Mannen Tsūhō
{{Short description|Early form of Japanese currency that was issued from 760 to 765 AD}}
{{Nihongo|Mannen Tsūhō|万年通宝 aka 萬年通宝}} is an early form of Japanese currency that was issued from 760 to 765 AD (Tenpyō-hōji 4 to 9) during the Nara period. These are also known as the second issue of Kocho Junisen under the Ritsuryo system.
Background
The oldest official Japanese coinage is the {{nihongo|Wadōkaichin|和同開珎}}, which is first mentioned in the Shoku Nihongi for August 29, 708. These imitation cash coins were inspired by Chinese Tang dynasty coinage (唐銭) named Kaigen Tsūhō. While Wadōkaichin circulated until 958 AD, twelve different coins were issued in the interim which are now known as Kocho Junisen under the Ritsuryo system.{{citation | last = Nussbaum | first = Louis-Frédéric | year = 2005 | contribution = Wadō-kaihō | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA1024 | title = Japan Encyclopedia | page = 1024| isbn = 978-0674017535 }}; n.b., {{citation | url = http://dispatch.opac.ddb.de/DB=4.1/PPN?PPN=128842709 | publisher = Deutsche Nationalbibliothek | title = Authority File}}. This process began as the Wadōkaichin fell in value due to counterfeit coins and private minting.
History
File:Man'nentsūhō 1059-8 Nara National Museum.jpg]]
According to the Shoku Nihongi, Mannen Tsūhō were issued in 760 (Tenpyō-hōji 4) through an Imperial edict along with the silver Taihei Genpō and the gold Kaiki Shoho. This edict stipulates that 10 Mannen Tsūhō (new copper coins) could be exchanged for 1 silver Taihei Genpo coin, and that 10 silver Taihei Genpō coins were to be used for 1 gold Kaiki Shoho coin..{{cite book|author=Matsumura Keiji|title=Issuance of Wadokaichin Coins|publisher=Shibundo|year=2009|pages=48–53|ISBN=9784784335121}}{{cite book|author=Imamura Keiji|title=Tomonsen and the Mysterious Silver Coins|publisher=Shogakukan|year=2001|pages=161–165|ISBN=4-09-626124-6}} The right to issue these coins was given to Fujiwara no Nakamaro (Emi no Oshikatsu), who had been appointed Daijō-daijin in the previous year. Mannen Tsūhō were struck in an alloy which contains 77.98% copper, have a weight of 3.75 g and a diameter of 25.5 to 25.8mm.{{cite web|url=https://www.mint.go.jp/media/2023/03/202303_hakubutsukan_goannai.pdf|title=Guide to the Mint Museum|work=Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan|page=30|accessdate=January 28, 2025}}{{cite journal|url=https://real.mtak.hu/153899/1/AncientCoinsofJapan.pdf|title=Ancient Coins of Japan|author=Marianna Lazar|journal=Távol-Keleti Tanulmányok |publisher=Journal of East Asian Cultures|year=2022|volume=14 |page=57|doi=10.38144/TKT.2022.1.4}} All three of these denominations are said to have characters written by scholar Kibi no Makibi.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wyVCAQAAMAAJ&dq=Kaiki+Shoho&pg=RA1-PA704|title=The Japan Weekly Mail|year=1903|volume=39|page=704}} The characters {{Nihongo|man|萬}}, {{Nihongo|nen|年}}, {{Nihongo|tsu|通}} {{Nihongo|ho|宝}} written on the obverse roughly translate to: "Current money (or treasure) of Ten Thousand Years".{{cite web|url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_1841924|title=Mannen Tsūhō, Japan, 760|work=American Museum of Natural History|accessdate=February 5, 2025}}
While in theory the exchange rate was to be implemented, in practice the old Wadōkaichin and new Mannen Tsūhō coins co-circulated. Officials meanwhile, tried in vain to draw attention away from the fact that 10 Wadōkaichin (older copper coins) could be exchanged for 1 new Mannen Tsuho coin.
{{cite book|author=Imamura Keiji|title=Tomonsen and the Mysterious Silver Coins|publisher=Shogakukan|year=2001|pages=161–165|ISBN=4-09-626124-6}} As the Mannen Tsūhō did not circulate at a set value, private coins that imitated these new coins were rampant. Minting eventually ceased after just 5 years of production, making these one of the shortest issued series among (Japanese) ancient coins.{{cite web|url=https://www.imes.boj.or.jp/cm/research/zuroku/mod/07kikaku_wadocatalogue01-05.pdf|title=1300 Years of Publication of Wado Kaiko: The Birth of Money: The Age and Life of Wado Kaiko|work=Monetary Museum, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies|page=5|accessdate=January 28, 2025}}
Excavations
Archaeologists have unearthed Mannen Tsūhō coins since at least 1970. According to the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, "there were 79 mokkan, plus coins including Wado kaichin and Mannen tsuho examples" recovered from a ditch at the ruins of Akita Castle.{{cite web|url=https://www.nabunken.go.jp/english/historical-material/69.html#:~:text=The%2032nd%20Archaeological%20Investigation%2C%20conducted%20in%201966%2C%20excavated%20the&text=Mannen%20tsuho%20examples.%20Among%20the%20mokkan%20are%20items%20bearing%20place%20names|title=Historical Materials No.69|work=Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties|accessdate=January 28, 2025}} Another undated excavation at the Sakata-dera site unearthed 291 copper coins which included Wadōkaichin, Mannen-tsuho, Jingu-kaiho, and Kaigen-tsuho coins from the Tang dynasty.{{cite web|url=https://www.nabunken.go.jp/english/report/48-5.html|title=Nabunken News vol.48|work=Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties|accessdate=February 5, 2025}} Mannen Tsūhō have since become available to collectors as authenticated examples sell online.{{cite web|url=https://coins.ha.com/itm/japan/japan-mannen-tsuho-ana-sen-copper-cash-coin-nd-760-ad-/a/3015-24258.s|title=Mannen Tsuho, Ana Sen (Copper Cash Coin) ND (760 AD)|work=Heritage Auctions|accessdate=February 5, 2025}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.narahaku.go.jp/chinese/collection/1059-8.html Mannen Tsūhō] at the Nara National Museum.
{{Japanese currency and coinage (pre-yen)}}