Ichibugin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Ichibugin (一分銀) (aka: "bu" (分) for short) was a monetary unit of Japan towards the end of the Edo period. During their time in circulation each coin was worth 1⁄4 of a gold Ryō, and could also be exchanged four silver or gold shu coins. The medium of exchange was later expanded to allow 3 Ichibugin for a United States or Mexican Silver Dollar.[1] While no coins worth "3 bu" were ever produced by the shogunate, the corresponding coins were countermarked as such.[2]

A silver Ichibugin.

History


Specifications

More information Image, Minted ...
Image Minted Mass Material
1837 – 1854
2.3 Momme
(8.62g)
 98.86% silver, 0.93% miscellaneous, 0.21% gold
1859 – 1868
2.3 Momme
(8.62g)
 89.36% silver, 10.57% miscellaneous, 0.07% gold
1868 – 1869
2.3 Momme
(8.62g)
 80.66% silver, 19.25% miscellaneous, 0.09% gold
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Circulation figures

More information Denomination, Era Namesake ...
Denomination Era Namesake[a] Japanese dates[b] Gregorian dates[b] Mintage
1 Bu
Tenpō
天保八 – 安政元
1837 – 1854
78,916,556[3]
1 Bu
Ansei
安政六 – 明治元
1859 – 1868
11,398,600[4]
1 Bu
Man'en
万延元 – 慶応二
1860 – 1867
Unknown[c]
1 Bu
Meiji
明治元 – 明治二
1868 – 1869
4,267,332[6]
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Edo coinage is named after their era of origin regardless of how many eras their actual mintage spans.
  2. [b]
    These years are for reference only as the given coins may not be dated
  3. [c]
    These are similar to gold coins made during the Kyōhō era (1716–1736). They all feature no dating mark and weigh over 4 grams.[5]

References

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