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Kaiki Shoho

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For the aircraft carrier, see Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō.

Kaiki Shōhō (開基勝宝) is an early form of Japanese currency that was issued in 760 (Tenpyō-hōji 4) during the Nara period. These coins were struck in a gold alloy, and have a circular square hole in the middle. Very few "Kaiki Shoho" coins were minted as they were possibly an early experiment. This is not a collectible type of coinage as the only 32 surviving coins are held by the Japanese government.

History

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An example of "Kaiki Shoho" in the Tokyo National Museum

"Kaiki Shoho" coins were issued in the fourth year of Tenpyō-hōji (760) during the reign of Emperor Junnin along with silver Taihei Genpō, and bronze Mannen Tsūhō coins.[1] All three of these denominations are said to have characters written by scholar Kibi no Makibi.[2] "Kaiki Shoho" in particular were minted on the order of Daijō-daijin Fujiwara no Nakamaro, who was leading the government at the time.[1] They were fixed in value and had an exchange ratio of 1 gold Kaiki Shoho coin for 10 silver Taihei Genpō or 100 bronze Mannen Tsūhō coins.[3]

Based on historical sources and archaeological evidence, Kaiki Shoho were probably not widely distributed.[1] These is no given evidence that Kaiki Shoho actually circulated as currency, and the coins may have acted as "show money".[1][4] Anthropologist Neil Gordon Munro remarked that Kaiki Shoho was intended to be the "pioneer of a gold currency". He concluded however, that the country was too poor at the time to "warrant such an experiment being carried out on a large scale."[5]

These coins were eventually lost to history until 1794 (Kansei 6) when one piece was excavated from the ruins of Saidai-ji. It was then kept at Saidai-ji as a treasure until 1876 (Meiji 6) when it was offered to the emperor as he visited.[6] As the coin passed into the Imperial family it eventually became a national treasure. It was noted in 1903 by "The Japan Weekly Mail" that this unique coin "left only a host of conjectures" on its origin.[2] In 1937 (Showa 12) when 31 more coins were discovered by chance during land clearing for a residential area.[7] All 32 coins are now kept as cultural artifacts which are managed by the Japanese government.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Marianna Lazar (2022). "Ancient Coins of Japan" (PDF). Távol-Keleti Tanulmányok. 14. Journal of East Asian Cultures: 57. doi:10.38144/TKT.2022.1.4.
  2. ^ a b The Japan Weekly Mail. Vol. 39. 1903. p. 704.
  3. ^ Keiji Imamura (2001). Tomimotosen and the mysterious silver coin: The truth behind the birth of money. Shogakukan. ISBN 4-09-626124-6.
  4. ^ "The Production and Use of Gold in Japan". Public relations office (Japan). Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Neil Gordon Munro (1904). Coins of Japan. pp. 44–45.
  6. ^ Norman Jacobs, Cornelius Clarkson Vermeule (1972). Japanese Coinage. Numismatic Review. p. 11. It was unearthed in the sixth year of Kansei (1794 A.D.) by workmen making repairs on a gateway... ... of the Saidai-ji Template at Nara. The gold coin was kept in the temple as a treasure until the ninth year of Meiji (1876)...
  7. ^ "開基勝宝／奈良県奈良市西大寺町（旧畠山）出土" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
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