Ancient Coins
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Coins ("Kaiki Shōhō")
Found in Nara City, Nara, Nara period, 8th century (Important Cultural Property)Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
September 9, 2025 (Tue) - February 1, 2026 (Sun)Coins known as wado kaichin, which were minted in 708 (Wado 1), represent the first serious effort in Japan to mint coins for circulation. Subsequently, twelve kinds of coins were minted in the Nara (710–794) and Heian (794–1192) periods. However, the minting of coins ceased by the latter half of the 10th century as the use of bronze coins imported from China became prevalent.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Plain Coin | Found in an unknown location | Asuka period, 7th century | Gift of the Imperial Treasury, E-2649 | |||
| Highlight | Coin("Wadō Kaichin/Kaihō") | Found in an unknown location | Nara period, 8th century | E-2051 | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Coins ("Kaiki Shōhō") | Found in Nara City, Nara | Nara period, 8th century | E-19576 | ||
| Highlight | Casting Mold Fragments for Wadō Kaichin/Kaihō Coins | Found in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi | Nara period, 8th century | Gift of Mr. Shindo Zuido, E-7599 |