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Kan'ei Tsūhō

寛永通宝（kan'ei tsūhō）

Series
Edo-period copper coinage
Denomination
1 mon (later also 4-mon)
Period
From the Kan'ei era to the Bakumatsu (issue continued to the era's end — catalog)

Updated: 2026-09-02

Specifications (as confirmed)

ItemValueTypeSources
Principal issues (catalog)1668/1739/1768/1860年Catalog value[1],[2]

FACTCatalog examples: the "new Kan'ei" of 1668, iron 1-mon of 1739, brass 4-mon of 1768, iron 4-mon of 1860; issue continued past the Kan'ei era to the Bakumatsu (catalog).[1],[2]

FACTReverse marks distinguish the casting sites — Sado, Sendai, Ashio, Nagasaki and others (catalog).[2]

Historical Context

FACTCoins were cast: the "branch coins" removed from the mold were cut apart and their edges finished with whetstones and files (catalog, Chūsen Zukai).[3]

Visual Identification

FACTReverse characters distinguish the casting sites — Sado, Sendai, Ashio, Nagasaki and others.[2]

Varieties & Attribution

FACTThe catalog shows the "new Kan'ei" (1668), iron 1-mon (1739), brass 4-mon (1768) and iron 4-mon (1860); registers classify pre-1668 castings as "old Kan'ei" (28 NDL entries).[1],[2]

Manufacturing

FACTCast in molds; the "branch" clusters were cut apart, threaded on a square rod, and edge-ground on whetstones (surviving examples of which are shown).[3]

Authentication Cautions

INTERPRETATIONAltered pieces posing as seed coins or rare calligraphy are known; no single feature proves authenticity. Classification rests on comparison with the registers.

Terminology (JA/EN)

FACTIron issues rusted easily and were called bita-sen or nabe-sen.[2]

Open Items

INTERPRETATIONThe commonly cited first casting (Kan'ei 13 = 1636) is not stated in the catalog pages consulted; we do not assert it until sourced.

INTERPRETATIONSpecifications not stated here (weight, fineness, mintage, etc.) are not yet confirmed in the sources consulted. They will be added as they are confirmed.

Auction Records

No auction records confirmed for this exact type yet. Prices for the broader category are not shown as this type's prices. Confirmed records will be listed here.

References

  1. [1]「貨幣博物館 常設展示図録（江戸の銭貨）」（日本銀行金融研究所 貨幣博物館） — https://www.imes.boj.or.jp/cm/collection/tenjizuroku/mod/book/pageindices/index51.html（accessed: 2026-09-02）
  2. [2]「貨幣博物館 常設展示図録（全国各地にあった銭座）」（日本銀行金融研究所 貨幣博物館） — https://www.imes.boj.or.jp/cm/collection/tenjizuroku/mod/book/pageindices/index52.html（accessed: 2026-09-02）
  3. [3]「貨幣博物館 常設展示図録（銭貨のつくりかた）」（日本銀行金融研究所 貨幣博物館） — https://www.imes.boj.or.jp/cm/collection/tenjizuroku/mod/book/pageindices/index53.html（accessed: 2026-09-02）