portrait might be profaned in circulation. For this reason, they adopted the design of dragon instead of the portrait of the emperor.
"Kochosen"
The government issued 12 kinds of bronze coins from 708 to 958. The name of the first coin is "Wadokaichin" and that of the last one is "Kengentaihou".
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