Japanese Samurai Coin - Nibu-Kin (2Bu) - Meija Era (1868-1869) - Mounted in a 14K gold bezel

Mint: Ginza 

Date: Meiji era (1868)

Denomination: 2 bu -(nibu-kin)

Weight: about 3 grams

Demensions: 20mm x 12mm

Metal: 22% gold and 78% Silver

Mount: 14K Gold Fixed Bezel (9.1 grams)

Grade: Extra Fine

Region: Japan                                                                              

Mint Official: Joze

Description: Japanese Samurai Coin (Tukugawa Shogunate) Image: Incuse stamp (Jo) over 4 kanji in rectangle surrounded by 30 Sakura.  Text: Romanization: / JOZE / GIN / ZA (Translation: Guaranteed Ginza (Silver Mint) Joze (Mint Official). Reverse: Three Kanji characters in a rectangle, surrounded by Sakura.  Reverse Text: Romanization: ICHI / SHI / GIN (Translation: One Shu of silver). The edge of the coin has vertical reeding on the short side, along with slanted reeding on the long side.

 History: Tokugawa coinage was a unitary and independent metallic monetary system established by Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1601 in Japan, and which lasted throughout the Tokugawa period until its end in 1867. Tokugawa coinage worked according to a triple monetary standard, using gold, silver and bronze coins, each with their own denominations.  

 The systems worked by multiples of 4, and coins were valued according to the Ryō. One Ryō was worth 4 Bu, 16 Shu, or 4,000 Mon (a cheap bronze coin). They weigh around 3.00 grams (0.096 troy ounces) each and were the last Japanese coins made in the old, bar style.  All later coins of the Meiji era were minted in the Western, machine-struck, round style that is familiar to us today.

 Japan-22