Mumonginsen

Mumon ginsen (無文銀銭) (aka "Plain silver coin") is believed to be the earliest form of Japanese currency which was issued between 667 and 672 AD during the Tenji period. There are theories that these coins were either privately issued or that they came from the state.

Overview[edit]

Throughout their search history stretching back to the Enkyō period about 120 Mumon ginsen have been excavated from 17 sites: seven in Yamato, six in Omi, and one each in the Settsu, Kawachi, Yamashiro, and Ise regions.^[a] Each coin is roughly 3 centimeters in diameter, 2 millimeters thick, and weighs about 8 to 10 grams.^[1]^[b] These coins differ from later issues as they feature small round holes as opposed to a large central square.^[1] Only a few of those excavated have inscriptions, and many of the coins have silver pieces attached to their surfaces which are thought to have been added to make the weight uniform.^[1] Silver coins were not used on the Korean peninsula during the Tenji period. Professor Fumio Tanaka (Waseda University) mentions that in Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo, the use of gold and silver was regulated by royal authority. He went on to say that it's been proven by literature and archaeology that they functioned as a symbol of the royal authority's status order.^[2] When compared to Japan at the time, Tanaka mentions that before the 7th century gold and silver were supplied by the international community. As each powerful clan (chief) obtained these precious resources, there was a basis to circulate coins in a multilateral manner without being regulated by the royal authority.^[2]

Purpose[edit]

Prior to World War II, Mumon ginsen had the distinction of being the oldest official Japanese currency.

Attitudes towards this point of view started to change in 1972 as a document was published stating: "it's impossible to recognize [the coins] as currency."^[3] It is now thought that Mumon ginsen at the very least was recognized as having value as currency.

[1]

Excavated examples[edit]

Year found	Location (historical)	Location (modern)	Short summary
Enkyō	Ōsumi	Kagoshima	1 coin was allegedly found.
1761	Settsu	Osaka	Around 100 pieces were initially found, but only 2 now remain.^[4]^[5]
1873	Yamato	Nara (city)	Photo of coins found in Tsuge village.^[4]^[5]
1940	Ōmi	Shiga	12 coins were excavated from the ruins of Sūfuku-ji temple, 1 is now missing.^[4]^[5]
1956	Kawachi	Kashiwara	Photo from Funabashi ruins.^[4]^[5]
1958	Yamato	Asuka	Photo from the ruins of Kawahara Temple.^[4]^[5]
1976	Yamoto	Asuka	Photo from Asukakyo.^[4]^[5]
1976	Ise	Suzuka	Photo from Kitano Kofun.^[4]^[5]
1985	Yamoto	Kashihara	1 coin found with some of its edges scraped off.^[4]^[5]
1986	Yamoto	Asuka	Photo from Ishigami Ruins.^[4]^[5]
1987	Ōmi	Ōtsu	Photo from the Karahashi ruins.^[4]^[5]
1988	Ōmi	Moriyama	Photo from the Akanoiwanminami ruins.^[4]^[5]
1988	Ōmi	Rittō	Photo from the Kitsunezuka ruins.^[4]^[5]
1994	Yamoto	Sakurai	Photo from the Tani ruins, shows a sectioned fragment.^[4]
1994	Yamashiro	Kyoto	Photo from the Ogura Bettocho ruins.^[4]^[5]
1995	Ōmi	Kōra	Photo from the Amago Nishi ruins.^[4]^[5]
1997	Yamato	Nara (city)	Photo taken.^[4]^[5]
1998	Yamoto	Asuka	6 pieces of one coin were found at the Asukaike ruins.^[4]^[5]
2004	Ōmi	Rittō	Photo from the Reisenji ruins.^[4]^[5]

Notes[edit]

^ These regions are now known as: Nara, Shiga, Osaka (for Settsu and Kawachi), Kyoto, and Mie.
^ These coins were worth 6 shu in the unit of measurement at the time (1 ryo was equal to 24 shu)

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c The Museum of the History of Currency: Pre-Asuka Period. Japanese Currency Collections, Hachette Collections. 2009. p. 3.
^ ^a ^b Tanaka Fumio (2017). Ancient History of Crossing Borders. KADOKAWA Sophia Bunko. p. 139-142. ISBN 978-4-04-400262-6.
^ Aoyama Reishi (1972). Currency Notebook 1973 Edition. Shobunsha. p. 6.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r Japanese Coins: A Guide to Collecting" (revised). Japan Numismatic Dealers Association. 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Matsumura Keiji (2009). Issuance of Wadokaichin Coins. Shibundo. p. 18-23. ISBN 9784784335121.

[1] These regions are now known as: Nara, Shiga, Osaka (for Settsu and Kawachi), Kyoto, and Mie.

[3] These coins were worth 6 shu in the unit of measurement at the time (1 ryo was equal to 24 shu)

[Hachette-2] The Museum of the History of Currency: Pre-Asuka Period. Japanese Currency Collections, Hachette Collections. 2009. p. 3.

[Fumio-4] Tanaka Fumio (2017). Ancient History of Crossing Borders. KADOKAWA Sophia Bunko. p. 139-142. ISBN 978-4-04-400262-6.

[5] Aoyama Reishi (1972). Currency Notebook 1973 Edition. Shobunsha. p. 6.

[JNDA-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r Japanese Coins: A Guide to Collecting" (revised). Japan Numismatic Dealers Association. 2010.

[Matsumura-7] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Matsumura Keiji (2009). Issuance of Wadokaichin Coins. Shibundo. p. 18-23. ISBN 9784784335121.

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[b]

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Overview[edit]

Purpose[edit]

Excavated examples[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]