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1 Mon 'Eirakutsūhō' Cast silver, Reverse Omodaka
| Issuer | Japan |
|---|---|
| Year | 1587 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round with a square hole |
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| Obverse description | Central square perforation surrounded by four raised Chinese characters arranged in cruciform fashion within a plain circular field. Reading clockwise from the top: 永 (Ei), 通 (tsū), 樂 (raku), 寶 (hō), together forming the legend 永樂通寶 (Eirakutsūhō), meaning 'Eiraku circulating treasure.' The characters are rendered in a bold, calligraphic style with strong relief against the textured cast field, enclosed by a raised outer rim. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese |
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| Additional information |
The Eiraku Tsūhō was originally a Chinese cash coin of the Yongle Emperor, imported into Japan in vast quantities from the early 15th century and so thoroughly adopted that Japanese authorities began casting domestic imitations to meet demand. By the Sengoku period, silver cast versions — known as gin-sen — circulated as a distinctly Japanese adaptation, with certain warlords effectively authorizing their own issues. The omodaka (arrowhead plant) reverse mark on this piece is a domain or workshop identifier, though attribution to a specific issuer remains contested among specialists.