Japanese Coins : From Ancient Times to the Edo Period

Known to have been made in 708, the Wadokaichin was thought to be the oldest coin in Japan. However, it was recently discovered that the coin known as Fuhonsen, from the two characters "fu" and "hon", was made in the 7th century and predates the wadokaichin.

For 250 years from the early 8th century, 12 kinds of copper coins (Kocho 12 coins) were issued. Towards the end of 10th century, when the political system according to the Ritsuryo Code declined, the production of Japanese coins stopped and foreign coins (mainly Chinese from the Song and Ming dynasties) began to be circulated. It was towards the end of the Muromachi period (- 1573) when mining industry developed in various parts of Japan, that minting of gold and silver coins started again.

The Tokyo National Museum received a gift of 104 gold and silver coins from Mr. Okawa Isao in 2002. Featuring the specimens donated by Mr. Okawa, the present display of Japanese coins from the museum's collection traces the history of Japanese coins from Fuhonsen to Oban and koban coins dating from the Edo period.