Japan – Tokugawa Shogunate – Tempo Ichibu Gin (1837–1854)
•Material: Silver (.980 fine approx.)
•Weight: 8.8 g
•Dimensions: ~24 × 16 mm, rectangular shape
•Era: Tempo period (AD 1837–1854)
✅ Certification of provenance and authenticity included .
Obverse:
Characters within a rectangular cartouche: 「定」 (jō, “standard/authorized”) and 「銀座常是」 (Ginza Jōze, the official assayer). Floral border surrounding the field.
Reverse:
Characters 「一分銀」 (Ichibu Gin, “One Bu Silver”) within a cartouche, with decorative floral border.
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Historical Note:
The Ichibu Gin formed part of Japan’s Tokugawa-era silver currency system. Issued during the Tempo reforms (1837–1854), these rectangular coins circulated widely in commerce alongside oval Koban gold coins and copper denominations. Their distinctive shape and bold inscriptions make them one of the most recognizable pieces of pre-Meiji Japanese coinage.