NUMISMATICS - UEKI, Shunka.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Kozeni-shu ("Collections of Ancient Coins"). Two sets of illustrated cards, perhaps issued as souvenirs, untraced institutionally or in commerce. The designs in one set include the oldest official Japan coin (Wadokaichin) and the popular Eiraku Tsuho coin modelled on imported Chinese cash. Those in the other set are of silver currency dating from the 1730s to the 1850s.In the Edo period three currencies were simultaneously in use: copper coins for everyday purchases, silver coins primarily used by merchants, and gold coins used as rewards or for large purchases. Each currency was independent and fluctuated in value and exchange rate. Furthermore, while gold coins were issued by denomination, silver coins were issued by weight. This system lasted until 1871, when the New Currency Act was issued by the Meiji government as part of its modernizing reforms.The sets are numbered 1 and 3, so there was presumably a third set, but we cannot trace an extant example of it.

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