Bronze 100 mon coin

From Japan
Issued during the 6th year of the Tempō era, AD 1835

A distinctive coin of Japan

The inscription down the front of this coin reads 'Tem po tsu ho'. 'Tempo' refers to the Tempō era (1830-44), and 'tsūho' means 'circulating treasure' or 'coin'. The inscription on the reverse reads 'to hyaku' ('worth-100'), that is, worth 100 of the standard Japanese cash coins, known as mon.

The oval form of this piece may have been inspired by the gold ōban and koban. These token coins were issued to bring in extra revenue to the government.

N.G. Munro, Coins of Japan (Yokohama, 1904)