Japan - Akita 100 Mon - Short Tail

November 2024

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Akita Tsuba Sen. Ugo (Dewa) Province in NW Honshu, now Akita Prefecture - No date (1863 - 1866). Other interesting issues were cast during this inflationary period, including some in lead, copper-plated lead, and silver. Issued as 100 mon, it quickly was reduced in trade value to 80 mon.
Heritage Auction Lot#62156. This is the short-tailed Phoenix version which is more common than a long tailed type. Trigrams are on the reverse, meaning of which will require some research. Copper, 48 x 52.5 mm by 3 mm thick; mass is 46.02 g. H# 7.2; JNDA 139.10; KM# 6.1 (ND 1862)
The shape of this coin is probably based on the 'tsuba', or sword handle guard of the Daimyo of Akita. The Eight Trigrams on the obverse were devised by Fu Xi in about 2800 BC in China. Trigram symbols are used for divination associated with the "I Ching" (Yi Jing, Book of Changes). The reverse depicts a male and female Phoenix used to symbolize good luck. The edge has a stamped "kyu" that indicates the Bunkyu era. See my example of the rarer Phoenix with Long Tail version here in the Museum.