1860-1869 Japan Silver Ichibu & Isshu Samurai Empire 2-pc Set

Pocket Change of Japan’s Last Samurai

For years, people in the West have held a curious fascination for Asian culture. Japan, especially, was a point of interest thanks to its refusal to open its borders to American and European traders. That began to change in the mid-1850s after Commodore Matthew Perry landed his American ship on Japan’s shores and basically intimated the Japanese into ending their 250-yerar-old policy of national seclusion.

Once established in Japan, foreign businessmen were introduced to Japan’s monetary system based on a unit of currency called the Ryo. Thanks to Japan’s centuries-long policy of isolationism, its currency was quite different from the rest of the world. For one thing, the coins were rectangular-shaped instead of the more common round shape. Known as Japanese Bar Money, these coins were minted into Ichibu (Bu) and Isshu (Shu) denominations. A One Bu coin was worth 1/4 Ryo and a One Shu coin was equivalent to 1/16 Ryo.

This two-piece set contains both these coins. Struck from 1860-1869, these are the last of their type to be minted in Japan. That’s because while Japan kept itself isolated from the world it remained a feudal society ruled by military dictators known as Shōgun and their highly trained Samurai knights. Nominally appointed by the emperor, Shōguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country in an era that is often referred to as the “Samurai Empire” period in Japan. When Commodore Perry arrived in Japan, the Tokugawa Shōgunate, had been in control since defeating rival clans at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.

But after foreigners were allowed into the country the Japanese people became dismayed and angry over a series of unequal treaties that were seen as being extremely unfair and thus put the island nation in a disadvantageous position. Things came to a head in 1867 when Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last Shōgun, abdicated his authority to Emperor Meiji. The restoration of imperial power after centuries of living in the political shadows rapidly transformed Japan from an isolationist feudal state into an industrialized economic and military powerhouse and garnered for the emperor the title of Meiji the Great.

The Ichibu coin offered here was struck in approximately 8.66 grams of 80.7% fine silver and the Isshu coin was struck in 1.88 grams of 96.8% fine silver. Both are approximately 24 mm x 16 mm in diameter and range in grade from Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated (XF-AU) condition.

Add the pocket change of Japan’s last Shōgun warlord to your collection today with this incredible two-piece Samurai Empire Set. It’s a fascinating pair of coins from a thrilling age in Japanese and world history.