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Treasure Coin Japanese Rectangular Shogun Era set 14K Pendant Authentic 1800's
$ 564.43
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Description
This coin is in excellent condition. The authentic coin pictured is the one you will receive. It comes in a solid 14K gold pendant bezel. Your purchase will include the Certificate of Authenticity, a velvet pouch, polishing cloth and gift box.Shogunate Coinage of Japan
Rectangular gold and silver coinage was issued in Japan prior to 1870. In that year the great emperor M
u
tshuito (Meiji) implemented a currency reform that incorporated the decimal system. Each coin can be identified to the region of a specific ruler, although the date in most instances can only be determined by the period of the Emperor's rule.
The weight and fineness of the silver and gold coins varied widely. From time to time the government would declare an official exchange rate but this was usually ignored. For gold and silver, nominal equivalents were 16 Shu = 4 Bu.
These rare coins of the Japanese Shogunate rule recount a rich tradition of warrior kings.
The Samurai were upper echelons of the warrior class and under the Shogun issued these coins up until the end of the era of the Samurai....The last Samurai conflict was in 1877 leading to the Meiji Restoration. The newly formed government instituted radical changes, aimed at reducing the power of the feudal domains and the dissolution of Samurai status.
The Buddhist concept of reincarnation and rebirth led Samurai to abandon torture and needless killing, some Samurai even gave up violence altogether and became Buddhist monks after realizing how fruitless their killings were. Samurai were many of the early exchange students, not because they were Samurai, but because many Samurai were literate and well-educated scholars. Some of these exchange students started private schools for higher educations, while many Samurai took pens instead of swords and guns and became reporters and writers, setting up newspaper companies, and others became businessmen. This rich and interesting time of history is reflected in the art of the time and, of course, the coinage designs.