Oval coin - Koban

Japanese: 小判 - こばん

〘Noun〙① A gold coin issued during the Edo period worth "one ryo". It is oval in shape, with the characters "Ichiryo" and "Mitsutsugu" and two seals with a "kirimon crest with a base paper frame" stamped on the front, and a date mark (some do not have one), a signature seal, and a manufacturer's inspection seal stamped on the back. There is little change in form, but there are many types with different fineness, weight, and size, including Keicho koban, Genroku koban, Hoei koban, Shotoku Kyoho koban, Genbun koban, Bunsei koban, Tenpo koban, Ansei koban, and Man'en koban. Since it is always worth one ryo, it is incorrect to call it "ichiryo koban," and since it is a gold coin, it is also incorrect to call it "koban gold." Originally a name contrasting with oban. ※Kinryo Ko - Zenshu, Volume 6, Volume 54, Enpo 2 (1674) "Town Notice on the Use of Koban"② Abbreviation of "Kobangata (Oval Shape)". ※Kakushihon Ukiyoburo (1809-13) 4 "A lost child tag. What does it say on this? It's an oval coin ."③ Small-sized paper or other items. ※Gyokujinsho (1563) 6 "It's in the Kanran Bunshu. There are about ten of them. They're small boards, Chinese versions."

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 江戸時代発行の「一両」通用の金貨幣。楕円形で、表面に「壱両」と「光次」の文字、「地紙枠付桐紋」二個の極印が打刻され、裏面に年代標識印（ないものもある）、花押印、製造責任者検印などが打刻されている。形式的にはほとんど変化はないが、品位、重量、大きさなどを異にするものがあり、種類は多く、慶長小判、元祿小判、宝永小判、正徳享保小判、元文小判、文政小判、天保小判、安政小判、万延小判などがある。必ず一両と定まっているので、「一両小判」という呼び方は誤りであり、金貨幣であるので、「小判金」というのも正しくない。元来大判と対比する名称。※禁令考‐前集・第六・巻五四・延宝二年（1674）「小判通用之儀に付町触」② 「こばんがた（小判形）」の略。※滑稽本・浮世風呂（1809‐13）四「迷子札さ。是は何と書てございますヱ。小判(コバン)で能ネ」③ 紙などの判(ばん)の小さいもの。※玉塵抄（1563）六「観瀾文集にあるぞ十冊やらあるぞ小板ぞ唐本なり」

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