Keicho gold and silver coins

Gold coins (oban, koban, ichibuban) and silver coins (chogin, mameitagin) issued and circulated by the Edo Shogunate from 1601 (Keicho 6). The fineness of the oban coins was 670.9, the koban coins 862.8, the ichibuban coins 855.7, and the silver coins 791.9 (and 2.0 gold coins) out of 1000 parts. Gold and silver coins gradually began to circulate from the 16th century, but their fineness and weight were indefinite, making them difficult to use nationwide. To facilitate smooth circulation, new coins with a fixed fineness were issued. The Keicho gold and silver coins were minted continuously and in large quantities, which established the modern currency system. After the currency recoinage in 1695 (Genroku 8), the use of the Keicho gold and silver coins was discontinued, but in fact they were kept and used by the public for a long time after that. The mintage of Keicho gold and silver was over 14.72 million ryo of koban and ichibuban coins, and 1.2 million kanme of silver coins.

[Takeo Takizawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1601年（慶長6）以後江戸幕府で発行し流通した金貨（大判(おおばん)、小判(こばん)、一分判(いちぶばん)）と銀貨（丁銀(ちょうぎん)、豆板銀(まめいたぎん)）。純分は1000分中大判670.9、小判862.8、一分判855.7、銀貨791.9（ほかに金2.0）。16世紀以来しだいに流通し始めた金銀貨が、品位・量目(りょうめ)とも不定で、全国的通用が困難であったため、これを一定にした新貨を発行して流通を円滑にすることが図られた。この慶長金銀が継続的かつ大量に鋳造されたことにより、近世的貨幣制度が整備された。1695年（元禄8）の貨幣改鋳以後、慶長金銀の使用は停止されたが、実際にはその後も長く民間で保存され通用していた。慶長金銀の鋳造高は、小判・一分判1472万両余、銀貨120万貫目。

［滝沢武雄］

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