Oko-gin

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japan-oko-gin-1710.jpg

Japanese Oko-gin minted in 1710, silver of 80% fineness - as with other cho-gin (silver coins), an image of the god of wealth and the Chinese character takara, "treasure", are stamped numerous times over the face. (Image Curtesy of the Bank of Japan's web page]

History

Japanese silver money (measured in weight by the momme of 3.75 g) minted to be used by the Tsushima daimyo to pay for imports of Korean ginseng and Chinese raw silk, to satisfy Korea's traders who rejected the Hoei Cho-gin because of the inferior quality of coins minted since the 1690s. The fineness was with 80% comparable to the fineness of the Keicho Cho-gin minted after 1601 - regular cho-gin coins minted after 1695 had a silver content of 20-50%.

See also Money (Japan)

Literature

  • Bank of Japan (ed.) Short Essays on Monetary History Contained in Monetary and Economic Studies, 1-9 Oko-gin Silver Coins for Import of Korean Ginseng: A Two-Tiered Pricing System for Silver Coins ink




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